CHORD SUBSTITUTIONS FOR UKULELE.
Brian Lemin. June 2012
These are a set of chord substitutions that you can try (“try” is the key word… see below). They may fit into a chord progression better; they may enable a quicker change of chords (easier?); most of all they may make your arrangement sound “jazzier” or “bluer”. (Note it is the 7th that has the “blue” characteristic).
Though most of these are direct substitutions, in practice it depends on what key you are playing in as they do not seem to fit into some songs, despite them being direct chord substitutions. You will have to try them to see if they will fit in or suit your ear.
There are the so called “magic” 5th chords (power chords) and the theory is that a 5th chord having the same root note as the original chord will fit, and I find that surprisingly accurate, but still, “try it first”.
With minor chords there are very few choices for substitution, basically you are stuck with substituting m7 and m6, and possibly an add9 chords. I think they work quite well.
As for 7th chords, you do not have a great deal of choice either, the sus4, the 9 or the 13 are worth trying..
The 7sus4 can work for a major key substitution.
There are also the dim group and m7b5 to play around with, but I have not found out enough about these to include them in the tables, but I should say I am an avid fan of the dim group of chords.
Note for fret number “0” means fret 10.
See Dr Uke for other helpful hints:
http://www.doctoruke.com/fancychords.pdf
http://www.doctoruke.com/chordequivalents.pdf
And there is more chord stuff that might interest you on his site.
Meantime here is a table of chord substitutes for you to try. They do not all fit in every case. Just try them to see if they do jazz up your song.
Brian Lemin. June 2012
These are a set of chord substitutions that you can try (“try” is the key word… see below). They may fit into a chord progression better; they may enable a quicker change of chords (easier?); most of all they may make your arrangement sound “jazzier” or “bluer”. (Note it is the 7th that has the “blue” characteristic).
Though most of these are direct substitutions, in practice it depends on what key you are playing in as they do not seem to fit into some songs, despite them being direct chord substitutions. You will have to try them to see if they will fit in or suit your ear.
There are the so called “magic” 5th chords (power chords) and the theory is that a 5th chord having the same root note as the original chord will fit, and I find that surprisingly accurate, but still, “try it first”.
With minor chords there are very few choices for substitution, basically you are stuck with substituting m7 and m6, and possibly an add9 chords. I think they work quite well.
As for 7th chords, you do not have a great deal of choice either, the sus4, the 9 or the 13 are worth trying..
The 7sus4 can work for a major key substitution.
There are also the dim group and m7b5 to play around with, but I have not found out enough about these to include them in the tables, but I should say I am an avid fan of the dim group of chords.
Note for fret number “0” means fret 10.
See Dr Uke for other helpful hints:
http://www.doctoruke.com/fancychords.pdf
http://www.doctoruke.com/chordequivalents.pdf
And there is more chord stuff that might interest you on his site.
Meantime here is a table of chord substitutes for you to try. They do not all fit in every case. Just try them to see if they do jazz up your song.