How do you know what chords to use with Tritones...

[MemphisKeys]

Hello this is Memphiskeys and I have set a goal for this year to learn more about tritones and how to use them effectively and what chords to play with them...Any help on explaining them....Thx

[apex]

well one thing that you can start with is this concept:

first do know and understand what a tritone is? (I'll assume that you don't for the sake of this explanation)

A tritone consist of the 3rd scale degree and a minor 7th scale degree.

Example:

Key of C#

the 3rd scale degree is F and the minor seventh it B.  So the Tritone to go with a C# bass note is F and B.  You can also play a C# chord with this tritone voicing and get the sound you are looking for.

at the same time

Key of G

the 3rd scale degree is B and the minor 7th is F.  So the Tritone to go with a G bass note is B and F.  You can play a G chord with this triton.

So as you can see C# and G share the same tritone voicing.  So you can interchange those two chords (C# & G) for that tritone (F and B). 

I know that is simple, but it should at least get you started.

Let me know when you get finished working on this.

[under13]

I was given a great exercise on tritones that also helps ambidexterity. I'm gonna learn it in every key and make a video on it.

[MemphisKeys]

Yeah...i understand them but I don't know how to use them...when I play...I learn them last year...right now Im trying to focus on learning how to use them effectively...

[csedwards2]

I never have time to write it out. My explanation would be lengthy. But if you want to remind me on MLK day, Ill work it out

[sjonathan02]

I forget where I got this, but I've got burned into my brain the use of a Maj 2 or Maj 6 when using a tri-tone for that 'crunch' or dissonant sound.

For example:

LH/RH

E Bb / D F# A

F B / Eb G Bb

F# C / E G# B


Now, the question may arise, "Well, where am I going after I use the tri-tone?" GREAT question!!
























I have NO idea. 

I'll tell you what I did before writing this post, I played a tri-tone, not in the above 'chart' (Eb A / Db F Ab), and then played a 2-5-1 in the key of D.

I can NOT tell you why I did that with the exception that it sounded good to my ear (which may or may not be saying much).


Anyway, that's me tryna explain how to use tri-tones. Take the meat and spit out the bones.

Peace. 

[jonesl78]

Im more of an application type of learner so I'll just give an example.

Ex. 1     Tritones can be used to support the melody if the melody falls on the 3rd degree of a major scale. 

     Key of D Major     "O GIVE Thanks, Unto the lord, For he is Good..."
                                                                      3rd

      -Instead of playing the F# with D in the bass, substitute D with a A# and E in the left hand. Why? The the new voicing is the Maj 3rd and Min 7th of the F# note.


Tritones are not just limited to one of two notes in which it can accompany. Try to use the six tritones with various inversions of major chords as passing tones. Just make sure that it is pleasing to your ear and/or appropriate for whatever environment you are performing in. Tritones to me are great when used tastfully. They can be distractive when overused because they can clash mith the melody or vocals. 

[T-Block]

Here's the list of every tri-tone there is to play.  There are only 6 unique tri-tones, then after that u get the reverse of each tri-tone:

C-Gb or C-F# or B#-F#
C#-G or Db-G or Db-Abb
D-Ab or D-G# or Ebb-Ab
D#-A or Eb-A or Eb-Bbb
E-Bb or E-A# or Fb-Bb
F-B or F-Cb or E#-B or Gbb-Cb

reverse:

Gb-C or F#-C or F#-B#
G-C# or G-Db or Abb-Db
Ab-D or G#-D or Ab-Ebb
A-D# or A-Eb or Bbb-Eb
Bb-E or A#-E or Bb-Fb
B-F or Cb-F or B-E# or Cb-Gbb

Tri-tones are naturally found in all diminished and dominant 7th category chords.  So, you can start there for using them as substitutions:

Cdim or C diminished = C-Eb-Gb, the tri-tone is C-Gb/Gb-C

Cm7(b5) or C half-diminished = C-Eb-Gb-Bb, the tri-tone is C-Gb/Gb-C

Cdim7 or C fully diminished = C-Eb-Gb-Bbb, the tri-tones are C-Gb/Gb-C and Eb-Bbb/Bbb-E

*C7 or Cdom7 or C dominant 7th = C-E-G-Bb, the tri-tone is E-Bb/Bb-E  *same for C9, C11, and C13

So, anytime you are playing one of those chords above and C is the root, u can play the tri-tone instead in the LH.  Experiment with each to see how they sound for you.

I've also discovered they work well when u are playing secondary dominant chords that lead to 4 or 2 of the key you are in.  They probably work wit other sec. doms., but I haven't experimented yet.  Here's a little explanation using a C chord:

Sec. dom. leading to 4
Key C LH/RH

normal:

C / G-C-E (C)
C / G-C-Bb-E (C7)
F / A-C-F (F)

tri-tone sub:

C / G-C-E (C)
*E-Bb / G-C-E (C7/E)
or
Bb-E / G-C-E (C7/Bb)
F / A-C-F (F)

*The tri-tone being used here in the LH is E-Bb or Bb-E.  It is replacing the note C.  The scale degrees are 3 and b7 of C.  Make note here that the scale degrees are unique to the chord itself, not the key you are in.


Sec. dom. leading to 2
Key Eb LH/RH

normal:

C / G-C-Eb (Cm)
C / G-C-Bb-E  (C7)
F / Ab-C-F (Fm)

tri-tone sub:

C / G-C-Eb (Cm)
*G#-D / G-C-E [E7(#5/#9/G#]
or
D-G# / G-C-E [E7(#5/#9/D]
or
E-G#-D / G-C-E [E7 (#5/#9)]
F / Ab-C-F (Fm)

*The tri-tone being used here in the LH is G#-D or D-G#.  It is replacing the note E.  The scale degrees here are 3 and b7 of E.  You can also play it with the E on the bottom.


With those 2 examples, u can see a trend of the tri-tone subs. being the 3rd and b7 scale degrees of the chord.  Liek I said, I'm not an expert on this yet, but this is just what I found by experimenting and listening to various CDs.  Hope this helps someone!

A tritone consist of the 3rd scale degree and a minor 7th scale degree.

Not necessarily.  A tri-tone can be built off any scale degree as long as the 2 notes being used form the interval of an augmented 4th or diminished 5th.  Knowing what a tri-tone is is the easy part.  Don't confuse what it is with it's application.