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Guitar · substitutions

# Secondary dominants on guitar

A minor seventh that falls a fifth to the next chord can be made a dominant: VI7 for vi before ii. Its new major 3rd is the leading tone of the chord it resolves to, so it pulls into it harder.

| I–vi–ii–V (1625) in B♭ | Chords |
| --- | --- |
| As written | B♭maj7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – F7 |
| Secondary dominants | B♭maj7 – G7 – Cm7 – F7 |

### As written

Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 5 semitones in all; the largest single step is 2. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color.

**B♭maj7 (I)** Grip x-x-8-10-10-10 · frets 8–10

**Gm9 (vi)** Grip x-x-8-10-10-10 · frets 8–10 Voiced: ♭3 ♭7 9 5

**Cm7(11) (ii)** Grip x-x-10-10-11-11 · frets 10–11 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3

**F7 (V)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-11 · frets 10–11

Top line: D – D – E♭ – E♭

[Practice I–vi–ii–V (1625) in B♭ as written](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=turnaround:10:drop2:4:jazz)

### With the secondary dominants

Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 12 semitones in all; the largest single step is 3. Notes that moved from the chord before are in the darker color.

**B♭6/9 (I)** Grip x-x-8-7-8-8 · frets 7–8 Voiced: 1 3 6 9

**G7 (secondary-dominant)** Grip x-x-9-10-8-10 · frets 8–10

**Cm7 (ii)** Grip x-x-8-8-8-8 · fret 8

**F9 (V)** Grip x-x-7-8-8-8 · frets 7–8 Voiced: 3 ♭7 9 5

Top line: C – D – C – C

[Practice I–vi–ii–V (1625) in B♭ with the secondary dominants](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=turnaround:10:drop2:4:jazz:s-secondary-dominant)

## In every key

| Key | As written | Secondary dominants |
| --- | --- | --- |
| C | Cmaj7 – Am7 – Dm7 – G7 | Cmaj7 – A7 – Dm7 – G7 |
| D♭ | D♭maj7 – B♭m7 – E♭m7 – A♭7 | D♭maj7 – B♭7 – E♭m7 – A♭7 |
| D | Dmaj7 – Bm7 – Em7 – A7 | Dmaj7 – B7 – Em7 – A7 |
| E♭ | E♭maj7 – Cm7 – Fm7 – B♭7 | E♭maj7 – C7 – Fm7 – B♭7 |
| E | Emaj7 – C♯m7 – F♯m7 – B7 | Emaj7 – C♯7 – F♯m7 – B7 |
| F | Fmaj7 – Dm7 – Gm7 – C7 | Fmaj7 – D7 – Gm7 – C7 |
| F♯ | F♯maj7 – D♯m7 – G♯m7 – C♯7 | F♯maj7 – D♯7 – G♯m7 – C♯7 |
| G | Gmaj7 – Em7 – Am7 – D7 | Gmaj7 – E7 – Am7 – D7 |
| A♭ | A♭maj7 – Fm7 – B♭m7 – E♭7 | A♭maj7 – F7 – B♭m7 – E♭7 |
| A | Amaj7 – F♯m7 – Bm7 – E7 | Amaj7 – F♯7 – Bm7 – E7 |
| B♭ | B♭maj7 – Gm7 – Cm7 – F7 | B♭maj7 – G7 – Cm7 – F7 |
| B | Bmaj7 – G♯m7 – C♯m7 – F♯7 | Bmaj7 – G♯7 – C♯m7 – F♯7 |

## In the tunes

Tune pages whose changes the app can substitute this way, with the first bar it changes.

- [Autumn Leaves](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/autumn-leaves) (bar 8 first)
- [Blue Bossa](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/blue-bossa) (bar 2 first)

## More

- [I–vi–ii–V in B♭](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/i-vi-ii-v-in-bb)
- [Tritone substitute](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/tritone)
- [Tritone sub with its related ii](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/tritone-related-ii)
- [Backdoor ii–V](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/backdoor)
- [Passing diminished chord](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/passing-diminished)
- [Minor iv](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/substitutions/minor-iv)

## Practice it in Practice Lab

Comp I–vi–ii–V (1625) in B♭ with the secondary dominants in Practice Lab, in any key. Free, in your browser, no account.

[Open it in Practice Lab](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=turnaround:10:drop2:4:jazz:s-secondary-dominant)
