Idea Substitution 202: Guidelines For The Substitution Of Minor Seventh Chord Ideas

In this lesson, we’ll be studying the concept of idea substitution for minor seventh chords.

In our introductory lesson on idea substitution, we covered the concept of idea substitution and used the major seventh chord as a reference.

Today, we’re focusing on minor seventh chords. So, if you have melodic ideas that you commonly associate with minor seventh chords, get ready to associate them with other chord types like the major seventh, dominant seventh, etc.

Let’s get started.

Recommendation: Introductory Lesson On Idea Substitution.

Substitution For Minor Seventh Chord Ideas

The minor seventh chord is the 2-chord, 3-chord, and 6-chord in the major key. In the key of C major:

…the minor seventh chord is the 2-chord (D minor seventh):

…3-chord (E minor seventh):

…and the 6-chord (A minor seventh):

Let’s go ahead and explore how minor seventh chord ideas can be applied to other seventh chords.

Minor Seventh Vs Major Seventh

Minor seventh chord ideas can be played over a major seventh chord that is a minor third (or 3 half-steps) above its root.

Ideas played over the C minor seventh chord:

…can applied over the Eb major seventh chord:

Following the same relationship, ideas played over the E minor seventh chord:

…can be played over the G major seventh chord:

Attention: To learn about this and more, check out our Jazz Intensive Training Center.

You can also use major seventh chord ideas over the minor seventh chord. Any given major seventh chord idea can be played over a minor seventh chord that is a minor third below its root.

Ideas that are played over the B major seventh chord:

…can be played over the G# minor seventh chord:

Minor Seventh Vs Half Diminished Seventh

Minor seventh chord ideas can be played over a half-diminished seventh chord that is a minor third (or 3 half-steps) below its root.

Ideas played over the C minor seventh chord:

…can applied over the A half-diminished seventh chord:

…and this is because A:

…is 3 half-steps below C:

Following the same relationship, ideas played over the D minor seventh chord:

…can be played over the B half-diminished seventh chord:

Attention: To learn about this and more, check out our Jazz Intensive Training Center.

You can also use half-diminished seventh chord ideas over the minor seventh chord. Any given half-diminished seventh chord idea can be played over a minor seventh chord that is a minor third (or 3 half-steps) above its root.

Ideas that are played over the G half-diminished seventh chord:

…can be played over the Bb minor seventh chord:

Minor Seventh Vs Dominant Seventh

Minor seventh chord ideas can be played over a dominant seventh chord that is a perfect fourth (or 5 half-steps) above its root.

Ideas played over the C minor seventh chord:

…can applied over the F dominant seventh chord:

Following the same relationship, ideas played over the F# minor seventh chord:

…can be played over the B dominant seventh chord:

Attention: To learn about this and more, check out our Jazz Intensive Training Center.

You can also use dominant seventh chord ideas over the minor seventh chord. Any given dominant seventh chord idea can be played over a minor seventh chord that is a perfect fourth below its root.

Ideas that are played over the G dominant seventh chord:

…can be played over the D minor seventh chord:

Minor Seventh Vs Altered Dominant Seventh

Minor seventh chord ideas can be played over an altered dominant seventh chord that is a perfect fifth (or 7 half-steps) above its root.

Ideas played over the C minor seventh chord:

…can applied over the G altered dominant seventh chord:

Following the same relationship, ideas played over the Eb minor seventh chord:

…can be played over the Bb altered dominant seventh chord:

Attention: To learn about this and more, check out our Jazz Intensive Training Center.

You can also use altered dominant seventh chord ideas over the minor seventh chord. Any given altered dominant seventh chord idea can be played over a minor seventh chord that is a perfect fifth below its root.

Ideas that are played over the F altered dominant seventh chord:

…can be played over the Bb minor seventh chord:

Final Words

Using the idea substitution guidelines covered in this lesson, I’m very certain that you’ll be able to take minor seventh chord idea and apply it in various ways.

In a subsequent lesson, we’ll cover guidelines for the substitution of dominant seventh chord ideas. Until then, it is recommended that you practice this substitution using any of the 12 minor seventh chords.

All the best.

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Chuku Onyemachi

Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group

Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

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Tagged as: altered dominant seventh chords, dominant seventh chords, half-diminished seventh chords, idea substitution, major seventh chords, minor seventh chords