Progression Substitution Planner
Swap one chord for another that fits, or reharmonize the whole progression. Adds fresh colour without losing the tune.
Workspace
Related tools · Practice · FAQ
Related
Plan substitutions for these chords
Substitution planning scales
Related lessons
Deepen your understanding with the structured lesson behind this tool.
Questions
How do I find chord substitutions for my progression?
The Substitution Planner offers three modes. Use Per-chord to map each chord to replacement options, Variations to generate whole-progression reharmonizations, and Neighborhood to find nearby chords that share tones with a single chord.
What is reharmonization?
Reharmonization is replacing chords in a progression with alternatives that serve the same harmonic function but add different colors. Common techniques include tritone substitutions, diatonic substitutions, and modal interchange.
What makes a safe chord substitution?
Safe substitutions share at least two notes with the original chord and serve the same harmonic function. For example, replacing a C major with an A minor (both share C and E) in many contexts.
How do I keep my progression cohesive with substitutions?
The planner shows which substitutions work best for each chord position and highlights any that might clash with the surrounding context. Start with safe substitutions and add bolder ones gradually.