Inserting a chord a half step above or below another chord is referred to as a half-step substitution. A diminished seventh chord is frequently used as a passing chord between two other chords creating chromatic ascending or descending bass line progressions such as the first example below. The second and third examples create interesting walking bass lines by approaching each chord of the progression from a half step above. The last example approaches each chord from a half step below.

(1) Original Progression

C / / /

/ / / /

Dm7 / / /

G7 / / /

Substitute Progression (Ascending Chromatic Bass Line)

C / / /

C#o7 / / /

Dm7 / / /

D#o7 / / /

(2) Original Progression

Cmaj7 / / /

Am7 / / /

Dm7 / / /

G7 / / /

Substitute Progression (Half Step From Above)

Cmaj7 / / Bbm7

Am7 / / Ebm7

Dm7 / / Ab7

G7 / / Db7

(3) Original Progression

C7 / / /

A7 / / /

D7 / / /

G7 / / /

Substitute Progression (Half Step from Above)

C7 / / Bb7

A7 / / Eb7

D7 / / Ab7

G7 / / Db7

(4) Original Progression

Cmaj7 / / /

A7 / / /

Dm7 / / /

G7 / / /

Substitute Progression (Half Step from Below)

Cmaj7 / / Ab7

A7 / / Db7

Dm7 / / Gb7

G7 / / B7

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