If you want your 2-5-1s to sound more connected and intentional, I’m going to show you a practical way to add substitutions without drowning in theory. In the key of C, we’ve got D minor as the ii, G7 as the V, and C as the I—but I insert a “five of two” so the progression naturally wants to circle back around to D minor again. It’s a simple idea that creates motion and makes your comping feel like it’s going somewhere. On the guitar I voice this with just four-note shapes: Dm11, then a Db9, then C13, and then an A7 altered sound (an augmented 7 with a sharp 9 flavor—sounds complicated, but it really isn’t when you grab it on the neck). The big takeaway is voice leading: notice the contrary motion as the inner notes move against each other. I also play it in a bossa feel, and of course you can swing it too—same chords, different vibe. Try these shapes in real tunes and listen to how much smoother your changes feel.