Rhythm Changes
The chords of one Gershwin song became one of the most common frameworks in jazz. Map the 32-bar AABA form of I Got Rhythm in B flat, loop the A section's I–vi–ii–V turnaround, and follow the bridge's chain of dominant sevenths around the circle of fifths. Then bring the whole module together, with guide tones, a walking bass and ninth-chord colors, and play all 32 bars along with the band.
In this lesson you'll
- Know the rhythm changes form: I Got Rhythm's chords, AABA, 32 bars (eight per section), usually in B flat.
- Play the A section's turnaround I–vi–ii–V (Bb – Gm7 – Cm7 – F7), two chords per bar, round and round, with a walking bass.
- Play the bridge III7–VI7–II7–V7 (D7 – G7 – C7 – F7), two bars each: secondary dominants falling by fifths back to Bb, with guide tones sliding down by half steps.
Music in this lesson
- I Got Rhythm (from the musical Girl Crazy)George & Ira Gershwin · 1930
- AnthropologyCharlie Parker
- OleoSonny Rollins
- Cotton TailDuke Ellington
Remember
The A sections loop a fast I–vi–ii–V turnaround; from the vi chord on, every root falls a fifth back to I.
The bridge is a chain of dominant sevenths around the circle of fifths: each chord is the V of the next (secondary dominants), landing back on Bb.
A simple, strong skeleton that musicians knew by heart, so new melodies and solos could be written on top: a new tune over existing chords is a contrafact.