Lessons

Lesson 11: Rhythm Changes

What Is Rhythm Changes?

"Rhythm changes" is an AABA form based on the changes of George Gershwin's I Got Rhythm. In its simplest form it goes something like this:

|Bb G7 |Cm7 F7|Dm7 G7|Cm7 F7|
|Bb Bb7|EbEdim|Bb G7 |Cm7 F7|

|Bb G7 |Cm7 F7|Dm7 G7|Cm7 F7|
|Bb Bb7|EbEdim|Bb F7 |Bb    |

|D7    |      |G7    |      |
|C7    |      |F7    |      |

|Bb G7 |Cm7 F7|Dm7 G7|Cm7 F7|
|Bb Bb7|EbEdim|Bb G7 |Cm7 F7|

Tunes Based on Rhythm Changes

The best known tune based on rhythm changes is probably Oleo by Sonny Rollins. The following tunes based on rhythm changes can be found on my sheet music page:

Duke by Ulf Wakenius
Suspone by Mike Stern
Unchanged Rhythm by Joe Diorio
K- Day and Tattoo by me

Playing on Rhythm Changes

Rhythm changes tunes are generally played at medium-up to very fast tempos. This means that the changes fly by with what seems to be the speed of light and it is practically impossible to try to outline every single chord. You will need to make it easier for yourself. Common ways to make it easier are:

to use a vamp for the solo section
to play modally in Bb Ionian ( or Lydian)
to play over a pedal note - "Bb Open"

Rhythm Changes Vamps

The most commonly used rhythm changes vamps are:

Bb - Gm7 - Gb7 - F7sus4
Gm7 - Gb7 - F7sus4- Gb7
Bb6 - Gdim - Cm7 - Gdim

"Cheat Formulae"

"Cheat Formula I"

bars 1- 16: Bb scale
bars 17-18: D Mixolydian
bars 19-20: G Mixolydian
bars 21-22: C Mixolydian
bars 23-24: F Mixolydian
bars 25-32: Bb scale

where the "Bb scale" can be any of the following:

Bb Ionian
Bb Bebop
G minor pentatonic = Bb major pentatonic
G blues
Bb Hybrid Bebop
Bb Lydian
Bb Mixolydian
Bb Blues

A scale that actually works over the whole A part progression is one I call "the hybrid bebop scale". "The hybrid bebop scale" in Bb goes like this:

"Cheat Formula II"

bars 1- 4: D minor pentatonic
bars 5- 6: outline Bb Bb7 Eb Edim in some way
bars 7- 8: D minor pentatonic
bars 9-12: D minor pentatonic
bars 13-14: outline Bb Bb7 Eb Edim in some way
bars 15-16: D minor pentatonic
bars 17-18: D Mixolydian
bars 19-20: G Mixolydian
bars 21-22: C Mixolydian
bars 23-24: F Mixolydian
bars 25-28: D minor pentatonic
bars 29-30: outline Bb Bb7 Eb Edim in some way
bars 31-32: D minor pentatonic or Bb major if you like...

"Cheat Formula III"

Bbmaj7 - G minor pentatonic, G7 - Bb minor pentatonic, Cm7 - G minor pentatonic, F7 - Ab minor pentatonic
Dm7 - D minor pentatonic, G7 - F minor pentatonic, Cm7 - D minor pentatonic, F7 - Eb minor pentatonic
bars 5- 6: outline Bb Bb7 Eb Edim in some way
Bbmaj7 - G minor pentatonic, G7 - Bb minor pentatonic, Cm7 - G minor pentatonic, F7 - Ab minor pentatonic
Bbmaj7 - G minor pentatonic, G7 - Bb minor pentatonic, Cm7 - G minor pentatonic, F7 - Ab minor pentatonic
Dm7 - D minor pentatonic, G7 - F minor pentatonic, Cm7 - D minor pentatonic, F7 - Eb minor pentatonic
bars 13-14: outline Bb Bb7 Eb Edim in some way
bars 15-16: play in Bb
bars 17-18: D Mixolydian to D alt scale ( = Ab Lydian b7 scale)
bars 19-20: G Mixolydian to G alt scale ( = Db Lydian b7 scale)
bars 21-22: C Mixolydian to C alt scale ( = Gb Lydian b7 scale)
bars 23-24: F Mixolydian to F alt scale ( = Cb Lydian b7 scale)
Bbmaj7 - G minor pentatonic, G7 - Bb minor pentatonic, Cm7 - G minor pentatonic, F7 - Ab minor pentatonic
Dm7 - D minor pentatonic, G7 - F minor pentatonic, Cm7 - D minor pentatonic, F7 - Eb minor pentatonic
bars 29-30: outline Bb Bb7 Eb Edim in some way
Bbmaj7 - G minor pentatonic, G7 - Bb minor pentatonic, Cm7 - G minor pentatonic, F7 - Ab minor pentatonic

Etudes

Check out my etudes

Written solos

Check out my written example solos