Rhythm changes

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32-bar rhythm changes in B♭, as commonly used for improvisation (slashes indicate rhythm chordal instrument improvised comping)[1]

Rhythm changes is a common 32-

circle of fifths sequence based on III7–VI7–II7–V7, a progression which is sometimes given passing chords
.

This pattern, "one of the most common vehicles for improvisation,"

Rhythm-a-Ning".[4] The earliest known use of rhythm changes was by Sidney Bechet in his September 15, 1932[5] recording of "Shag" (two years after the first performance of "I Got Rhythm" on Broadway) with his "New Orleans Feetwarmers" group.[6]

History

This progression's endurance in popularity is largely due to its extensive use by early

royalties to Gershwin's estate. Third, using a stock, well-known progression for new melodies made it easier to perform a song at jam sessions, shows, and recordings because the bandleader could tell new musicians that the song uses rhythm changes and note any modifications and chord substitutions
.

For contemporary musicians, mastery of the 12-bar blues and rhythm changes chord progressions are "critical elements for building a jazz repertoire".[8]

Chords

The rhythm changes is a 32-bar AABA form with each section consisting of eight bars, and four 8-bar sections.[9] In roman numeral shorthand, the original chords used in the A section are:

I      vi ii      V I      vi ii      V

a 2-bar

I−vi−ii−V (often modified to I–VI–ii–V), played twice,[10]
followed by a 4-bar phrase

I      I7 IV     iv I      V I

In a

tonicizes
the IV chord, E♭; using iii in place of I in bar 7 (the end of the first A section); and using a ii-V-I in place of I-V-I in bars 15 and 16 (the end of the second A section):

{ \new ChordNames \with { \override BarLine #'bar-extent = #'(-2 . 2) \consists "Bar_engraver" } \chordmode { \override Score.BarNumber.font-size = #0 \override Score.BarNumber.stencil= #(make-stencil-boxer 0.1 0.25 ly:text-interface::print) \set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible \bar "" bes2:maj7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 | bes:maj7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 | \break f:m7 bes:7 | es:maj7 aes:7 | d:m7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 \bar "||" bes2:maj7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 | bes:maj7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 | \break f:m7 bes:7 | es:maj7 aes:7 | c:m7 f:7 | bes1:maj7 \bar "||" } }

The "

circle of fourths (ragtime progression), sustained for two bars each, greatly slowing the harmonic rhythm as a contrast with the A sections. This is known as the Sears Roebuck bridge, named after Sears, Roebuck and Co.[11]

{ \new ChordNames \with { \override BarLine #'bar-extent = #'(-2 . 2) \consists "Bar_engraver" } \chordmode { \override Score.BarNumber.font-size = #0 \override Score.BarNumber.stencil= #(make-stencil-boxer 0.1 0.25 ly:text-interface::print) \set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible \set Score.currentBarNumber = #17 \bar "" d1:7 | d:7 | g:7 | g:7 | \break c:7 | c:7 | f:7 | f:7 \bar "||" } }

The B section is followed by a final A section

{ \new ChordNames \with { \override BarLine #'bar-extent = #'(-2 . 2) \consists "Bar_engraver" } \chordmode { \override Score.BarNumber.font-size = #0 \override Score.BarNumber.stencil= #(make-stencil-boxer 0.1 0.25 ly:text-interface::print) \set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible \set Score.currentBarNumber = #25 \bar "" bes2:maj7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 | bes:maj7 g:7 | c:m7 f:7 | \break f:m7 bes:7 | es:maj7 aes:7 | c:m7 f:7 | bes1:maj7 \bar "|." } }

Variant versions of changes are common due to the popularity of adding interest with

dominant seventh chords) or other substitutions for interest or in order to discourage less experienced musicians from "sitting in" on the bandstand. The opening I chord was often B♭6 in Gershwin's original, but beboppers changed it to B♭M7 or B♭7. For instance, the B section may appear as follows:[12]

{ \new ChordNames \with { \override BarLine #'bar-extent = #'(-2 . 2) \consists "Bar_engraver" } \chordmode { \override Score.BarNumber.font-size = #0 \override Score.BarNumber.stencil= #(make-stencil-boxer 0.1 0.25 ly:text-interface::print) \set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible \set Score.currentBarNumber = #17 \bar "" a1:m7 | d:7 | d:m7 | g:7 | \break g:m7 | c:7 | c:m7 | f:7 \bar "||" } }

An even more adventurous bebop-style substitution is to convert C7 | C7 | F7 | F7 to Gm7 | C7 | Cm7 | F7, and then to further develop this substitution by changing this to Am7 D7 | Gm7 C7 | Dm7 G7 | Cm7 F7.

Examples

32-bar rhythm changes in B♭[10]

The following is a partial list of songs based on the rhythm changes:

The component A and B sections of rhythm changes were also sometimes used for other tunes. For instance, Charlie Parker's "Scrapple from the Apple" and Juan Tizol's "Perdido" both use a different progression for the A section while using the rhythm changes bridge.[15] "Scrapple from the Apple" uses the chord changes of "Honeysuckle Rose" for the A section but replaces the B section with III7–VI7–II7–V7.

Other tunes use the A section of "Rhythm" but have a different bridge. Tadd Dameron's "Good Bait" uses the A section of the Rhythm changes but a different progression for the bridge.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Spitzer (2001), p. 68.
  2. ISBN 9780739031728
    .
  3. ^ a b "Duke Ellington the Man and His Music", p.20. Luvenia A. George. Music Educators Journal, Vol. 85, No. 6 (May, 1999), pp. 15–21. Published by: MENC: The National Association for Music Education.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-691-12357-8
    .
  5. ^ Rust, Brian, Jazz and Ragtime Records, 1897–1942 Archived 2009-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, Mainspring Press, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Rhythm Changes," MoneyChords (angelfire.com). Includes an extensive listing of tunes utilizing these chord changes.
  7. ^
    ISBN 0-7866-5328-0
    .
  8. ISBN 0-634-01655-5
    .
  9. ^ Spitzer (2001), p. 81.
  10. ^
    ISBN 9781576233412
    .
  11. ISBN 9781601981721
    .
  12. ISBN 9780634086786
    .
  13. ^
    OCLC 34280067
    .
  14. ^ [1], All About Jazz website, by William James
  15. ^ Spitzer (2001), p. 71.
  16. ^ Spitzer (2001), p. 72.

Further reading

  • R., Ken (2012). DOG EAR Tritone Substitution for Jazz Guitar, Amazon Digital Services, ASIN: B008FRWNIW
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