Rhythm Changes

• Courses
• Rhythm Changes

Course Lessons

• Resources
• Form
• Bud Powell
• DeGreg Voicings
• Cotton Tail
• Crazeology
• Rhythm A Ning
• Solo Strategies

George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” gave birth to one of the most important forms in jazz—and dozens of iconic tunes.

I've been wanting to do this tune for a while. It has a lot to offer.

We'll build up learning this tune similarly to how I cover the blues and Autumn Leaves. We'll start by really learning the shell movement and then build from there.

I also provide a couple written-out exercises to work out some of the voice leading.

Guided Listenings #

Then we’ll go deep into three tunes:

• Duke Ellington’s “Cotton Tail”
• Thelonious Monk’s “Rhythm-a-Ning”
• Charlie Parker’s “Crazeology”

Voicing Warmup Guide #

This course includes a downloadable Rhythm Changes Voicing Warmup.

Course Objectives #

• Understand the 32-bar AABA form that underlies Rhythm Changes
• Learn to comp using shell voicings, Bud Powell voicings, and substitutions
• Compare harmonic approaches across three recordings (Ellington, Monk, Parker)
• Build soloing tools using pentatonic ideas, blues licks, and bebop voice leading

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