George Gershwin wrote the music and his brother Ira supplied the lyrics to “I Got Rhythm,” one of the most popular standards ever, with over 700 recorded covers. It was originally penned for the 1930 musical comedy Girl Crazy. The chord structure of "I Got Rhythm" has been the basis for numerous contrafacts (compositions setting a new melody to an existing chord progression), including Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie’s “Anthropology,”and Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Clarke’s “Salt Peanuts.” As Aaron explains, the chord progression for “I Got Rhythm” is so popular as a matrix for jamming that it is commonly referred to as simply “Rhythm Changes.” You’ll learn both the chord progression and a basic solo in the key of Bb for this essential jazz number. In this video, Aaron walks you through the chord changes.
