“I Got Rhythm” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1930 musical Girl Crazy, where Ethel Merman made it a sensation. Its chord progression, known as “rhythm changes,” became the second most important progression in jazz after the blues. Hundreds of tunes, including “Oleo,” “Anthropology” and “Moose the Mooche,” are built on it.
The form is a 32-bar AABA, most often played in Bb. The A sections cycle through a I-vi-ii-V pattern (Bb, G7, Cm7, F7) with variations and a brief move to the IV chord. The bridge is a chain of dominant chords around the circle of fifths: D7, G7, C7, F7. Learning this progression opens the door to a huge part of the jazz repertoire.
For improvisation, practice the A sections with Bb major pentatonic and bebop lines that target chord tones. On the bridge, use the guide-tone line of the dominant chords’ thirds and sevenths. Many players also practice playing the A sections with just the Bb blues scale to hear how the bluesy sound fits.
Practice rhythm changes slowly with roots and guide tones, then improvise. Once comfortable, learn several rhythm changes heads, since they’re all called at jam sessions.
Memorizing the I Got Rhythm Lead Sheet PDF: learn the form in sections, not all at once. Play the first eight bars until you can do them with your eyes closed, then add the next section. Within a week or two you won’t need the page at all, which is the real goal of any lead sheet.
Ear training with the I Got Rhythm Lead Sheet PDF: before reading along, listen to two different recordings and try to hear where each section starts. Then follow the lead sheet while listening. Connecting what you see to what you hear is how lead sheets turn into tunes you truly know.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate at medium tempos and demanding at fast ones. Recordings to study: Ethel Merman’s original, Lester Young’s swing versions and Charlie Parker’s rhythm changes recordings. Learn more about the composer on George Gershwin’s Wikipedia page, and find more rhythm changes lead sheets on Minedit.