Play these scales over Rhythm Changes


Reader,

Rhythm Changes season is upon us. At our kickoff last week, we learned the chord progression from I Got Rhythm and previewed the 4 tunes we'll learn this season that use these changes.

But before we can play tunes, we need to learn what scales to play throughout...

Missed the kickoff?

No problem, watch the replay here.

Scales over Rhythm Changes

When I was in college, I got the chance to attend a few Barry Harris workshops in NYC. During those sessions, Barry would call out scale outlines and movements over various progressions and tunes.

They flew by at 100mph, and as a young music student, I was behind the minute I walked in the door. But, I was engulfed by the culture and excitement.

So, I get excited when I'm able to share some of the things that eventually clicked for me, and one of those is these scales over Rhythm Changes.

Download: Rhythm Changes - Scale Outline.pdf

The A section is 4 scales:

  • Bb major scale
  • F dominant scale
  • Bb dominant scale
  • Eb dominant scale

Take a look at the scale sheet above, and see if you can identify each one in the chart and label them.

(those dominant scales are just a major scale, but with a flat-7)

The B section is all dominants

The 4 dominant chords in the B section all have corresponding dominant scales that match with them.

eg. D7 = D dominant scale, G7 = G dominant scale...

At our workshop this Friday, we'll be working through these over the changes and building fluency.

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Happy Practicing,

Josh Walsh

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