Rhythm Changes Chord Question

pompeii0 · #1 09-06-2010, 05:14 PM

I know that this is a basic question, please forgive me. I am looking for as many different ways of playing the chords over rhythm changes as possible. What I mean is what chord voicings do you use? So if the song is played in Bb then for the I you would play 6x54xx, or 6x543x etc., for the IV ... and so on. I hope that this doesn't sound too basic or confusing. Thank you for your help!

Drumbler · #2 09-06-2010, 05:19 PM

Is what you want chord substitutions and/or inversions?

pompeii0 · #3 09-06-2010, 05:24 PM

I am looking for other inversions. Sorry if my original post wasn't clear. I am not up on my theory anywhere near as I would like to be.

mr. beaumont · #4 09-06-2010, 05:34 PM

are you specifically looking for chords with a bass note on the sixth string?

pompeii0 · #5 09-06-2010, 06:41 PM

No, the bass note doesn't have to be on the 6th string.

noelma1117 · #6 09-06-2010, 08:12 PM

For a good handle on Rhythm Changes in Bb, I would recommend the following book/CD -> The Herb Ellis Jazz Guitar Method: Rhythm Shapes. It will give you a good grounding in Rhythm Changes in Bb. The Voicings are Great and the Chord Shapes are movable.

randalljazz · #7 09-07-2010, 04:34 AM

experiment and find a set of basic voicings that you like and present no fingering difficulites and PRACTICE THEM UNTIL YOU CAN PLAY THEM IN YOUR SLEEP before you start learning "as many voicings as you can".

Drumbler · #8 09-07-2010, 07:05 AM

Go here and find many chords for your use...

Jazz Guitar Chords | Guitar Chord Charts | Lessons

FatJeff · #9 09-07-2010, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randalljazz

experiment and find a set of basic voicings that you like and present no fingering difficulites and PRACTICE THEM UNTIL YOU CAN PLAY THEM IN YOUR SLEEP before you start learning "as many voicings as you can".

I agree with this. This is one of those progressions that you have to have nailed in its basic form before you go on to play a million subs.

If you are a book-oriented person, I can recommend the Aebersold book on Rhythm Changes. Normally I don't care much for those books, but this one is comprehensive and thorough.

Rich Severenson also has a good series of videos on RC. Inexpensive and worthwhile. Rhythm Changes

Goofsus4 · #10 09-07-2010, 05:28 PM

I'm with Randall and Fep. You might just take the intevallic formula for each chord and then try to find voicings centered around each of the CAGED locations of the fretboard that allow you to play the triad, or even just the 3rd and 7th of each chord in the progression without moving too far away from the initial starting position. That helped teach me a lot about voicing options and improved my ability to visualize the intervals of common chords all over the neck. You also might try coming up with a chord melody of the original melody to RC. I've found that arranging chord melodies does the same thing - it forces me to find voicings all over the neck that I otherwise would never have played if I were just comping the progression.

You can certainly learn voicings from a chord book and accomplish the same thing, but it seems like when I figure stuff out myself like this it really sticks with me better.

FatJeff · #11 09-08-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofsus4

You can certainly learn voicings from a chord book and accomplish the same thing, but it seems like when I figure stuff out myself like this it really sticks with me better.

This is true, but it's also good to consult with others or read books/watch videos, etc. There are lots of ideas I've picked up along the way that I would not have thought of by myself.

Goofsus4 · #12 09-08-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatJeff

This is true, but it's also good to consult with others or read books/watch videos, etc. There are lots of ideas I've picked up along the way that I would not have thought of by myself.

Oh, certainly. I wouldn't even know what a "3rd" was if I hadn't read a book. I have dozens of books, CDs, etc. Instructional materials, private lessons, forums like this - they give you ideas. I am really talking about learning to apply the ideas. For learning chord inversions and voicings, it was more productive for me to find the intervals on the fretboard myself.

Ah, I just realized - I meant to say I was agreeeing with you, not Fep. Fep hasn't even been on this thread so far.

Jazz Junior · #13 09-08-2010, 11:14 PM

Another great book is Jon Damian's Chord Factory.
After you go through the whole book you'll have about 40 inversions for each chord...has alot of other great stuff in it to..

FatJeff · #14 09-08-2010, 11:19 PM

Don Mock's "Jazz Guitar Masterclass" book has s section on approaching the I-VI-ii-V turnaround that's useful for Rhythm Changes.