Recommendations for Rhythm Changes to Transcribe?

**GuitarJay** · 05-24-2021, 05:14 PM

Hello -

I would like to find a not-too-advanced, hopefully somewhat bluesy, Rhythm Changes solo on guitar to transcribe. One chorus would be fine ... it'll take me a long time.

Any recommendations?

I'm an intermediate player, and I can't really transcribe super fast bebop stuff, so hence my qualifier of "not-too-advanced".

I was getting ready to start on Charlie Christian's "I Got Rhythm", but I thought I'd check if anyone had any other recommendations or suggestions.

Thank you!!!

**JazzinNY** · 05-24-2021, 09:36 PM

Well, if you're open to other instruments, Miles Davis on Oleo, from the Bags Groove album, is great.

Provided you have slowdown software, because even Miles is pretty quick on that, in spots. It's actually very cool how he uses space on that track (likewise Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins).

**GuitarJay** · 05-24-2021, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by JazzinNY

Well, if you're open to other instruments, Miles Davis on Oleo, from the Bags Groove album, is great.

Provided you have slowdown software, because even Miles is pretty quick on that, in spots. It's actually very cool how he uses space on that track (likewise Horace Silver and Sonny Rollins).

Thanks! I’m focused more on guitar versions but I’ll check it out. I do have software to slow stuff down but even so, I’m not the best transcriber. The Oleo versions I’ve heard have been pretty quick! Cheers!

**Average Joe** · 05-25-2021, 02:13 AM

Scofield have a couple

Grace under Pressure
Flat Out
Wee
There's also a remarkable version of Steeplechase on one of his DVDs

**GuitarJay** · 05-25-2021, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by Average Joe

Scofield have a couple

Grace under Pressure
Flat Out
Wee
There's also a remarkable version of Steeplechase on one of his DVDs

Thanks! I have some listening to do today. :-)

**Paulie2** · 05-25-2021, 09:44 AM

Kenny Burrell - Kenny's Sound: lots of blue language over rhythm changes.

Joe Pass - Oleo: off the duo record with NHOP. Lots of Blues on the first chorus and throughout. Its a little quick, so slowing it down could help

Mike Stern - Lumpy. Lots of Blues at a slow tempo. Bending strings too, who said thats not allowed in jazz. He does play some fast double time licks mixed in as well, but lofs of good slower 8th note stuff to grab.

If you aren't familiar, YouTube has an option to play things back at 75% and 50% speed. Definitely my friend when transcribing some fast parts.

**GuitarJay** · 05-25-2021, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Paulie2

Kenny Burrell - Kenny's Sound: lots of blue language over rhythm changes.

Joe Pass - Oleo: off the duo record with NHOP. Lots of Blues on the first chorus and throughout. Its a little quick, so slowing it down could help

Mike Stern - Lumpy. Lots of Blues at a slow tempo. Bending strings too, who said thats not allowed in jazz. He does play some fast double time licks mixed in as well, but lofs of good slower 8th note stuff to grab.

If you aren't familiar, YouTube has an option to play things back at 75% and 50% speed. Definitely my friend when transcribing some fast parts.

Awesome, thank you! I'm excited to check out the Kenny Burrell - his playing and tone always knocks me out.

Everyone here is so helpful, it's really wonderful.

**GuitarJay** · 05-25-2021, 01:16 PM

Thanks for the input everyone. After listening, the Kenny Burrell solo is the one most up my alley - straight ahead sound, very bluesy, and man, he swings! It'll be a challenge for me to play at his tempo, but if I can lift a chorus, I can use that as a basis for my own exploration at a slower tempo. :-) I may explore some line from the other suggestions at a future date, so thanks again for the terrific suggestion. I've enjoyed the listening. :-)

Now to check the changes and key ...

Cheers!

**christianm77** · 05-26-2021, 04:06 AM

Second Balcony Jump, Dexter Gordon

**GuitarJay** · 05-26-2021, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by djg

This is fantastic, thank you!

**GuitarJay** · 05-26-2021, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by djg

here's more:

This is an embarrassment of riches - thank you! I have enough to keep me busy, at my slow pace, for 3-4 years!

**christianm77** · 05-26-2021, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by GuitarJay

This is an embarrassment of riches - thank you! I have enough to keep me busy, at my slow pace, for 3-4 years!

Keep doing it and you'll get a whole lot faster. Nice one.

**henryrobinett** · 05-26-2021, 11:27 AM

Miles Davis Oleo with Sonny Rollins.

**christianm77** · 05-26-2021, 02:53 PM

Don’t sleep on bop heads as a goldmine of language and ideas as well.

**GuitarJay** · 05-26-2021, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by christianm77

Don’t sleep on bop heads as a goldmine of language and ideas as well.

I've come across this advice many times, but I think my ear is not yet attuned to a lot of bop. I’m getting there and listening will help.

My immediate goals are the bluesy side of the jazz language and soul jazz and being able to take a couple choruses without sounding too amateurish.

Boogaloo Joe Jones, the bluesy Grant Green, a lot of Kenny Burrell, that’s where my ear is, currently. I love Martino but aside from some ideas from Linear Expressions, I don’t think his influence shows up in my playing.
It’s a journey and a process!

**christianm77** · 05-27-2021, 06:19 AM

Originally Posted by GuitarJay

I've come across this advice many times, but I think my ear is not yet attuned to a lot of bop. I’m getting there and listening will help.

My immediate goals are the bluesy side of the jazz language and soul jazz and being able to take a couple choruses without sounding too amateurish.

Boogaloo Joe Jones, the bluesy Grant Green, a lot of Kenny Burrell, that’s where my ear is, currently. I love Martino but aside from some ideas from Linear Expressions, I don’t think his influence shows up in my playing.
It’s a journey and a process!

Learning bop heads by ear is an excellent way to attune your ear to bop.

**christianm77** · 05-27-2021, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by djg

try to learn the head of "serpent's tooth". shouldn't take too long and teaches you more about rhythm changes that say moose the mooche, anthropology or oleo. also the rollins solo on newks fadeaway has been study material for generations.

Well a lot of what I learn from Anthropology, MTM, Oleo (and for that matter Dexter) was ‘it’s in Bb doofus!’ Not a bad thing to learn. Not only that though.

A lot more rhythmic imagination in those heads than in the Miles composition.

Rhythmic freedom as a trade off against more generalised harmony?

**christianm77** · 05-27-2021, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by djg

i agree that anthropology or moose the mooche teach you a lot about jazz rhythms. otoh serpent's tooth (a jimmy heath composition iirc) or donna lee teach you more about navigating changes than the above tunes.

I learned a lot about navigating changes from the other heads too; how to be economical. ST is more like a study, though, it’s true, and it does have this in common with DL and Little Willie Leaps. Maybe a good starting point.

the more the merrier!

**christianm77** · 05-27-2021, 01:22 PM

TBH I’m in two minds about teaching learners on things like Rhythm changes to take a generalised/simple approach and building up complexity or work straight away at learning to express every chord and only simplifying later.

**GuitarJay** · 05-27-2021, 01:38 PM

I do realize there is a lot to explore re: rhythm changes. I'll be very happy if I can improvise simple, bluesy type lines without sounding like I'm simply playing Bb blues lines. That's my incremental goal.

I appreciate all the suggestions and discussion - thank you all!

**PMB** · 05-27-2021, 06:53 PM

In terms of solos that have a relatively simple melodic/harmonic/rhythmic profile, check out Dexter Gordon's on Second Balcony Jump. Here's a completely diatonic line from his solo that's easy to play and perfectly outlines the changes (@ 1'36"):

Recommendations for Rhythm Changes to Transcribe?-sbj-jpeg

Recommendations for Rhythm Changes to Transcribe?-sbj-jpeg

Edit: Just noticed that Christian's already suggested this track.

**PMB** · 05-27-2021, 08:36 PM

As far as guitar versions go, this solo by Billy Bean contains some great ideas:

**PickingMyEars** · 05-28-2021, 12:57 AM

Date: Thu, 12 Feb 1998 21:54:55 -0500 (EST)
From: Kimberly Stephans <kstephan@indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Rhythm ChangesTim,
Well, you asked for it, here it is: a Very Incomplete Yet Still Very Long List of Tunes Based on Rhythm Changes.
[ahem...]
Allen's Alley (AKA Wee) Denzil Best
Almost David Baker
Anthropology (AKA Thrivin' From a Riff) Parker/Gillespie
Apple Honey Woody Herman
Bop Kick Nat Cole
Boppin' a Riff Sonny Stitt
Brown Gold Art Pepper
Bud's Bubble Bud Powell
Call the Police Nat Cole (?)
Calling Dr. Jazz Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Celerity Charlie Parker
Chant of the Groove Coleman Hawkins (?)
Chasin' the Bird Charlie Parker
Cheers "" ""
Constellation "" ""
Coolie Rini Howard McGhee
Coppin' the Bop J.J. Johnson
Cottontail Duke Ellington
Delerium Tadd Dameron
Dexter's Deck Dexter Gordon
Dexterity Charlie Parker
Don't Be That Way Edgar Sampson
Dorothy Howard McGhee
The Duel Dexter Gordon
Eb Pob Fats Navarro/Leo Parker
Fat Girl Fats Navarro
Father Steps In Dixon/Randall/Hines/Fox
Fifty Second Street Theme Thelonius Monk
The Flintstones Hoyt Curtain
Fox Hunt J.J. Johnson
Goin' To Minton's Fats Navarro
Good Queen Bess Duke Ellington
The Goof and I Al Cohn
Hamp's Paws Hampton Hawes
Harlem Swing Nat Cole (?)
Hollerin' and Screamin' Eddie Davis
I'm an Errand Boy for Rhythm Nat Cole (?)
In Walked Horace J.J. Johnson
Jay Jay "" ""
Jaybird "" ""
The Jeep is Jumpin' Duke Ellington
Jug Handle Gene Ammons
Juggernaut "" ""
Juggin' Around Frank Foster
Jumpin' at the Woodside Count Basie
Lemon Drop George Wallington
Lester Leaps In Lester Young
Lila Mae Nat Cole (?)
The Little Man on the White Keys " "
Miss Thing Count Basie
Moody Speaks (original version) James Moody/Dave Burns
Moody's Got Rhythm James Moody
Moose the Mooche Charlie Parker
Mop, Mop Gaillard/Stewert/Tatum
Newk's Fadeway Sonny Rollins
No Moe " "
Northwest Passage Herman/Jackson/Burns
O Go Mo Sonny Rollins
Oleo " "
On the Scene Gillespie/Fuller/Roberts
One Bass Hit Dizzy Gillespie
Opp-Bop-Sha-Bam " "
An Oscar for Treadwell " "
Ow Charlie Greenlea
Passport Charlie Parker
Pogo Stick Bounce Eden Ahbez
Raid the Joint Erskine Hawkins (?)
Red Cross Charlie Parker
Rhythm in a Riff Billy Eckstine
Rhythm Sam Nat Cole (?)
Rhythm-a-ning Thelonius Monk
Salt Peanuts Dizzy Gillespie
Seven Come Eleven Charlie Christian
Shag Sidney Bechet
Shaw Nuff Dizzy Gillespie
Shoo Shoo Baby Phil Moore
Solid Potato Salad DePaul/Prince/Raye
Sonnyside Sonny Stitt
Squatty Roo Johnny Hodges
Stay On It Tadd Dameron
Steeplechase Charlie Parker
Straighten Up and Fly Right Nat Cole
The Street Beat C. Thompson/ Robert Mellin
Strictly Confidential Bud Powell
Swedish Schnapps Charlie Shavers
Swing Spring J.J. Johnson
Swingin' With Diane Art Pepper
Syntax J.J. Johnson
Ta-de-ah Nat Cole (?)
The Theme Miles Davis
Tiptoe Thad Jones
Turnpike J.J. Johnson
Wail Bud Powell
Webb City " "
Wee (AKA Allen's Alley) Dizzy Gillespie
Who's Who Art Farmer
Wire Brush Stomp Gene Krupa (?)
XYZ Budd Johnson
Yeah Man J. Russel Robinson

And then of course there are a bunch of Aebersold tunes over Rhythm changes:
Ah! A Bossa
Almost Like...
Bebop O'Rooney
Blue Top Expresso
Climbing Up
Flat Tire! Flat Tire!
Groovin'
Homecourt Advantage
Is This Blues?
Oh, Yell!
Put On Your Thinking Cap
Slidin' Home
Weaving Thru Changes

AND, there are plenty of tunes that use Rhythm changes, but alter the A section or use a different bridge. But I think that's another post
altogether....
Hope that's enough to get you started! All of the tunes above were taken from a list in David Baker's book "How to Learn Tunes" (Volume 76), which is published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Inc.
And yes, the class with David Baker was absolutely incredible! I've never felt so overwhelmed in my life -- on the other hand, I've also never had so much fun in a class (although this semester's jazz combo course with Pat Harbison is pretty awesome too).
Kimberly
kstephan@indiana.edu

Rhythm Changes

That's where I got most of my rhythm changes from...

I almost have 300 songs on my itunes Rhythm Changes playlist.

Anymore I should add? Love CTA, not sure why it ain't on the list.

**christianm77** · 05-28-2021, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by djg

you learned how to be economical through moose the mooche? probably in a do-the-opposite way?
j/k, but tbh there are heads that drive me nuts with their small variations like anthropology and MtM

somehow i always preferred sonny stitt's almost lazy heads over RC.

Well it often boils down to one or two important notes the harmony. A Gb here, a B natural there.

**christianm77** · 05-28-2021, 04:19 AM

Originally Posted by GuitarJay

I do realize there is a lot to explore re: rhythm changes. I'll be very happy if I can improvise simple, bluesy type lines without sounding like I'm simply playing Bb blues lines. That's my incremental goal.

I appreciate all the suggestions and discussion - thank you all!

If that's your goal, may I recommend leaning into the blues in bar 6; play an Eb7/Bb minor blues scale there.

You can play blues over the whole thing, but obviously then you would be playing Bb blues lines:-)

Also - the Bb major blues scale.