Standards · 1930
I Got Rhythm chords & key
- Key
- B♭ major
- Form
- AABA
- Bars
- 32
- Groove
- Up-tempo swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Year
- 1930
“I Got Rhythm” is a jazz standard by George Gershwin from 1930. Most bands play it in B♭ major, up-tempo swing; the tune runs 32 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 1 minor ii–V–i, uses 14 different chords and moves between the key centres C minor and B♭ major. The bridge uses the cycle of dominants known from Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” — so-called rhythm changes. In this atlas it appears on 14 album tracks and in 1 transcribed solo.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — B♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- F7×14
- B♭6×7
- Cm7×7
- Gm7×6
- Dm7×4
- B♭6/F×4
Key centres reached by ii–V
C minor and B♭ major
Characteristics
- Rhythm changes
- AABA song form
History
"I Got Rhythm" is a piece composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and published in 1930, which became a jazz standard. Its chord progression, known as "rhythm changes", is the foundation for many other jazz tunes such as Charlie Parker's and Dizzy Gillespie's bebop standard "Anthropology (Thrivin' on a Riff)".
Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Recorded on these albums
Transcribed solos on I Got Rhythm
| Dickie Wells trombone | 243 BPM |
Historic 78 rpm recordings
- I GOT RHYTHM Don Byas · Slam Stewart · George & Ira Gerhswin · TIMME ROSENKRANTZ archive.org ↗
- I Got Rhythm Casper Reardon and His Orchestra · George Gershwin · 1940 archive.org ↗
- I GOT RHYTHM CASPER REARDON AND HIS ORCHESTRA · George Gershwin · 1940 archive.org ↗
- I GOT RHYTHM RED NORVO'S ALL STAR SEPTET · TEDDY WILSON · Red Norvo · Teddy… · 1944 archive.org ↗
- I GOT RHYTHM METRONOME ALL STAR LEADERS · I. & G. Gershwin · 1945 archive.org ↗
- I GOT RHYTHM PEE WEE HUNT and His Orchestra · (Gershwin) · 1946 archive.org ↗
- I GOT RHYTHM PEE WEE HUNT AND HIS ORCH. · Gershwin · 1949 archive.org ↗
- I GOT RHYTHM OLIVE MASON · H. Siegel · E. Backus · M. Lishon · George Gershwin · 1950 archive.org ↗
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
| Title | Key |
|---|---|
| Cotton Tail 38% | B♭ major |
| I Love Being Here With You 37% | B♭ major |
| C.T.A. 33% | B♭ major |
| Don't Be That Way 33% | D♭ major |
| I Want To Be Happy 33% | C major |
| Let's Fall In Love 32% | C major |
| Webb City 29% | B♭ major |
| But Not For Me 28% | E♭ major |
Frequently asked questions
What key is I Got Rhythm in?
I Got Rhythm is usually played in B♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is C major, for E♭ instruments G major.
Who wrote I Got Rhythm?
I Got Rhythm was written by George Gershwin (1930).
What is the form of I Got Rhythm?
I Got Rhythm has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is I Got Rhythm played?
The usual groove is Up-tempo swing. Transcribed solos in our data were played at 243 BPM.
What are the chord changes to I Got Rhythm?
The opening bars are Bb6 Gm7 | Cm7 F7 | Dm7 Gm7 | Cm7 F7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.