As for “I Got Rhythm,” of the seventeen lines in the lyrics of its chorus, thirteen are set to the same four-note figure, a rhythmic cell that hits only one of the four strong beats in the two bars it covers….7. George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” (1930)

(One of the earliest incorporations of these “rhythm changes” comes from a 1932 recording made by the New Orleans-born musician Sidney Bechet.) Gershwin would later adapt his own song into a piano-and-orchestra concertpiece, the “I Got Rhythm” Variations.

Meanwhile, the German publisher B-Note has released a new edition of Gershwin’s original orchestration based on the manuscript full score, though due to copyright law, this edition is not yet public domain in the United States nor can it be distributed there.

“I Got Rhythm” is a favorite Gershwin song from the musical Girl Crazy. External factors—such as featuring the song on George’s radio show—played a role in establishing the work’s popularity, but the song’s enduring impact on the jazz world has made it a classic.

Ira Gershwin

The original story and score were left almost intact and all of the songs were included along with “Fascinating Rhythm” from 1924’s Lady Be Good….

George Gershwin

The term “Rhythm changes” refers to a chord progression that derives from George Gershwin’s song “I Got Rhythm” (1930). The song became quite popular, and within a few years jazz musicians began to borrow its chord structure for some of their own compositions.

1930

The rhythm changes form follows a I-vi-ii-V progression in the A section and a III7-VI7-II7-V7 structure in the B section which follows the Circle of Fifths. Musicians have praised the form for its harmonic and formal simplicity and its practicality for jam sessions and improvisation.

Ethel Merman

Ragtime developed as a popular musical style at the end of the 19th Century. It has its origins in the saloon bars and dance halls of African-American communities. It was originally played on solo piano. The left hand played a very steady rhythm – a vamp style accompaniment which is on the beat.

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Your left hand plays a supporting role when you’re at the piano. But even though it doesn’t often get to play the melody, your left hand adds some crucial bass notes and accompaniment.

Walking Bass. This is one of the common left-hand patterns in boogie-woogie piano, supplying the harmony in a forceful and ongoing pattern of broken octaves. The pattern is usually made of strict eighth notes or dotted eighth notes that “walk” up and down the accompaniment tones with a steady beat.

Some of the earliest and most influential were Big Maceo Merriweather and Sunnyland Slim. Otis Spann and Pinetop Perkins, two of the best-known blues pianists, are heavily boogie-woogie influenced, with the latter taking both his name and signature tune from Pinetop Smith.

Boogie-woogie is a style of blues music, usually played on the piano, that is closely related to jazz forms such as ragtime and stride piano.