Mandolin · Level 10 · Expert
Rhythm changes (A section) on Mandolin
I–vi–ii–V–iii–VI7–ii–V in all 12 keys.
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Rhythm changes is the second most important jazz form after the blues. The A section packs two chords into every bar at a lively tempo.
Choose a key
C majorCmaj7 Am7 · Dm7 G7 · Em7 A7 · Dm7 G7D♭ majorD♭maj7 B♭m7 · E♭m7 A♭7 · Fm7 B♭7 · E♭m7 A♭7D majorDmaj7 Bm7 · Em7 A7 · F♯m7 B7 · Em7 A7E♭ majorE♭maj7 Cm7 · Fm7 B♭7 · Gm7 C7 · Fm7 B♭7E majorEmaj7 C♯m7 · F♯m7 B7 · G♯m7 C♯7 · F♯m7 B7F majorFmaj7 Dm7 · Gm7 C7 · Am7 D7 · Gm7 C7F♯ majorF♯maj7 D♯m7 · G♯m7 C♯7 · A♯m7 D♯7 · G♯m7 C♯7G majorGmaj7 Em7 · Am7 D7 · Bm7 E7 · Am7 D7A♭ majorA♭maj7 Fm7 · B♭m7 E♭7 · Cm7 F7 · B♭m7 E♭7A majorAmaj7 F♯m7 · Bm7 E7 · C♯m7 F♯7 · Bm7 E7B♭ majorB♭maj7 Gm7 · Cm7 F7 · Dm7 G7 · Cm7 F7B majorBmaj7 G♯m7 · C♯m7 F♯7 · D♯m7 G♯7 · C♯m7 F♯7
Listen first: C major
Cmaj7
Notes: C · E · G · B
Am7
Notes: A · C · E · G
Dm7
Notes: D · F · A · C
G7
Notes: G · B · D · F
Em7
Notes: E · G · B · D
A7
Notes: A · C♯ · E · G
C7
Notes: C · E · G · B♭
Fmaj7
Notes: F · A · C · E
Fm7
Notes: F · A♭ · C · E♭
Why it works
Bar five's I7 is a secondary dominant of IV, and bar six borrows the minor iv from the parallel minor.