19

The "rhythm changes" chord progression, used in compositions as wide ranging as Parker’s Anthropology and the Flintstones Theme, is named after George Gershwin’s 1930 song I Got Rhythm.

Was this song the first to use this chord progression or did it merely popularise it?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

There's a whole Wikipedia article devoted to it. The consensus seems to be that George Gershwin was in fact the originator.

Improve this answer
2
  • 1
    Unless I'm missing something, the article only seems to cover the use of rhythm changes in jazz. It attributes the rise of the changes to (among other things) the early popularity of I Got Rhythm as a jazz standard, but I can't see any mention of whether the changes had been used in any non-jazz composition prior to I Got Rhythm.
    – Uri Granta
    Commented Jun 4, 2015 at 16:28
  • The original I Got Rhythm (1930) was Tin Pan Alley: syncopated and jazzy, yes, but not actually jazz. E.g. listen to youtube.com/watch?v=vR0-LeL11lQ. It also has a slight ragtime feel; indeed, the bridge is pure ragtime progression. It's therefore not beyond the realms of possibility that the chord progression had been used before.
    – Uri Granta
    Commented Jun 5, 2015 at 14:00

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.