Rhythm Changes Strategies Part II

Randy Johnston continues his rhythm changes series with a 33-minute class on harmonic substitution over the A section of "I Got Rhythm" changes — material that applies just as well to any II-V-I or cycle-based jazz tune.

Building on the chord reductions from Part I, Randy works through a multitude of I-VI-II-V variations, tritone substitutions, and extended back-cycle ideas to make your lines more harmonically colorful. Every concept is demonstrated on the guitar and also notated in the downloadable written materials.

What's covered

• The three-for-one substitution: playing Dm7 over the Bb tonic to open up the first bars
• I-VI-II-V variations with specific written line examples
• Tritone substitutions explained and applied — Db7 for G7, B7 for F7 — including descending half-step cycles (Dm7–Db7–Cm7–B7)
• Simple triad-based lines (5-1-3-5 of each chord) for spelling out the substitute changes
• Extended back-cycle ideas using secondary dominants for more harmonic variation
• Practice advice: writing out your own lines and transcribing rhythm changes vocabulary you hear

For intermediate and advanced players who want to be more varied and free when improvising on rhythm changes. Written examples are included as a download, and the bridge gets its own treatment in Part III. Full video is 33 minutes.