10 Levels of Playing the Bridge to Rhythm Changes

From the moment George Gershwin’s composition I Got Rhythm entered the jazz repertoire, it quickly became one of the most played, and most important, song forms in this music…

And over the years, it has served as a proving ground for serious players everywhere. From beginners eager to show they can hang on the changes to pros demonstrating the depth of their musical knowledge and skills…

But one section of the tune that I always found surprisingly challenging was the Bridge to Rhythm Changes – the 8 bars of the B section (in a 32 bar AABA form) that start on the III7 chord:

Bridge to Rhythm Changes

The wide open dominant chords can quickly reveal what you know, or don’t know, about the tune…

The harmony here is pretty straight forward – it’s built on cycle motion or the harmonic relationships found in the circle of fifths – starting on the III7 chord and resolving around the cycle until the return to the I chord:

Circle of 5ths bridge

The trick however, lies in not just playing the dominant chords themselves, but in resolving to the next chord, highlighting the V7 to I movement.

The more options, musical tactics, ideas for variation, and inspiration for these 8 bars you have, the more you’ll be free to create your own musical ideas.

And that’s exactly what we’ll explore today…

10 Solos on the Bridge to Rhythm Changes

Like most areas of improvisation, the musical answers you’re looking for lie within the language of the music – specifically, the solos of your favorite players.

Below, we’ll look at 10 solos navigating the bridge to Rhythm Changes from musical icons like Louis Armstrong and Lester Young all the way to Michael Brecker and Kenny Kirkland.

Ten different players, ten unique styles, and ten “levels” of navigating the 8 measures of dominant chords that are the bridge to Rhythm Changes

Along with absorbing the sound, time, and individual style of each phrase, you’ll also explore concepts like:

  • Dominant language
  • V7 to I tactics and resolutions
  • Melodic development
  • V7 alterations and substitutions
  • and Variations on the Bridge

Let’s get started…

Hey, Sorry to Interrupt...

I know you were just getting into this lesson, but this one’s reserved for Jazzadvice PRO members.

Already a PRO member? Log in below to keep reading.

Ready to Take Your Playing Further?

If you want to go deeper into this approach and build a complete understanding of the music, this is exactly what we build on inside Jazzadvice PRO.

PRO gives you access to:

  • Our 5 core courses covering ear training, harmony, and improvisation
  • In-depth lessons breaking down tunes, solos, and real musical concepts
  • Clear paths to connect ideas across tunes and develop your playing

Join thousands of musicians using Jazzadvice to practice with clarity and direction.

So here’s the deal…

We’re not some big company. We’re just two guys — Forrest & Eric — who’ve spent years pouring everything we know about jazz into this site.

Thousands of musicians have learned from Jazzadvice, but here’s the truth:
Jazzadvice has almost shut down more than once. Creating this kind of material takes time, energy, and everything we’ve got.

That’s why we built Jazzadvice PRO — to give aspiring improvisers the best jazz improvisation material on the planet, while keeping the site alive for years to come.

So if Jazzadvice has ever helped you break through a plateau, find new motivation, or rediscover why you love playing, consider joining PRO to give back, while taking your own playing to the next level.

Jazzadvice PRO
Get complete access to our lessons, courses, and future content.
$10
/ month
Billed Yearly
Unlock PRO Lessons
Unlock PRO Jazz Courses
Unlock All Future Content

Join thousands of musicians learning jazz with Jazzadvice PRO

What makes Jazzadvice PRO
such a good deal?

Each of our full-length Jazzadvice Courses is available individually for $229, and for good reason — they’re complete programs built to transform how you hear, understand, and play jazz.

And with Jazzadvice PRO you get all five courses, every PRO lesson, and everything new we release for just $10/month.

That’s over $1,000 worth of material included with Jazzadvice PRO.

Included With Jazzadvice PRO

Jazz Theory Unlocked

Ear Training Method

Melodic Power

Jazz Visualization Course

Reprogramming the Musical Mind

Full Library of PRO Lessons

Access to all Future Content

Individual Price

$229

$229

$229

$229

$229

$108/year

Included

TOTAL VALUE: Over $1,000
YOUR PRICE: Just $10/month (billed yearly)

Thousands of musicians paid full price for these courses and lessons, and for good reason. The material works. It helps players make real, lasting progress.

Jazzadvice PRO gives you everything for one low price — lessons, courses, and every new release — so you can stop piecing things together and start focusing on what really matters: becoming the player you want to be.

All Member-Only Lessons

Every lesson like the one you were just reading is part of a larger collection — deep dives on the real skills that matter: improvisation, harmony, ear training, and the practice habits that separate great players from the rest.

  • Tons of focused, member-only lessons that go far beyond what we can share publicly
  • Downloadable workbooks and exercises to quickly turn deep concepts into real skills.
  • Fresh new lessons added regularly to keep your practice inspired

All 5 Fundamental Courses

Jazzadvice Fundamental Courses

When you’re ready to go deeper, Jazzadvice PRO gives you the full picture. Five complete courses that will take your skills to new heights:

The Ear Training Method - Hear harmony like a pro.

Melodic Power – shape lines with clarity, direction, and intent.

Jazz Theory Unlocked – Unravel the logic behind any tune.

Reprogramm the Musical Mind – upgrade your habits & mindset.

Visualization for Jazz – build mental fluency to play with freedom.

Everything New We Create

Jazzadvice keeps growing — and when you’re a Jazzadvice PRO member, you grow with it. That means every new lesson, every new course, and every new tool we build automatically becomes part of your membership.

No upgrades. No extra cost. Just an ever-expanding library designed to help you keep improving.

And here's the truth...

Every musician hits a point where progress stalls, where you feel stuck, repeating the same ideas and not sure how to move forward. That’s the moment most people drift away.

But you don’t have to. You found Jazzadvice for a reason — because you have a true desire to take your playing to the next level. And everything we’ve built inside PRO is designed to help you keep that momentum going, to keep you inspired and play with confidence.

So if these lessons have sparked something in you — even just a glimpse of what’s possible, don’t let it fade. Join Jazzadvice PRO, keep learning, and see how far you can really go.

Jazzadvice PRO
Get complete access to our lessons, courses, and future content.
$10
/ month
Billed Yearly
Unlock PRO Lessons
Unlock PRO Jazz Courses
Unlock All Future Content

Join thousands of musicians learning jazz with Jazzadvice PRO

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: You can easily pay by credit card or PayPal.

Q: How do I access my content?
A: After checkout, simply log in to your Jazzadvice account. From your Dashboard you’ll instantly see everything included with Jazzadvice PRO or any individual Course you’ve purchased. Everything is online — no shipping, no waiting.

Q: Will my PRO Membership renew automatically?
A: Yes. Your membership will renew automatically. You can manage or cancel anytime directly from your account. One-time Course purchases do not renew. For full details, please see our PRO Membership Terms.

Q: What is Jazzadvice PRO?
A: Jazzadvice PRO is our complete membership. It includes all PRO Lessons, all PRO Courses, and all future content we release.

Q: What format is the material in?
A: All content is 100% online. Courses may include streamable video, written materials, and audio exercises. PRO Lessons often include downloadable PDFs or practice guides. Nothing is shipped.

Q: What if I’ve purchased a Course in the past?
A: You’ll always keep access to what you’ve purchased. Jazzadvice PRO simply goes further by giving you access to all PRO Courses, all PRO Lessons, and future member-only content in one membership.

Q: How do I cancel my membership?
A: You can manage or cancel your membership any time from your Account Settings on your Dashboard. When you cancel, your access continues until the end of your current annual membership term.

Q: Who is this for?
A: Jazzadvice PRO is for musicians who want to build a real foundation, study deeply, and apply what they learn. It’s not for total beginners, but if you know basic scales, chords, and progressions, you’ll benefit whether you’re an experienced beginner, intermediate, or advanced player.

Q: Will this work for my level?
A: Yes — as long as you’re not a complete beginner. If you’re just starting out but already know the basics, our Courses and Lessons will give you the structure and clarity to move forward faster. And if you’re intermediate or advanced, they will fill in the gaps, reframe what you already know, and help push your playing to a deeper level.

Q: Do I need to read music?
A: Lessons often use notation, scale numbers, and chord symbols, but you don’t need to be an advanced reader. A basic familiarity with major and minor scales, chords, and simple notation is enough to get started.

Q: I’m not a jazz musician. Will I still benefit?
A: Absolutely. The ability to hear, understand, and use the language of music isn’t limited to jazz. Whether you play classical, rock, folk, or any other style, the skills you’ll build in Jazzadvice PRO will make you a better musician.

Q: Which course should I start with?
A: You can begin with any of the 5 PRO Courses — they’re designed to complement each other. If you’re unsure, start with the area where you feel weakest, or follow our suggested sequence on the site for a clear roadmap.

Q: What is Premium Legacy?
A: Premium Legacy, briefly called PRO Basic, is our retired lesson-library membership for longtime members. It includes access to PRO Lessons, but does not include access to PRO Courses. Premium Legacy is no longer available for new members.

Q: If I already purchased a Course or have a Premium Legacy membership, do I get a discount or credit toward Jazzadvice PRO?
A: Previous Course purchases and legacy memberships remain in your account, but they do not automatically transfer as credit toward Jazzadvice PRO. If you have a specific question about your account, contact us and we’ll be happy to take a look.

Q: Is there a money-back guarantee or refund if I don’t like it?
A: No. We don’t offer refunds. Our lessons and courses are the result of years of work and require consistent effort. If you’re committed to improving and practicing, you’ll get enormous value from your purchase.

Q: Can I share my Membership, Course, or PRO Lessons?
A: No. Access is licensed to the one person who purchases it. Sharing or redistributing any content is not allowed and will result in revoked access without refund.

Q: I’m a teacher. Can I use PRO content or Course content in the classroom?
A: No. PRO memberships, Courses, and PRO Lessons (formerly Premium Lessons) are licensed for one user only. Please respect our copyrights and direct your students to purchase their own access.

Q: What instruments is Jazzadvice PRO for?
A: All instruments. Lessons and courses are designed to apply universally, because every musician needs these skills.

We're here to help...

If you have any questions we're more than happy to answer them.