Rhythm Changes (A) · Jazz

A6 · F#m7 · Bm7 · E7 · C#m7 · F#7 · Bm7 · E7

I6 · vi7 · ii7 · V7 · iii7 · VI7 · ii7 · V7 in the key of Am

Gershwin’s eight bars — after the blues, the most-borrowed changes in jazz.

Four bars of rhythm changes (a) in the key of Am, written I6 · vi7 · ii7 · V7 · iii7 · VI7 · ii7 · V7 and played quarters over a hi-hat groove at around 144 beats per minute. The chord shapes are below, and you can hear the whole thing play (and slow it down) without an account.

Chord diagrams for A6, F#m7, Bm7, E7, C#m7, F#7, Bm7, E7 (I6 · vi7 · ii7 · V7 · iii7 · VI7 · ii7 · V7 in Am)

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What the chords are

This is I6 · vi7 · ii7 · V7 · iii7 · VI7 · ii7 · V7 in the key of Am. The degree of each chord is what makes the progression recognisable in any key, so the same four moves transpose anywhere once you know them by number.

A6 I6 up at the 4th fret, spanning to the 6th, on 4 strings
F#m7 vi7 up at the 4th fret, spanning to the 6th, on 4 strings
Bm7 ii7 up at the 3rd fret, spanning to the 5th, on 4 strings
E7 V7 up at the 2nd fret, spanning to the 4th, on 4 strings
C#m7 iii7 up at the 2nd fret, spanning to the 4th, on 4 strings
F#7 VI7 up at the 2nd fret, spanning to the 3rd, on 4 strings
Bm7 ii7 at the 2nd fret, on 4 strings
E7 V7 at the 1st fret, on 4 strings

How it should feel

Strum: Quarters
Groove: Hi-hat
Tempo: 144 bpm
Key: Am
Voicings: Glue

The smallest possible movement between chords. The voices barely leave their seats.

The shapes

Low E on the left, high e on the right. 0 is an open string, × is one you do not play.

Chord	E	A	D	G	B	e
A6	×	×	4	6	5	5
F#m7	×	×	4	6	5	5
Bm7	×	×	4	4	3	5
E7	×	×	2	4	3	4
C#m7	×	×	2	4	2	4
F#7	×	×	2	3	2	2
Bm7	×	×	0	2	0	2
E7	×	×	0	1	0	0

More Jazz

Posted Oct 20, 2026. Part of a growing library of guitar chord progressions.