<!-- Giant Steps changes on guitar: voice-led drop 2, drop 3, shell and rootless voicings · https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/giant-steps -->

Guitar · tunes

# Giant Steps changes on guitar

Giant Steps through its whole 16-bar form, comped in drop 2, drop 3, shell and rootless voicings.

## The form

| Bars | Chords | Key center |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1–4 | Bmaj7 D7 \| Gmaj7 B♭7 \| E♭maj7 \| Am7 D7 | B major, G major, E♭ major |
| 5–8 | Gmaj7 B♭7 \| E♭maj7 F♯7 \| Bmaj7 \| Fm7 B♭7 | G major, E♭ major, B major |
| 9–12 | E♭maj7 \| Am7 D7 \| Gmaj7 \| C♯m7 F♯7 | E♭ major, G major, B major |
| 13–16 | Bmaj7 \| Fm7 B♭7 \| E♭maj7 \| C♯m7 F♯7 | B major, E♭ major |

### Drop 2 voicings

Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 95 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 5. [Practice Giant Steps in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=giant-steps:11:drop2:4:jazz)

Top line: 1–4 C♯ – C – B – B♭ – B♭ – C – C 5–8 B – C – B♭ – C♯ – C♯ – B♭ – B♭ 9–12 B♭ – D – D – D – C♯ – C♯ 13–16 C♯ – C – B♭ – B♭ – C♯ – C♯

**Bmaj9 (bar 1)** Grip x-x-8-8-7-9 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 7 3 5 9

**D7 (bar 1)** Grip x-x-7-7-7-8 · frets 7–8 *→ G major*

**Gmaj7 (bar 2)** Grip x-10-12-11-12-x · frets 10–12

#### Bars 1–4

**B♭7 (bar 2)** Grip x-11-12-10-11-x · frets 10–12 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj9 (bar 3)** Grip x-10-12-10-11-x · frets 10–12 Voiced: 3 7 9 5

**Am7(11) (bar 4)** Grip x-x-7-7-8-8 · frets 7–8 Voiced: 1 11 ♭7 ♭3 *→ G major*

**D7 (bar 4)** Grip x-x-7-7-7-8 · frets 7–8

#### Bars 5–8

**Gmaj7 (bar 5)** Grip x-10-12-11-12-x · frets 10–12

**B♭9 (bar 5)** Grip x-x-6-7-6-8 · frets 6–8 Voiced: ♭7 3 5 9 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj9 (bar 6)** Grip x-10-12-10-11-x · frets 10–12 Voiced: 3 7 9 5

**F♯7 (bar 6)** Grip x-x-8-9-7-9 · frets 7–9 *→ B major*

**Bmaj9 (bar 7)** Grip x-x-8-8-7-9 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 7 3 5 9

**Fm7(11) (bar 8)** Grip x-x-6-8-6-6 · frets 6–8 Voiced: ♭3 ♭7 1 11 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭7 (bar 8)** Grip x-x-6-7-6-6 · frets 6–7

#### Bars 9–12

**E♭maj9 (bar 9)** Grip x-x-5-7-6-6 · frets 5–7 Voiced: 3 7 9 5

**Am7(11) (bar 10)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-10 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭3 ♭7 1 11 *→ G major*

**D7 (bar 10)** Grip x-x-10-11-10-10 · frets 10–11

**Gmaj9 (bar 11)** Grip x-x-9-11-10-10 · frets 9–11 Voiced: 3 7 9 5

**C♯m7 (bar 12)** Grip x-x-9-9-9-9 · fret 9 *→ B major*

**F♯7 (bar 12)** Grip x-x-8-9-7-9 · frets 7–9

#### Bars 13–16

**Bmaj9 (bar 13)** Grip x-x-8-8-7-9 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 7 3 5 9

**Fm7 (bar 14)** Grip x-x-6-8-6-8 · frets 6–8 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭7 (bar 14)** Grip x-x-6-7-6-6 · frets 6–7

**E♭maj9 (bar 15)** Grip x-x-5-7-6-6 · frets 5–7 Voiced: 3 7 9 5

**C♯m7 (bar 16)** Grip x-x-9-9-9-9 · fret 9 *→ B major*

**F♯7 (bar 16)** Grip x-x-8-9-7-9 · frets 7–9

### Drop 3 voicings

Four notes with a string skipped above the bass, the third voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 105 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 6. [Practice Giant Steps in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=giant-steps:11:drop3:4:jazz)

Top line: 1–4 A♯ – A – A – C – B♭ – A – A 5–8 A – D – D – C♯ – C♯ – C – C 9–12 B♭ – B – A – A – B – A♯ 13–16 A♯ – C – C – B♭ – B – A♯

**Bmaj9 (bar 1)** Grip 11-x-11-11-11-x · fret 11 Voiced: 3 9 5 7

**D7 (bar 1)** Grip 10-x-10-11-10-x · frets 10–11 *→ G major*

**Gmaj9 (bar 2)** Grip 10-x-9-11-10-x · frets 9–11 Voiced: 5 3 7 9

#### Bars 1–4

**B♭9 (bar 2)** Grip x-8-x-7-9-8 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 5 3 ♭7 9 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj7 (bar 3)** Grip x-6-x-7-8-6 · frets 6–8

**Am7 (bar 4)** Grip 12-x-10-12-10-x · frets 10–12 *→ G major*

**D7 (bar 4)** Grip 10-x-10-11-10-x · frets 10–11

#### Bars 5–8

**Gmaj9 (bar 5)** Grip 10-x-9-11-10-x · frets 9–11 Voiced: 5 3 7 9

**B♭7 (bar 5)** Grip x-11-x-10-11-10 · frets 10–11 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj9 (bar 6)** Grip x-10-x-10-11-10 · frets 10–11 Voiced: 3 9 5 7

**F♯7 (bar 6)** Grip x-9-x-9-11-9 · frets 9–11 *→ B major*

**B6/9 (bar 7)** Grip x-9-x-8-9-9 · frets 8–9 Voiced: 5 3 6 9

**Fm7 (bar 8)** Grip x-8-x-8-9-8 · frets 8–9 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭9 (bar 8)** Grip x-8-x-7-9-8 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 5 3 ♭7 9

#### Bars 9–12

**E♭maj7 (bar 9)** Grip x-6-x-7-8-6 · frets 6–8

**Am9 (bar 10)** Grip 12-x-10-12-12-x · frets 10–12 Voiced: 5 ♭3 ♭7 9 *→ G major*

**D7 (bar 10)** Grip 10-x-10-11-10-x · frets 10–11

**Gmaj9 (bar 11)** Grip 10-x-9-11-10-x · frets 9–11 Voiced: 5 3 7 9

**C♯m7(11) (bar 12)** Grip 12-x-11-11-12-x · frets 11–12 Voiced: ♭3 1 11 ♭7 *→ B major*

**F♯7 (bar 12)** Grip 12-x-11-11-11-x · frets 11–12

#### Bars 13–16

**Bmaj7 (bar 13)** Grip 11-x-9-11-11-x · frets 9–11

**Fm7 (bar 14)** Grip x-8-x-8-9-8 · frets 8–9 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭9 (bar 14)** Grip x-8-x-7-9-8 · frets 7–9 Voiced: 5 3 ♭7 9

**E♭maj7 (bar 15)** Grip x-6-x-7-8-6 · frets 6–8

**C♯m7(11) (bar 16)** Grip 12-x-11-11-12-x · frets 11–12 Voiced: ♭3 1 11 ♭7 *→ B major*

**F♯7 (bar 16)** Grip 12-x-11-11-11-x · frets 11–12

### Shell voicings

Three notes: the root in the bass with the 3rd and 7th, the notes that name the chord. The voices move 198 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 9. [Practice Giant Steps in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=giant-steps:11:shell:jazz)

Top line: 1–4 D♯ – F♯ – F♯ – D – D – C – C 5–8 B – D – D – E – D♯ – E♭ – D 9–12 D – G – F♯ – F♯ – E – E 13–16 D♯ – E♭ – D – D – E – E

**Bmaj7 (bar 1)** Grip 7-x-8-8-x-x · frets 7–8

**D7 (bar 1)** Grip 10-x-10-11-x-x · frets 10–11 *→ G major*

**Gmaj7 (bar 2)** Grip x-10-9-11-x-x · frets 9–11

#### Bars 1–4

**B♭7 (bar 2)** Grip 6-x-6-7-x-x · frets 6–7 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj7 (bar 3)** Grip x-6-5-7-x-x · frets 5–7

**Am7 (bar 4)** Grip 5-x-5-5-x-x · fret 5 *→ G major*

**D7 (bar 4)** Grip x-5-4-5-x-x · frets 4–5

#### Bars 5–8

**Gmaj7 (bar 5)** Grip 3-x-4-4-x-x · frets 3–4

**B♭7 (bar 5)** Grip 6-x-6-7-x-x · frets 6–7 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj7 (bar 6)** Grip x-6-5-7-x-x · frets 5–7

**F♯7 (bar 6)** Grip x-9-8-9-x-x · frets 8–9 *→ B major*

**Bmaj7 (bar 7)** Grip 7-x-8-8-x-x · frets 7–8

**Fm7 (bar 8)** Grip x-8-6-8-x-x · frets 6–8 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭7 (bar 8)** Grip 6-x-6-7-x-x · frets 6–7

#### Bars 9–12

**E♭maj7 (bar 9)** Grip x-6-5-7-x-x · frets 5–7

**Am7 (bar 10)** Grip x-12-10-12-x-x · frets 10–12 *→ G major*

**D7 (bar 10)** Grip 10-x-10-11-x-x · frets 10–11

**Gmaj7 (bar 11)** Grip x-10-9-11-x-x · frets 9–11

**C♯m7 (bar 12)** Grip 9-x-9-9-x-x · fret 9 *→ B major*

**F♯7 (bar 12)** Grip x-9-8-9-x-x · frets 8–9

#### Bars 13–16

**Bmaj7 (bar 13)** Grip 7-x-8-8-x-x · frets 7–8

**Fm7 (bar 14)** Grip x-8-6-8-x-x · frets 6–8 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭7 (bar 14)** Grip 6-x-6-7-x-x · frets 6–7

**E♭maj7 (bar 15)** Grip x-6-5-7-x-x · frets 5–7

**C♯m7 (bar 16)** Grip 9-x-9-9-x-x · fret 9 *→ B major*

**F♯7 (bar 16)** Grip x-9-8-9-x-x · frets 8–9

### Rootless voicings

Four notes without the root, with a 9th or 13th in its place: the bass player plays the root. The voices move 181 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 10. [Practice Giant Steps in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=giant-steps:11:rootless:4:jazz)

Top line: 1–4 A♯ – E♭ – D – D – D – E – E 5–8 D – D – D – C♯ – C♯ – E♭ – D 9–12 D – D – E♭ – D – B – A♯ 13–16 A♯ – B♭ – C – B♭ – B – A♯

**Bmaj9 (bar 1)** Grip x-6-x-6-7-6 · frets 6–7 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**D7(♭9,13) (bar 1)** Grip x-x-10-11-12-11 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 3 13 ♭9 *→ G major*

**Gmaj9 (bar 2)** Grip x-x-9-11-10-10 · frets 9–11 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

#### Bars 1–4

**B♭13 (bar 2)** Grip x-11-10-12-x-10 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj9 (bar 3)** Grip x-10-x-10-11-10 · frets 10–11 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**Am9 (bar 4)** Grip x-x-10-12-12-12 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭3 ♭7 9 5 *→ G major*

**D13 (bar 4)** Grip x-x-10-11-12-12 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 3 13 9

#### Bars 5–8

**Gmaj9 (bar 5)** Grip x-x-9-11-10-10 · frets 9–11 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

**B♭7(♭9,13) (bar 5)** Grip x-11-x-12-12-10 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 13 ♭9 3 *→ E♭ major*

**E♭maj9 (bar 6)** Grip x-10-x-10-11-10 · frets 10–11 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**F♯9 (bar 6)** Grip x-x-8-9-9-9 · frets 8–9 Rootless: 3 ♭7 9 5 *→ B major*

**Bmaj9 (bar 7)** Grip x-x-8-8-7-9 · frets 7–9 Rootless: 7 3 5 9

**Fm9 (bar 8)** Grip x-11-10-12-x-11 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭13 (bar 8)** Grip x-11-10-12-x-10 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3

#### Bars 9–12

**E♭maj9 (bar 9)** Grip x-10-x-10-11-10 · frets 10–11 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**Am11 (bar 10)** Grip x-x-10-12-12-10 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭3 ♭7 9 11 *→ G major*

**D7(♭9,13) (bar 10)** Grip x-x-10-11-12-11 · frets 10–12 Rootless: ♭7 3 13 ♭9

**Gmaj9 (bar 11)** Grip x-x-9-11-10-10 · frets 9–11 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

**C♯m9 (bar 12)** Grip x-7-6-8-x-7 · frets 6–8 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 *→ B major*

**F♯13 (bar 12)** Grip x-7-6-8-x-6 · frets 6–8 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3

#### Bars 13–16

**Bmaj9 (bar 13)** Grip x-6-x-6-7-6 · frets 6–7 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**Fm11 (bar 14)** Grip x-x-6-8-8-6 · frets 6–8 Rootless: ♭3 ♭7 9 11 *→ E♭ major*

**B♭13 (bar 14)** Grip x-x-6-7-8-8 · frets 6–8 Rootless: ♭7 3 13 9

**E♭maj9 (bar 15)** Grip x-x-5-7-6-6 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

**C♯m9 (bar 16)** Grip x-7-6-8-x-7 · frets 6–8 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7 *→ B major*

**F♯13 (bar 16)** Grip x-7-6-8-x-6 · frets 6–8 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3

## The ii–V–Is inside it

Each ii–V–I in the tune on its own, in every voicing, with the tritone substitute.

- [ii–V–I in G](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-g) (bar 10)
- [ii–V–I in E♭](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-eb) (bar 14)
- [ii–V–I in B](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-b) (bar 12)

## Its chords

- [Bmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/bmaj7-drop-2)
- [Bmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/bmaj7)
- [D7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/d7-drop-2)
- [D7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/d7)
- [Gmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/gmaj7-drop-2)
- [Gmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/gmaj7)
- [B♭7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/bb7-drop-2)
- [B♭7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/bb7)
- [E♭maj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/ebmaj7-drop-2)
- [E♭maj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/ebmaj7)
- [Am7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/am7-drop-2)
- [Am7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/am7)
- [F♯7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/f-sharp-7-drop-2)
- [F♯7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/f-sharp-7)
- [Fm7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/fm7-drop-2)
- [Fm7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/fm7)
- [C♯m7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/c-sharp-m7-drop-2)
- [C♯m7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/c-sharp-m7)

## Practice it in Practice Lab

Comp Giant Steps in Practice Lab: the same voicings, chord by chord, at your tempo, with the voices that move marked. Free, in your browser, no account.

[Open it in Practice Lab](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=giant-steps:11:drop2:4:jazz)