<!-- Take the A Train changes on guitar: voice-led drop 2, drop 3, shell and rootless voicings · https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/tunes/take-the-a-train -->

Guitar · tunes

# Take the A Train changes on guitar

Take the A Train through its whole 32-bar form, comped in drop 2, drop 3, shell and rootless voicings.

## The form

| Bars | Chords | Key center |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1–8 | Cmaj7 \| Cmaj7 \| D7 \| D7 \| Dm7 \| G7 \| Cmaj7 \| Cmaj7 | C major |
| 9–16 | Cmaj7 \| Cmaj7 \| D7 \| D7 \| Dm7 \| G7 \| Cmaj7 \| Cmaj7 | C major |
| 17–24 | Fmaj7 \| Fmaj7 \| Fmaj7 \| Fmaj7 \| D7 \| D7 \| Dm7 \| G7 | C major |
| 25–32 | Cmaj7 \| Cmaj7 \| D7 \| D7 \| Dm7 \| G7 \| Cmaj7 \| Cmaj7 | C major |

### Drop 2 voicings

Four notes on four neighboring strings, the second voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 80 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 3. [Practice Take the A Train in drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=take-the-a-train:0:drop2:4:jazz)

Top line: 1–8 E – E – E – E – D – D – D – E 9–16 E – E – E – E – D – D – D – D 17–24 E – E – E – E – E – E – D – D 25–32 D – E – E – E – D – D – D – E

**C6 (bar 1)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 1 5 6 3

**Cmaj7 (bar 2)** Grip x-x-10-12-12-12 · frets 10–12

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

#### Bars 1–8

**D9 (bar 4)** Grip x-x-10-11-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭7 3 5 9

**Dm7 (bar 5)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-10 · fret 10

**G9 (bar 6)** Grip x-x-9-10-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 ♭7 9 5

**C6/9 (bar 7)** Grip x-x-10-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 1 3 6 9

**C6 (bar 8)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 1 5 6 3

#### Bars 9–16

**Cmaj7 (bar 9)** Grip x-x-10-12-12-12 · frets 10–12

**C6 (bar 10)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 1 5 6 3

**D9 (bar 11)** Grip x-x-10-11-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭7 3 5 9

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

**Dm7 (bar 13)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-10 · fret 10

**G9 (bar 14)** Grip x-x-9-10-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 ♭7 9 5

**Cmaj9 (bar 15)** Grip x-x-9-9-8-10 · frets 8–10 Voiced: 7 3 5 9

**C6/9 (bar 16)** Grip x-x-10-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 1 3 6 9

#### Bars 17–24

**Fmaj9 (bar 17)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 5 9 3 7

**Fmaj7 (bar 18)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-12 · frets 10–12

**Fmaj9 (bar 19)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 5 9 3 7

**Fmaj7 (bar 20)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-12 · frets 10–12

**D9 (bar 21)** Grip x-x-10-11-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭7 3 5 9

**D13 (bar 22)** Grip x-x-10-11-12-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭7 3 13 9

**Dm7 (bar 23)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-10 · fret 10

**G9 (bar 24)** Grip x-x-9-10-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 ♭7 9 5

#### Bars 25–32

**C6/9 (bar 25)** Grip x-x-10-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 1 3 6 9

**C6 (bar 26)** Grip x-x-10-12-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: 1 5 6 3

**D9 (bar 27)** Grip x-x-10-11-10-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭7 3 5 9

**D13 (bar 28)** Grip x-x-10-11-12-12 · frets 10–12 Voiced: ♭7 3 13 9

**Dm7 (bar 29)** Grip x-x-10-10-10-10 · fret 10

**G9 (bar 30)** Grip x-x-9-10-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 3 ♭7 9 5

**C6/9 (bar 31)** Grip x-x-10-9-10-10 · frets 9–10 Voiced: 1 3 6 9

**Cmaj7 (bar 32)** Grip x-x-10-12-12-12 · frets 10–12

### Drop 3 voicings

Four notes with a string skipped above the bass, the third voice from the top dropped an octave. The voices move 74 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 3. [Practice Take the A Train in drop 3 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=take-the-a-train:0:drop3:4:jazz)

Top line: 1–8 G – G – F♯ – F♯ – G – G – G – G 9–16 G – G – F♯ – F♯ – A – A – G – G 17–24 G – G – G – G – F♯ – F♯ – G – G 25–32 G – G – F♯ – F♯ – G – G – G – G

**Cmaj7 (bar 1)** Grip 8-x-9-9-8-x · frets 8–9

**C6 (bar 2)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 6 3 5

**D9 (bar 3)** Grip 8-x-7-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 5 9 3

#### Bars 1–8

**D13 (bar 4)** Grip 8-x-9-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 13 9 3

**Dm7(11) (bar 5)** Grip 10-x-10-10-8-x · frets 8–10 Voiced: 1 ♭7 ♭3 11

**G7 (bar 6)** Grip 10-x-9-10-8-x · frets 8–10

**Cmaj7 (bar 7)** Grip 8-x-9-9-8-x · frets 8–9

**C6 (bar 8)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 6 3 5

#### Bars 9–16

**Cmaj7 (bar 9)** Grip 8-x-9-9-8-x · frets 8–9

**C6 (bar 10)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 6 3 5

**D9 (bar 11)** Grip 8-x-7-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 5 9 3

**D13 (bar 12)** Grip 8-x-9-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 13 9 3

**Dm7 (bar 13)** Grip x-5-x-5-6-5 · frets 5–6

**G9 (bar 14)** Grip x-5-x-4-6-5 · frets 4–6 Voiced: 5 3 ♭7 9

**Cmaj7 (bar 15)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-3 · frets 3–5

**Cmaj7 (bar 16)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-3 · frets 3–5

#### Bars 17–24

**F6/9 (bar 17)** Grip 8-x-7-7-8-x · frets 7–8 Voiced: 5 3 6 9

**Fmaj9 (bar 18)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 5 3 7 9

**F6/9 (bar 19)** Grip 8-x-7-7-8-x · frets 7–8 Voiced: 5 3 6 9

**Fmaj9 (bar 20)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 5 3 7 9

**D9 (bar 21)** Grip 8-x-7-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 5 9 3

**D13 (bar 22)** Grip 8-x-9-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 13 9 3

**Dm7(11) (bar 23)** Grip 10-x-10-10-8-x · frets 8–10 Voiced: 1 ♭7 ♭3 11

**G7 (bar 24)** Grip 10-x-9-10-8-x · frets 8–10

#### Bars 25–32

**Cmaj7 (bar 25)** Grip 8-x-9-9-8-x · frets 8–9

**C6 (bar 26)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 6 3 5

**D9 (bar 27)** Grip 8-x-7-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 5 9 3

**D13 (bar 28)** Grip 8-x-9-9-7-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: ♭7 13 9 3

**Dm7(11) (bar 29)** Grip 10-x-10-10-8-x · frets 8–10 Voiced: 1 ♭7 ♭3 11

**G7 (bar 30)** Grip 10-x-9-10-8-x · frets 8–10

**Cmaj7 (bar 31)** Grip 8-x-9-9-8-x · frets 8–9

**C6 (bar 32)** Grip 8-x-7-9-8-x · frets 7–9 Voiced: 1 6 3 5

### Shell voicings

Three notes: the root in the bass with the 3rd and 7th, the notes that name the chord. The voices move 90 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 7. [Practice Take the A Train in shell voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=take-the-a-train:0:shell:jazz)

Top line: 1–8 E – E – F♯ – F♯ – F – F – E – E 9–16 E – E – F♯ – F♯ – F – F – E – E 17–24 E – E – E – E – F♯ – F♯ – F – F 25–32 E – E – F♯ – F♯ – F – F – E – E

**Cmaj7 (bar 1)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

**Cmaj7 (bar 2)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

**D7 (bar 3)** Grip x-5-x-5-7-x · frets 5–7

#### Bars 1–8

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

**Dm7 (bar 5)** Grip 10-x-10-10-x-x · fret 10

**G7 (bar 6)** Grip x-10-9-10-x-x · frets 9–10

**Cmaj7 (bar 7)** Grip 8-x-9-9-x-x · frets 8–9

**Cmaj7 (bar 8)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

#### Bars 9–16

**Cmaj7 (bar 9)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

**Cmaj7 (bar 10)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

**D7 (bar 11)** Grip x-5-x-5-7-x · frets 5–7

**D7 (bar 12)** Grip 10-x-10-11-x-x · frets 10–11

**Dm7 (bar 13)** Grip 10-x-10-10-x-x · fret 10

**G7 (bar 14)** Grip x-10-9-10-x-x · frets 9–10

**Cmaj7 (bar 15)** Grip 8-x-9-9-x-x · frets 8–9

**Cmaj7 (bar 16)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

#### Bars 17–24

**Fmaj7 (bar 17)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-x · frets 7–9

**Fmaj7 (bar 18)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-x · frets 7–9

**Fmaj7 (bar 19)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-x · frets 7–9

**Fmaj7 (bar 20)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-x · frets 7–9

**D7 (bar 21)** Grip x-5-x-5-7-x · frets 5–7

**D7 (bar 22)** Grip 10-x-10-11-x-x · frets 10–11

**Dm7 (bar 23)** Grip 10-x-10-10-x-x · fret 10

**G7 (bar 24)** Grip x-10-9-10-x-x · frets 9–10

#### Bars 25–32

**Cmaj7 (bar 25)** Grip 8-x-9-9-x-x · frets 8–9

**Cmaj7 (bar 26)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

**D7 (bar 27)** Grip x-5-x-5-7-x · frets 5–7

**D7 (bar 28)** Grip 10-x-10-11-x-x · frets 10–11

**Dm7 (bar 29)** Grip 10-x-10-10-x-x · fret 10

**G7 (bar 30)** Grip x-10-9-10-x-x · frets 9–10

**Cmaj7 (bar 31)** Grip 8-x-9-9-x-x · frets 8–9

**Cmaj7 (bar 32)** Grip x-3-x-4-5-x · frets 3–5

### Rootless voicings

Four notes without the root, with a 9th or 13th in its place: the bass player plays the root. The voices move 112 semitones through the form; the largest single step is 7. [Practice Take the A Train in rootless voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/#progression=take-the-a-train:0:rootless:4:jazz)

Top line: 1–8 A – A – A – A – C – B – B – B 9–16 A – A – A – A – C – B – B – B 17–24 C – C – C – C – C – C – C – B 25–32 B – B – B – B – A – A – G – G

**C6/9 (bar 1)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-5 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 9 3 6

**C6/9 (bar 2)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-5 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 9 3 6

**D9 (bar 3)** Grip x-x-4-5-5-5 · frets 4–5 Rootless: 3 ♭7 9 5

#### Bars 1–8

**D9 (bar 4)** Grip x-9-10-9-10-x · frets 9–10 Rootless: 3 ♭7 9 5

**Dm9 (bar 5)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7

**G13 (bar 6)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-7 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3

**Cmaj9 (bar 7)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**Cmaj9 (bar 8)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-7 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 9 3 7

#### Bars 9–16

**C6/9 (bar 9)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-5 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 9 3 6

**C6/9 (bar 10)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-5 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 9 3 6

**D9 (bar 11)** Grip x-x-4-5-5-5 · frets 4–5 Rootless: 3 ♭7 9 5

**D9 (bar 12)** Grip x-9-10-9-10-x · frets 9–10 Rootless: 3 ♭7 9 5

**Dm9 (bar 13)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7

**G13 (bar 14)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-7 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3

**Cmaj9 (bar 15)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**Cmaj9 (bar 16)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

#### Bars 17–24

**F6/9 (bar 17)** Grip x-x-7-7-8-8 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 6 9 5

**Fmaj9 (bar 18)** Grip x-x-7-9-8-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

**F6/9 (bar 19)** Grip x-x-7-7-8-8 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 6 9 5

**Fmaj9 (bar 20)** Grip x-x-7-9-8-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

**D9 (bar 21)** Grip x-x-7-9-7-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: 5 9 3 ♭7

**D9 (bar 22)** Grip x-x-7-9-7-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: 5 9 3 ♭7

**Dm9 (bar 23)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-8 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭3 5 9 ♭7

**G13 (bar 24)** Grip x-8-7-9-x-7 · frets 7–9 Rootless: ♭7 9 13 3

#### Bars 25–32

**Cmaj9 (bar 25)** Grip x-7-x-7-8-7 · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 9 5 7

**Cmaj9 (bar 26)** Grip x-x-5-7-5-7 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 9 3 7

**D7(13) (bar 27)** Grip x-x-7-5-7-7 · frets 5–7 Rootless: 5 ♭7 3 13

**D7(13) (bar 28)** Grip x-12-10-11-12-x · frets 10–12 Rootless: 5 ♭7 3 13

**Dm9 (bar 29)** Grip x-8-10-9-10-x · frets 8–10 Rootless: ♭3 ♭7 9 5

**G13 (bar 30)** Grip x-8-9-9-10-x · frets 8–10 Rootless: ♭7 3 13 9

**Cmaj9 (bar 31)** Grip x-7-9-7-8-x · frets 7–9 Rootless: 3 7 9 5

**C6/9 (bar 32)** Grip x-7-7-7-8-x · frets 7–8 Rootless: 3 6 9 5

## 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 C](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/progressions/ii-v-i-in-c) (bar 29)

## Its chords

- [Cmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/cmaj7-drop-2)
- [Cmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/cmaj7)
- [D7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/d7-drop-2)
- [D7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/d7)
- [Dm7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/dm7-drop-2)
- [Dm7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/dm7)
- [G7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/g7-drop-2)
- [G7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/g7)
- [Fmaj7 drop 2 voicings](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/chords/fmaj7-drop-2)
- [Fmaj7 arpeggio](https://practice.graph.audio/guitar/arpeggios/fmaj7)

## Practice it in Practice Lab

Comp Take the A Train 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=take-the-a-train:0:drop2:4:jazz)