Take The A Train

Billy Strayhorn · Key of C · AABA

Easy · 7 unique chords

Billy Strayhorn wrote this as his audition piece for Duke Ellington in 1939. It became the Ellington Orchestra's signature tune. Its simple harmony (mostly I, II7, and ii-V) makes it one of the easiest standards to voice.

Voicing style:

A

C6Close

C6Close

D7#11Rootless A

D7Rootless A

Dm7Rootless A

G7Rootless B

C6Close

C6Close

A2

C6Close

C6Close

D7#11Rootless A

D7Rootless A

Dm7Rootless A

G7Rootless B

C6Close

C6Close

B

Fmaj7Rootless B

Fmaj7Rootless B

Fmaj7Rootless B

Fmaj7Rootless B

D7Rootless A

D7Rootless A

Dm7Rootless A

G7b9Rootless B

A3

C6Close

C6Close

D7#11Rootless A

D7Rootless A

Dm7Rootless A

G7Rootless B

C6Close

C6Close

Get 50 Essential Jazz Voicings (Free PDF)

Enter your email and we'll send it straight to your inbox.

Practice this standard

Stage 1Two-Note Shells — Learning Path

Listen to

Duke Ellington Orchestra — Never No Lament (1941)

The original — stride piano voicings and big band harmony.

Chords in this standard

C6 D7#11 D7 Dm7 G7 Fmaj7 G7b9

Related standards

All Of Me

Marks/Simons · Key of C

Fly Me To The Moon

Bart Howard · Key of C

Satin Doll

Duke Ellington · Key of C

Just Friends

John Klenner · Key of C

All The Things You Are

Jerome Kern · Key of Ab

Sources & Further Reading

Gioia, The Jazz Standards — Oxford University Press Levine, The Jazz Piano Book — Sher Music Mantooth, Voicings for Jazz Keyboard — Hal Leonard Jazz at Lincoln Center — Education Learn Jazz Standards