Start by learning the chord changes and hearing how the AABA form unfolds. This tune uses a sequence of chords that show up all over the jazz repertoire, so getting comfortable with how these chords function is essential. Then study Paul Desmond’s solo to see how a master navigates the form using simple guide-tone lines, strong phrasing, and motivic ideas.

Take The A Train begins on a major chord for a couple bars, so you need solid major language to make a strong musical statement right away. This means moving beyond a major scale and working toward developing your major vocabulary by studying how great players build their major lines.

One of the defining sounds of this tune is the II7 chord, which can feel a bit unfamiliar. A great way to understand this sound is by studying it in another context, like The Girl From Ipanema. Working on this movement in a different tune will help you hear it as a natural harmonic idea, making it much easier to recognize and play through when you return to Take The A Train.

To fully understand the changes, you need to hear how the II7 chord transitions into the ii minor and continues into a ii–V–I. This movement is one of the key building blocks of this tune and appears in countless other jazz tunes. By working on how the chord tones shift between these chords, you’ll be able to create lines that move with purpose through this progression.