Take the “A” Train, composed by Billy Strayhorn in 1939 and first recorded in 1941, was the signature tune of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The title refers to the then recently opened A subway line that ran from Brooklyn to Northern Manhattan.
The chord progression of Take the “A” Train is loosely based on another song called Exactly Like You (1930).
The standard is in the key of C major and has an AABA structure. The Duke Ellington version modulates to Eb in the second chorus.
Take the “A” Train starts with two bars of C major (on bar 5 in the sheet music below, after the 4-bar intro), before going to two bars of D7#11 (the #11 is in the melody), which functions as a II7.
It is said that the first two melody notes over the D7 sound like a train horn…
The B section begins on the IV (Fmaj7) which is very common for swing-era jazz standards (see Stompin’ at the Savoy and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore).
The ending of the arrangement is very recognizable and is known as the “Take the A Train” ending.
Recommended listening:
- Duke Ellington – Hollywood (1941)
- Dave Brubeck – Jazz Goes to College (1954)
- Ella Fitzgerald – Ella in Hollywood (1961)
- Kenny Burrell – Ellington is Forever Volume 2 (1975)
- Joe Henderson – Lush Life – The Music of Billy Strayhorn (1991)
Video & Guitar Tabs/Notation
Backing Track
Listen & Play-Along
Take The “A” Train Guitar Pro File
Excelente gracias.
Haven’t heard a more musical version for guitar as of yet. Great work, thanks.
Muchas gracias por la aportación!
Another great gift from you. Receive my big THANK YOU SO MUCH!.
Another great gift from you. Receive my THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!.
Ringrazio il maestro Dirk che ci regala sempre dell’ottimo materiale; complimenti per l’arrangiamento.
Mooi arrangement zoals ook alle andere. Heb er veel plezier van. Mijn dank.
I am so embarrassed with my self. I played til I was 30 years old I’m now 80 and I’ve forgotten how to read music. Finding it very difficult 😥 to pickup where I left off. B. T. W. I am playing a 1939 D’Angelico. Thank you for lessons. Regards Vinnie from NYC
Sorry to hear this Vinny,can you read tabs? the 6 lines represent the strings (6,5,4,3,2,1/E,A,D,G,B,E) and the numbers represent the frets. I hope this helps.
Hang in there Vinny, it’ll eventually come back to you… maybe you could buy a couple books or check online for some free tutorials, etc? If it’s in your heart, you’ll figure it out somehow… all the best wishes for you buddy!!
Hey Vinnie, don’t think twice, just because we only go round once in this life you’ll be surprised what human perseverance and determination can do.
My mom is 95 and when when she picks up a guitar it all comes back!
Hi Dirk, am I missing something here, I can not see in the score a D note in any of your labelled D chords??
Hi Deb, you don’t need to put the root in the chords if you are playing with a bass, as they lay down the roots very clearly.
Thanks Nikita, am pretty new to this
Thanks! Everything I need to learn this song!
Makes me sound better!
Rootless chords – such as 13579 – you only voice 3579
This was brilliant Dirk, I only got to hear this song a couple of months ago and loved it since. Now I can learn to play it, thanks very much.
All the best
Stuart
Excellent performance, nice arrangement..so fine!! Thanks!!
Nice arrangement!
Great lesson, easy to follow and having the master play it gives you the inflections. Thanks so much, Sam.
Thanks for the kind feedback, Sam!
Wow !! Really hip. Thanks ever so much. Jazz guitar players will always give that “man, that was cool” smile when they hear this ! Thanks so much for the sheet music. I’ll probably spend the rest of my life ( I just turned 74 ) trying to play it.
Youngster! I’m 88 and still at least trying to play.
Good days….. bad days.
Dirk gives a lot to the community!
Old man! I am 83 and have only a thumb available right hand. Left hand fingers OK. Thanks Dirk, you really give a lot! (Baie dankie!)
Thank you very much!!!
Thank you for this fantastic Ellington A-Train Arrangement….its superbly played by your good self,Great video ,and Tabs too! Whats not to like! Thank you Dirk…and stay safe.
Nice guitar arrangement Mr. Dirk.
Thanks Jay!
Great tune. Thanks for sharing all these lessons
Thanks a lot for all the tabs you share !
Thanks again, great song and lesson.
I am just working on this piece. This great lesson helps me a lot with chords. Thanks very much.
Thanks greatly for this, at this moment this gem is even more precious and so well presented it’s easy to get to grips with.
Lovely arrangement
ottimo lavoro grazie di cuore.
Epic … thank you once again … x
Really appreciate you making these available – big thanks
Another really great lesson. Thank you for your hard work and for your generosity in sharing this piece.
I will use this immediately!
I think you are The best. The lessons are vero well done. Many thanks
Great and really smooth playing
Excelente interpretación, transcripción y didáctica, muchas gracias.
Very nice. Really enjoyed
Maravilloso standard y perfecta interpretación. Muchas gracias.
Another classic arrangement. Well done. Lovely quality backing track. Many thanks for these high quality lessons.