Take The “A” Train – Jazz Guitar Chord Melody Lesson

Take the “A” Train, composed by Billy Strayhorn in 1939 and first recorded in 1941, became the signature song of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The title refers to the A subway line that had recently opened and ran from Brooklyn to Northern Manhattan, the center of the jazz world at that time.

In this lesson, you will learn how to play the melody of Take the “A” Train using chord voicings, following the approach used in our chord melody course.

The chord progression of Take the “A” Train is loosely based on another well-known jazz standard called Exactly Like You (1930).

The standard is in the key of C major and has an AABA structure. In Duke Ellington’s original version, the second chorus modulates to Eb

Take the “A” Train starts with two bars of C major (bar 5), before going to two bars of D7#11, which functions as the secondary dominant with the #11 in the melody. The first two melody notes over the D7 chord are often said to sound like a train horn, a playful nod to the song’s title.

The bridge starts on the IV (Fmaj7), a common feature for swing-era jazz standards such as Stompin’ at the Savoy and Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

The coda of the arrangement is very recognizable and is known as the “Take the A Train” or “Duke Ellington” 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

Here is the sheet music and video for the melody of Take the “A” Train.

Start by learning the arrangement slowly, then practice it along with the backing track once you feel comfortable.

 

 

Backing Track

Listen & Play-Along