Take the A Train

Duke Ellington; Take the A Train

• Standard 32 bar 'song' form played 3 times ( AABAx3)
• Syncopation through
• Walking Bass line in crotchets
• Closely voiced harmonies often used in Trumpets &Trombones

Intro (Bars 1-4)

C Major

• The mst famous 4 bar intro in Big Band
• Based on 2 chords with repeated right hand chromatic descending motif.
• Bar 1 Tonic Chord (2nd Inv.)

A (Bars 5-12)

• Trumpets have mutes
• Saxes in unison with 8 bar theme (4+4)
• Bars 5-21 Call and Response
• Bar 6 Rising 6th
• Bar 7 Falling 5th
• Bar 7-8 D7 with flattened 5th
• Bar 9 Some call and response rhythmic interaction
• Bar 11 Added 6th

A2 (Bars 13-20)

• Repeated
• Rhythmic interaction between Reeds & Brass
• Punchy & Stabbing rhythms
• Bar 14 Trombone Glissando
• Bar 16 Saxes Chromatic Motif
• Bar 18 Chromatic Quavers
• Bar 20 Saxes Tacet

B (Bars 21-28)

F Major

• Trumpet Mute Take Out
• Angular Tune
• Bar 21-28 Trumpet Tacet
• Bar 21 Tonic chord in root position
• Bar 22 Major 7th
• Bar 23 Falling 5th
• Bar 23-36 Downward Scalic Counter melody
• Bar 24…