Take the 'A' Train BPM

Duke Ellington · Jazz

Take the 'A' Train by Duke Ellington is usually played at 160 BPM, in 4/4 time, played in quarter notes. That is Allegrissimo.

160 BPM · 4/4 · Quarter

Nothing plays until you press Start.

Open in the full metronome

Tempo and time signature

Tempo: 160 BPM · Allegrissimo
Time signature: 4/4
Feel: Quarter
One beat: 375 ms
One bar: 1.50 s
Half time / double time: 80 BPM / 320 BPM
Tempo range: Over 150 BPM

How to count it

Count 1 2 3 4: 4 quarter-note beats to the bar, with the click on every beat, 375 ms apart. The first beat of each bar is accented. At this speed the click plays only the beat.

Practise it up to speed

Start at 120 BPM and let the tempo trainer raise it 2 BPM every 4 bars until it reaches 160.

Start the tempo trainer at 120 BPM

Or open the full metronome at a slower tempo:

80 BPM · 50 % of the tempo
120 BPM · 75 % of the tempo
144 BPM · 90 % of the tempo

About this tempo

There is no single recording of this piece, so this is a tempo it is commonly played at. Performances vary widely — treat it as a place to start.

Tempo list updated 5 October 2026.

Songs at a similar tempo

Billie's Bounce · Charlie Parker · 160 BPM · 4/4
Have You Met Miss Jones? · Jazz standard · 160 BPM · 4/4
Just Friends · Jazz standard · 160 BPM · 4/4
Solar · Miles Davis · 160 BPM · 4/4
Straight, No Chaser · Thelonious Monk · 160 BPM · 4/4
There Will Never Be Another You · Jazz standard · 160 BPM · 4/4

All songs at 160 BPM

More by Duke Ellington

C Jam Blues · Duke Ellington · 140 BPM · 4/4
In a Sentimental Mood · Duke Ellington · 60 BPM · 4/4
Satin Doll · Duke Ellington · 116 BPM · 4/4

All 4 songs by Duke Ellington