Standards
Freight Train chords & key
- Key
- A♭ major
- Form
- A
- Bars
- 12
- Groove
- Medium-up swing
- Time signature
- 4/4
“Freight Train” is a jazz standard by Tommy Flanagan. It is usually played in A♭ major as a medium-up swing, and the 12-bar A form repeats as one section. Harmonically it contains 1 major ii–V–I cadence and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 16 different chords and moves between the key centres F minor, D♭ major and B♭ minor. Its changes follow the 12-bar blues. In this atlas it appears on 3 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- Cm7×2
- F7×2
- B♭m7×2
- E♭7×2
- A♭maj7×1
- Gm7♭5×1
Key centres reached by ii–V
F minor, D♭ major and B♭ minor
Characteristics
- 12-bar blues
Recorded on these albums
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
Frequently asked questions
What key is Freight Train in?
Freight Train is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.
Who wrote Freight Train?
Freight Train was written by Tommy Flanagan.
What is the form of Freight Train?
Freight Train has 1 sections (A) with 12 bars in total.
How fast is Freight Train played?
The usual groove is Medium-up swing.
What are the chord changes to Freight Train?
The opening bars are Abmaj7 | Gm7b5 C7b9 | Fm7 Em7 | Ebm7 Ab7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.