The catchiest, squeakiest, highest-pitch 80’s is finally here, “Take on Me” by A-ha – get ready for an extra challenging challenge (and in my case, a burst ear drum!)
It turns out “Take on Me” has one of the biggest pitch ranges of any song I’ve done so far on this site, spanning nearly 3 octaves…! The notes as they are sound perfect on a piano, however the chorus has a few low A’s which can happily be substituted for a low C on instruments that don’t go so low. Alternatively or you can shift the song up a few semitones, but then you’ll have a crazy high note to deal with later – your call, I went for the former! though – so it will be a very different experience for you depending on your instrument of choice 🙂
I’d love to know how you get on with this, and if you are able to play it successfully – I definitely can’t and would love to feature a video, so would be great if you’d be up for showing us how it’s meant to sound! 🙂
Did you know?! “Take On Me” has been covered by many artists including Reel Big Fish, Northern Kings, Pentatonix and the Glee cast!
^E ^D-^D ^C#-B
We’re talking away
^C# ^C# ^C# A
I don’t know what
^F# ^F# ^F#
I’m to say
^E ^D ^D ^D-^C#-B
I’ll say it anyway…
E-^C# ^C#-^C#-B A-B ^C# B-^C# A
Today’s another day to find you
^D-^D ^D-^D-^C#-B
Shying away ~ ~
F# A A – A A A A G#-F#
I’ll be coming for your love, okay?
.A G# A
Take on me…
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
A ^E ^F#
Take me on…
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
^C# ^G# ^A
I’ll be gone
^B *C# ^B ^A *E
In a day or two…
^E ^D-^D ^C# B
So needless to say
E ^C# ^C# ^C#-B-A
At odds and ends ~
A ^F# ^F#-^E
But I’ll be
^D-^D ^C#-B
Stumbling away…
^C#-^C# ^C#-B A A B ^C#-B-A
Slowly learning that life is OK ~
^D ^D-^D ^D
Say after me
F# A A-A A A A G# G#-F#
It’s no better to be safe than sorry…
.A G# A
Take on me…
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
A ^E ^F#
Take me on…
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
^C# ^G# ^A
I’ll be gone
^B *C# ^B ^A *E
In a day or two…
^F# ^E ^D ^D ^C# B
Oh the things that you say
^C# ^C# ^C# A
Is it life or
^F# ^F# ^F# ^E ^D-^D ^C#-B
Just to play my worries away
E ^C# ^C# ^C#
You’re all the things
B A B ^C#-B-A
I’ve got to remember
F# ^D-^D ^D-^D
You’re shying away
F# A A-A A A A-G#-F#-E
I’ll be coming for you anyway…
.A G# A
Take on me…
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
A ^E ^F#
Take me on…
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
^C# ^G# ^A
I’ll be gone
^F# ^G# *E
In a day….
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
^C# ^G# ^A
I’ll be gone
^E ^F# ^E
(Take on me)
^F# ^G# *E
In a day…