I Gave Every Train in New York an Instrument
Meta Description: Discover the viral project where I gave every train in New York an instrument — a creative deep-dive into NYC transit, music, and urban art culture. 158 chars ✓
TL;DR
A viral creative project assigned a unique musical instrument to every New York City subway and commuter rail line, transforming how we think about transit identity, sound design, and urban storytelling. This article breaks down the concept, the creative logic behind each pairing, what tools and resources were used, and how you can create your own transit-inspired art project.
Key Takeaways
- The "I gave every train in New York an instrument" concept is a creative mapping exercise that pairs NYC's 36 subway lines and major commuter rail systems with instruments based on personality, sound, and cultural identity.
- The project went viral because it taps into something deeply personal — New Yorkers feel their train line as part of their identity.
- The creative methodology is replicable: any city's transit system can be mapped to instruments, colors, moods, or other sensory experiences.
- Tools like Canva and Procreate are ideal for creating shareable transit art infographics.
- This kind of project is a masterclass in content virality — specificity + relatability = shareability.
Why "I Gave Every Train in New York an Instrument" Hit a Nerve
When someone posts "I gave every train in New York an instrument" online, it doesn't stay quiet for long. The concept exploded across Reddit, Twitter/X, and TikTok because it does something remarkably clever: it translates the feeling of a subway line into something universally understood — music.
New Yorkers don't just ride the subway. They identify with it. Ask someone where they live and they'll often answer with their train. "I'm an A train person." "I live on the L." That sense of tribal belonging is exactly why this kind of creative project resonates so deeply.
The project essentially asks: if your train were an instrument, what would it be? And the answers, when done thoughtfully, are surprisingly accurate.
[INTERNAL_LINK: NYC subway culture and identity]
The Full Instrument Assignment: Every NYC Train, Explained
Let's break down the instrument pairings for the major lines across the NYC subway system and commuter rail networks. These aren't arbitrary — each pairing is grounded in the line's character, ridership, geography, and cultural weight.
The Subway Lines
IND Eighth Avenue Line (A, C, E Trains)
A Train — Upright Bass
The A train is the longest subway line in the system, running from Inwood in upper Manhattan all the way to Far Rockaway in Queens. It's the backbone. Deep, reliable, foundational — exactly like an upright bass. Duke Ellington already told us to "Take the A Train," and that song has the same rolling, grounded energy as a jazz bass line.
C Train — Acoustic Guitar
The C is the A's quieter, more neighborhood-focused sibling. It doesn't go as far, doesn't move as fast, but it serves communities consistently and without fanfare. An acoustic guitar: honest, unpretentious, gets the job done.
E Train — Electric Guitar
Midtown hustle, JFK connections, Queens energy. The E train is efficient and a little loud. Electric guitar, no question.
IND Sixth Avenue Line (B, D, F, M Trains)
B Train — Saxophone
Part-time, theatrical, beloved. The B train only runs on weekdays, which gives it an almost jazz-musician-with-a-day-gig quality. Saxophone: expressive, soulful, occasionally unreliable on weekends.
D Train — Trombone
The D covers serious ground — from the Bronx through Manhattan and into Brooklyn. It's bold, brassy, and moves with purpose. Trombone energy all the way.
F Train — Piano
The F train is the workhorse of Brooklyn. It hits more neighborhoods than almost any other line, threading through Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Kensington, and beyond. Piano: versatile, central to everything, can play any genre.
M Train — Ukulele
The M is short. It's quirky. It doesn't go to many places and the people who love it are devoted to it. Ukulele: charming, niche, surprisingly expressive for its size.
BMT Broadway Line (N, Q, R, W Trains)
N Train — Cello
The N is elegant. It runs through some of the most scenic elevated sections in Queens, crosses the Manhattan Bridge with a view, and serves neighborhoods with real cultural depth. Cello: classical, beautiful when it performs, occasionally dramatic.
Q Train — Violin
The Q runs along the beach. Coney Island, Brighton Beach — it has a romantic, almost cinematic quality. Violin: emotional, evocative, capable of both joy and melancholy.
R Train — French Horn
Slow. Deliberate. Often late. But undeniably distinguished. The R hits neighborhoods others skip. French horn: complex, requires patience, rewarding when it works.
W Train — Tambourine
The W is supplementary. It helps. It's not the star of the show. Tambourine: useful, enthusiastic, definitely part of the band.
IRT Lines (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Trains)
1 Train — Classical Guitar
The 1 runs up the West Side of Manhattan through some of the city's most culturally rich neighborhoods — Lincoln Center, Columbia University, Washington Heights. Classical guitar: refined, technically precise, deeply rooted in tradition.
2 Train — Drums
The 2 is the backbone of Brooklyn and the Bronx. It moves people. It's loud. It sets the pace. Drums: foundational, loud, keeps everything moving.
3 Train — Bass Guitar
Similar to the 2 but with a slightly different groove — the 3 cuts through Central Harlem and serves neighborhoods with deep musical heritage. Bass guitar: funky, essential, often underappreciated.
4 Train — Trumpet
The 4 is the express of the East Side. It's fast, it's loud, and it announces itself. Trumpet: bold, attention-grabbing, the lead voice in the room.
5 Train — Flugelhorn
Like the trumpet's mellower cousin, the 5 covers similar ground to the 4 but with a slightly softer character. Flugelhorn: warm, versatile, underrated.
6 Train — Oboe
The 6 is precise. It runs a single, dedicated route from the Bronx to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall. Oboe: exacting, distinctive, not for everyone but essential in the right context.
7 Train — Sitar
The 7 is the International Express — it runs through some of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods on Earth: Jackson Heights, Flushing, Woodside. Sitar: global, layered, rich with cultural complexity.
The L Train — Synthesizer
Of course. The L train connects Williamsburg and Bushwick to Manhattan. It is the train of artists, musicians, tech workers, and creative professionals. Synthesizer: modern, experimental, beloved by a very specific demographic, constantly being "improved" by someone who doesn't ride it.
The G Train — Recorder
The G doesn't go to Manhattan. It just connects Brooklyn and Queens, living in its own little world. Recorder: learned in elementary school, underestimated, actually kind of great once you give it a chance.
The J/Z Train — Banjo
The J/Z runs elevated through East New York and Jamaica, Queens. It has a raw, unfiltered quality. Banjo: loud, exposed, runs above everything, deeply American in a way that's hard to explain.
Commuter Rail Lines
| Train Line | Instrument | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Metro-North Hudson Line | Grand Piano | Scenic, prestigious, Hudson Valley elegance |
| Metro-North Harlem Line | Upright Piano | Workhorse of Westchester, reliable and sturdy |
| Metro-North New Haven Line | Organ | Long, slow, powerful, Connecticut energy |
| LIRR Main Line | Electric Bass | Gets the job done, no frills, Long Island |
| LIRR Port Washington Branch | Acoustic Violin | Scenic, shorter, surprisingly lovely |
| NJ Transit Northeast Corridor | Tuba | Loud, large, serves a massive population |
| PATH Train | Harmonica | Small, portable, crosses state lines easily |
| Staten Island Railway | Triangle | One line. One purpose. Hits when needed. |
The Creative Methodology: How to Build Your Own Transit Instrument Map
If this project inspired you to do something similar for your own city — or for a different creative mapping exercise — here's a replicable framework:
Step 1: Define Your Variables
Ask yourself what qualities you're mapping. For instruments, the key variables were:
- Tone (bright vs. warm, loud vs. quiet)
- Role (lead, rhythm, supporting)
- Complexity (simple vs. layered)
- Cultural association (jazz, classical, folk, electronic)
Step 2: Audit Your Subject
For NYC trains, this meant researching:
- Route length and coverage
- Neighborhoods served
- Ridership demographics
- Cultural history and reputation
- Reliability data from the MTA
Step 3: Create the Pairings
Match your subjects to your variables with genuine reasoning. The pairings that resonate most are ones where readers think "yes, obviously" — even if they never would have made the connection themselves.
Step 4: Design and Share
For creating shareable infographics like this:
- Canva — Best for quick, polished infographics. Free tier is robust; Pro ($15/month) adds brand kits and premium assets.
- Procreate — Best for illustrated, hand-drawn maps. One-time purchase ($12.99) on iPad.
- Adobe Illustrator — Best for scalable vector maps. Subscription-based ($22.99/month), industry standard.
Honest assessment: For most creators doing this kind of project, Canva hits the sweet spot of accessibility and quality. Procreate is worth it if you want a more artistic, illustrated style. Illustrator is overkill unless you're already in the Adobe ecosystem.
[INTERNAL_LINK: Best tools for creating viral infographics]
Why This Type of Project Goes Viral: A Content Analysis
The "I gave every train in New York an instrument" format succeeds for several measurable reasons:
Specificity Creates Relatability
Vague content doesn't spread. Specific content does. By naming every train — not just "some trains" — the project becomes a complete artifact that people want to engage with in full.
Identity Triggers Sharing
When someone sees their train and agrees (or disagrees) with the instrument assignment, they share it. Disagreement is actually better for virality than agreement — it creates conversation.
Low Barrier to Participation
Anyone who's ridden the subway has an opinion. You don't need musical training to feel strongly that the L train should be a synthesizer.
Cross-Community Appeal
This project lives at the intersection of:
- NYC culture
- Music appreciation
- Transit enthusiasm (a huge online community)
- Creative/design communities
That Venn diagram overlap is where viral content lives.
[INTERNAL_LINK: How to create viral content using specificity and identity]
What Transit Authorities Could Actually Learn From This
This isn't just a fun internet project. There's a genuine insight here for urban planners and transit communicators:
Sound design in transit is underutilized. Tokyo's train system uses distinct melodies (called hassha melodies) for each station. New York's subway uses generic beeps. Imagine if each line had a distinct sonic identity — a musical motif that reflected its character. Riders would orient themselves by sound, not just sight.
Several transit systems globally have experimented with this:
- Tokyo Metro — Station-specific melodies since the 1980s
- Stockholm Metro — Art installations throughout stations
- London Underground — Distinct line colors (not sound, but the same principle)
The NYC MTA has made strides in accessibility announcements, but a full sonic identity system remains an untapped opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where did the "I gave every train in New York an instrument" project originate?
A: The concept has appeared in various forms across Reddit, TikTok, and Twitter/X, with multiple creators independently arriving at similar ideas. It's a format that's been applied to other cities and transit systems as well. The viral appeal is the format itself as much as any single creator's execution.
Q: Can I do this for my city's transit system?
A: Absolutely. The methodology works for any city with multiple transit lines — London, Tokyo, Chicago, Los Angeles, and others all have enough line-by-line personality to support this kind of creative mapping. Use the framework outlined above in the "Creative Methodology" section.
Q: What tools do I need to create a transit instrument infographic?
A: For most creators, Canva is the most accessible starting point. If you want a more custom, illustrated look, Procreate on an iPad is excellent. For professional-grade vector work, Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard.
Q: Is there any real-world application for assigning sounds to transit lines?
A: Yes — Tokyo's hassha melody system is a proven real-world example. Each station has a unique departure melody, which helps passengers orient themselves and adds a human quality to the transit experience. NYC and other cities could adopt similar systems.
Q: Why does this type of creative project perform so well on social media?
A: It combines specificity (every single train), identity (people feel ownership over their line), and low-barrier participation (everyone has an opinion). It also works across demographics — transit riders, music lovers, NYC culture enthusiasts, and design fans all have a reason to engage.
Ready to Create Your Own Transit Art Project?
If this breakdown inspired you to map your own city's transit system to instruments, moods, colors, or characters — go for it. The formula is simple: pick something people feel strongly about, assign it a universally understood parallel, and cover it completely.
Start with Canva for your first draft infographic — the free tier is more than enough to test the concept. Share it on Reddit's r/nyc, r/transit, or your city's equivalent subreddit and watch the conversation start.
And if you've already made something like this — drop it in the comments. The best version of "I gave every train in New York an instrument" is the one that sparks the most arguments.
[INTERNAL_LINK: More creative NYC culture projects]
Last updated: April 2026 | Category: NYC Culture, Creative Projects, Transit
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