Welcome to another GTI (Gettin’ to It) lesson! Today, we’re jumping straight into one of the most popular jazz standards: “Autumn Leaves.” No fluff—just the Autumn Leaves piano chords you need to play it. Ready? Let’s go!
Step 1: The Basic Chord Progression
“Autumn Leaves” follows a common ii-V-I chord progression in both major and minor keys. Here’s what you need to play it in the key of G minor:
Chord Progression & Notes:
| Chord | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A Minor 7 | Am7 | A – C – E – G |
| D7 | D7 | D – F# – A – C |
| G Major 7 | Gmaj7 | G – B – D – F# |
| C Major 7 | Cmaj7 | C – E – G – B |
| F# Minor 7♭5 | F#m7♭5 | F# – A – C – E |
| B7 | B7 | B – D# – F# – A |
| E Minor 7 | Em7 | E – G – B – D |
Play each chord smoothly, moving from one to the next without hesitation.
Step 2: Left-Hand Chords & Right-Hand Melody
- Left Hand: Play root position chords or simple shell voicings (root + 7th or 3rd + 7th) for a jazzier feel.
- Right Hand: If you want to solo, start with the E minor scale (E-F#-G-A-B-C-D-E) for an easy melodic approach.
Step 3: Swing & Feel
- Keep a swing feel—slightly delay the second eighth note in each beat.
- Try a simple walking bass line in the left hand if you want to sound more professional.
- Learn more about walking bass lines at Jazzedge Academy (we have a full course on Autumn Leaves).
Step 4: Play Along with a Backing Track
To make things more fun, we have included an Autumn Leaves backing track in the course.
👉 Sign up for a free PianoPlaybook account to access the Autumn Leaves backing track
Bonus: How to Form Seventh Chords
Seventh chords are fundamental in jazz, adding richness and complexity to harmony. Here’s a simple way to build them:
Step 1: Start with a Major Triad
A major triad consists of three notes:
- Root (the name of the chord)
- Major third (four half-steps above the root)
- Perfect fifth (seven half-steps above the root)
Example: C Major (C – E – G)
Step 2: Add the Seventh
To turn a major triad into a seventh chord, add one more note—the seventh:
| Chord Type | Formula | Example (C Root) |
|---|---|---|
| Major 7 (maj7) | Root – 3rd – 5th – 7th | C – E – G – B |
| Dominant 7 (7) | Root – 3rd – 5th – ♭7th | C – E – G – Bb |
| Minor 7 (m7) | Root – ♭3rd – 5th – ♭7th | C – Eb – G – Bb |
| Half-Diminished 7 (m7♭5) | Root – ♭3rd – ♭5th – ♭7th | C – Eb – Gb – Bb |
| Diminished 7 (dim7) | Root – ♭3rd – ♭5th – ♭♭7th | C – Eb – Gb – A |
Step 3: Apply This to “Autumn Leaves”
Look at the chords in “Autumn Leaves” and see how they follow these formulas. Practicing seventh chords in different positions will help you play smoothly.
Next Steps
- Practice transitioning smoothly between chords.
- Experiment with different voicings and inversions.
- Play along with recordings of jazz musicians to develop your feel.
Happy playing!
