Chords + Lyrics | Autumn Leaves
Verse
| Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
The falling leaves drift by my window.
| F#m7b5 | B7 | Em | Em |
The autumn leaves, of red and gold.
| Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
I see your lips, the summer kisses.
| F#m7b5 | B7 | Em | Em |
The sunburned hands, I used to hold.
Bridge
| F#m7b5 | B7b13 | Em6 | Em6 |
Since you went away, the days grow long.
| Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
And soon I’ll hear, old winter’s song.
| F#m7b5 | B7b13 | Em7 Eb7 | Dm7 C#7#5 |
But I miss you most of all, my darling.
| F#m7b5 | B7b13 | Em6 | Em6 |
When autumn leaves start to fall.
Autumn Leaves Chords: Explore the Harmonic Structure
The chords for Autumn Leaves vary depending on the artist. Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Eva Cassidy, even Eric Clapton—among many others—have recorded their interpretations, making the list of versions as extensive as the roster of jazz vocalists.
Above are the lyrics, paired with the basic chords in the key of G. Before experimenting with variations, make sure to practise the fundamentals in all 12 keys. Autumn Leaves has become such a widely played standard that no single recording serves as the definitive reference. Instead, musicians rely on charts from various sources and develop their own interpretations.
Most notably, the chords for Autumn Leaves have been listed in the legendary, unofficial Real Book as if in the key of G/Em, structured as follows:
||: Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Cmaj7 |
| F#m7b5 | B7 | Em | Em :||
| F#m7b5 | B7b9 | Em | Em |
| Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Gmaj7 |
| F#m7b5 | B7b9 | Em7 Eb7 | Dm7 Db7 |
| Cmaj7 | B7b9 | Em6 | Em6 |
These days, the iReal Pro app has replaced the old Real Book, letting you digitally change the key and loop a MIDI band for endless practice.
Any serious jazz tutor will tell you to play this classic in all 12 keys—it’s essential for mastering the instrument. This means playing the chords and melody across the entire neck, learning how the melodic intervals connect with the harmony—core knowledge for any jazz improviser.
If you’re unsure where to start improvising over this progression, begin by targeting the 3rd or 7th of each chord. However, don’t attempt this until you can play the melody fluently in all five positions.
In the course, that’s exactly what we do: Autumn Leaves – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Here’s the chord chart.
Exploring Reharmonisation in Autumn Leaves: Chord Extensions & Improvisation Tips
Here’s the chord progression in the key of Bb/Gm, a great key for sax players. Notice how the chord extensions differ slightly:
||: Cm7 | B7 | Bbmaj7 | Ebmaj7 |
| Am7b5 | D7b13 | Gm6 | Gm6 :||
| Am7b5 | D7b9 | Gm6 | Gm6 |
| Cm7 | F7 | Bbmaj7 | Ebmaj7 |
| Am7b5 | D7b9 | Gm7 Gb7 | Fm7 E7#5 |
| Am7b5 | D7b9 | Gm6 | Gm6 |
When the chords change between different versions of Autumn Leaves, it affects your improvisation by altering the harmonic framework you navigate. However, you can still apply similar intervallic approaches across different keys.
Here’s what happens when the chord changes occur:
- Harmonic Context Shifts – The second version introduces altered dominants (D7b9 and E7#5). These addition create tension, which you can target in your improvisation.
- Transposing Intervallic Ideas – Even though the key is different, the intervals and relationships between notes remain the same. If you emphasise the 3rd and 7th of each chord in one key, you should apply the same approach in the other by shifting those intervals relative to the new key centre. By practising in 12 keys you ensure you can “think in intervals”.
- Chord Substitutions and Extensions – The second version includes more reharmonisations, so you may need to adjust your lines accordingly. For instance, when the B7 appears as a tritone substitution (2nd bar), it temporarily shifts the harmonic centre. You can outline this change by using altered or diminished ideas that resolve into the next chord.
- Melodic Consistency – The core melody of Autumn Leaves remains recognisable across versions, so any improvisation should maintain its phrasing and contour, even when reharmonisations introduce new colours.
Practical Approach:
- Play through both versions and identify the key differences in sound.
- Target the 3rd and 7th of each chord to guide your lines smoothly.
- Experiment with the altered tones introduced in the second version, such as the b9 on B7 or the chromatic passing dominants.
- Transpose licks and motifs from one version to the other, adjusting only where necessary.
🥸 Pro tip: You can use the intervallic approaches from the second version in the first version.
Here’s a chord chart for the key of Gm/Bb.
Autumn Leaves Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
Downloading my chord charts can be done in two formats: as static PDFs or in the iReal Pro format.
For Autumn Leaves, iReal Pro really shines, allowing you to create backing tracks, adjust the volume, and even remove instruments—perfect for practice or performance.
- Autumn Leaves chord chart PDF in G
- Autumn Leaves chord chart PDF in Bb
- Autumn Leaves iReal Pro G
- Autumn Leaves iReal Pro Bb
Autumn Leaves TAB | Course Preview
Guitarists’ skills in approaching jazz are, on average, far less developed than those of musicians who play instruments like piano or saxophone.
This largely comes down to how we learn—often without sheet music. Guitar players tend to think in shapes and clusters of notes, using blanket scales while focusing on tone and expression rather than the individual notes they’re actually playing. Pianists, on the other hand, usually excel at understanding harmony but often lack the expressive nuance that guitarists naturally develop. As the saying goes: “you are what you eat”.
To truly play jazz, we must set aside our pedalboards and focus on identifying what each note represents within a chord—whether it’s the 3rd, the 7th, or another chord tone. The best way to train this skill is to take a tune like Autumn Leaves and play the chords, bass line, and melody in all five positions across the neck—and in all twelve keys.
Here’s a preview of how we approach this in the course, using the key of G (with the G chord in an E shape).
Autumn Leaves Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Autumn Leaves (Real Book) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
