Autumn Leaves

Joseph Kosma · Key of Gm · AABA

Easy · 12 unique chords

Written by Joseph Kosma with lyrics by Jacques Prévert (1945), "Autumn Leaves" became one of the most played jazz standards after Miles Davis recorded it in 1958. Its clear ii-V-I progressions in two keys make it the standard teaching piece for voice leading (Gioia, The Jazz Standards).

Voicing style:

A

Cm7
F7
Bbmaj7
Ebmaj7
Aø7
D7b13
Gm7
Gm6
Cm7Rootless A
F7Rootless B
Bbmaj7Rootless B
Ebmaj7Rootless A
Aø7Rootless B
D7b13Rootless A
Gm7Rootless B
Gm6Close

A2

Cm7
F7
Bbmaj7
Ebmaj7
Aø7
D7b13
Gm7
Gm6
Cm7Rootless A
F7Rootless B
Bbmaj7Rootless B
Ebmaj7Rootless A
Aø7Rootless B
D7b13Rootless A
Gm7Rootless B
Gm6Close

B

Aø7
D7b13
Gm7
Gm6
Cm7
F7
Bbmaj7
Ebmaj7
Aø7Rootless B
D7b13Rootless A
Gm7Rootless B
Gm6Close
Cm7Rootless A
F7Rootless B
Bbmaj7Rootless B
Ebmaj7Rootless A

A3

Aø7
D7b13
Gm7|C7
Fm7|Bb7
Ebmaj7
Aø7
D7b13|G7alt
Gm6
Aø7Rootless B
D7b13Rootless A
Gm7Rootless B
C7Rootless A
Fm7Rootless A
Bb7Rootless B
Ebmaj7Rootless A
Aø7Rootless B
D7b13Rootless A
G7altRootless B
Gm6Close

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Practice this standard
Stage 3Rootless Voicings (Type A & B) — Learning Path

Listen to

Bill Evans Trio — Portrait in Jazz (1959)

The definitive rootless voicing showcase — Evans alternates Type A and B throughout.

Chords in this standard

Cm7F7Bbmaj7Ebmaj7Aø7D7b13Gm7Gm6C7Fm7Bb7G7alt

Related standards

Stella By Starlight

Victor Young · Key of Bb

Misty

Erroll Garner · Key of Eb

There Will Never Be Another You

Harry Warren · Key of Eb

All The Things You Are

Jerome Kern · Key of Ab

Solar

Miles Davis · Key of Cm

Sources & Further Reading

Gioia, The Jazz Standards — Oxford University PressLevine, The Jazz Piano Book — Sher MusicMantooth, Voicings for Jazz Keyboard — Hal LeonardJazz at Lincoln Center — EducationLearn Jazz Standards