Jazz Daniel's #2 - Autumn Leaves
- galdornay
- Nov 19, 2025
- 3 min read
Hello and welcome back to another issue of "Jazz Daniel's"!
In this second issue, we will explore the renowned standard "Autumn Leaves".
You might wonder why I chose this standard over another. Well, dear reader, "Autumn Leaves" is one of the most popular jam session standards that every jazz musician should know how to play (in several keys, no less!). It's also a fantastic standard for playing some juicy 2-5-1 lines in a minor context!
We'll cover the following topics:
A Brief History Of Autumn Leaves
The song "Autumn Leaves," originally titled "Les Feuilles Mortes" in French and was composed in 1945 by Joseph Kosma, with lyrics by Jacques Prévert.
It was initially created to be featured in the ballet "Le Rendez-vous" by Roland Petit, which was performed in Paris at the close of the Second World War.
The song quickly became a favorite among jazz musicians and was recorded by numerous artists across the US and Europe.
This standard serves as an excellent example of the 2-5-1 progression in both minor and major contexts at a slow-medium tempo, making it ideal for beginner to intermediate jazz players to practice single-note and chord solo lines.
Here are some great versions to check out:
Joe Pass - Unforgettable:
A great chord-melody version
Nat King Cole - The Piano Style:
A version with voice
Cannonball Adderley - Somthin' Else:
one of the most famous versions ever recorded staring Miles Davis
Chet Baked and Paul Desmond - Chet Baked and Paul Desmond Together:
Just a great recording of two totally different approaches to soloing over a jazz standard
How To Play The Melody
Here is the basic lead sheet of the melody:
In the video below, I will perform the melody several times. Initially, I'll play it exactly as written. In subsequent renditions, I'll introduce some modifications, incorporating additional rhythm and small melodic motifs.
How To Play The Harmony
Here are the basic chords for Autumn Leaves:
In the video below, I'll demonstrate the harmony multiple times using a simple quarter swing feel then following with a more advanced form of comping. Give it a try yourself, and once you're comfortable, experiment by adding some rhythm to your playing.
How To Play A Chord Melody
A chord-melody is a playing style that merges the melody and harmony of a standard. In the video below, I'll present a simple chord melody of "Autumn Leaves."
And here is the notation for the chord-melody:
Solo Etude Over Autumn Leaves
In this section you will find a small etude I made over the chord changes of Autumn Leaves.
Try to learn the etude and take ideas for your own improvisation!
Download Section
Here you can find all the notation and download them as PDF documents if you wish!
I hope this Second Issue of "Jazz Daniel's" was interesting and helpful! And if you have any more questions, looking for online guitar classes or just want to chat, Feel free to send me a message on my website!
Gal Dornay
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