It’s Autumn, the nights are drawing in and the trees are changing colour. It’s time to get cosy and practice piano. What better song to learn than the Jazz classic Autumn Leaves? Originally written by Joseph Kosma as the French song Les feuilles mortes, it has become a beloved jazz standard. Whether you’re a beginner or already comfortable at the piano, learning this classic is a rewarding way to develop your playing. In this guide, you’ll find downloadable Autumn Leaves piano sheet music, a simple approach to the chords and melody, as well as practical tips to help you play the song with confidence. Let’s get started.
A gentle Skoove arrangement of the famous jazz standard: melody in the right hand, simple two-note chords in the left.
Autumn Leaves piano sheet music
Download and print the Autumn Leaves piano sheet music PDF to start practising this jazz classic.
In this beginner friendly arrangement the right hand takes the main melody while the left hand fills out the harmony with simple two note chords, keeping things easy. The chord symbols you can see above the melody work like an Autumn Leaves lead sheet. These chord symbols show you which chords to play as you move through the song and how they relate to the melody.
If you’re new to reading music, our guide on how to read sheet music will help you understand the notes, rhythms and symbols in this PDF. This easy arrangement has all the key elements of the piece and is a great starting point if you’re looking for Autumn Leaves piano sheet music that’s approachable without losing the character of the original.
How to play Autumn Leaves on piano, step by step
You don’t need advanced jazz skills to get started. Follow these steps using the PDF, and build the song up gradually.
Step 1: Learn the right hand melody
Start with the melody on its own. Read the notes in your PDF and play them slowly. Keep a steady pulse and pay attention to the rhythm and the way each phrase connects to the next.
Try this: Practise one short phrase at a time. Repeat them in a loop until you can play it comfortably before moving on.
Step 2: Add the root notes
Once you have the melody under your fingers you can start to add the root notes of each of the chords. The root notes are just the letters of each of the chords shown in the sheet music. Practice them in isolation first playing them in steady half notes (minims) and change the notes based on the chords in each bar.
Step 3: Add the left hand chords
Once the melody feels familiar with the root notes, you can practise the full left-hand accompaniment. Almost every chord in Autumn Leaves is a seventh chord, like Cm7, F7 and Bmaj7, but in this easy version your left hand plays simple two-note chords rather than full voicings.
Step 4: Put both hands together
Continue by combining one melody phrase with its matching left hand chords. Keep the tempo slow enough that you can play both parts accurately and easily.
If you lose your place, return to the beginning of that phrase rather than restarting the entire song. Gradually try to join the phrases together until you can play the arrangement from top to bottom.
Step 5: Shape the melody
Once you can play both hands together, focus on the sound. Let the melody flow naturally, and avoid making every note equally loud.
Begin with a gentle, steady feel. When you’re comfortable, experiment with a light swing rhythm to bring out the song’s jazz character.
The whole song uses just ten piano chords, in the same order again and again. The root note is the letter at the start of each chord name (Cm7 = C).
Cm7C – E♭ – G – B♭▾
F7F – A – C – E♭▾
B♭maj7B♭ – D – F – A▾
E♭maj7E♭ – G – B♭ – D▾
Am7A – C – E – G▾
D7D – F♯ – A – C▾
Gm7G – B♭ – D – F▾
C7C – E – G – B♭▾
Fm7F – A♭ – C – E♭▾
B♭7B♭ – D – F – A♭▾
Top tips for playing Autumn Leaves on piano
You don’t need advanced jazz skills to get started. Follow these steps using the PDF, and build the song up gradually. A few sessions of considered practice can make Autumn Leaves much easier to learn. Try these tips as you practise.
- Practise each hand separately
The right-hand melody and left-hand chords require different timings and technique. Start by learning each part independently before combining them, especially where the chords change quickly.
- Use a metronome to keep a steady pulse
Start at a slow tempo that you are comfortable with. Increase the speed gradually and only move faster when you can play through a phrase confidently without hesitating.
- Count the opening notes carefully
The melody’s opening pick-up notes lead into the main phrase. Count the beat before you start so you enter at the right moment, on the second beat of the bar, instead of rushing into the first notes.
- Look for the repeating chord pattern
The chord progression repeats throughout the song. Notice where the same sequence returns in your sheet music. Practise those sections together to make the arrangement easier to remember. These are very common jazz progressions and will be useful in learning lots of jazz standards.
- Start with a ballad feel
Play the song slowly in time before trying to swing. A ballad tempo approach helps you concentrate on the melody, chord changes and timing without adding another challenge.
- Keep the left hand soft
Your left-hand chords should support the melody rather than compete with it. Play them gently and let the right hand stand out
Autumn Leaves as a jazz standard
Autumn Leaves began as Les feuilles mortes, a French song written by Joseph Kosma with lyrics written by poet Jacques Prévert. The song became widely known in English through lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.
In 1955, pianist Roger Williams recorded a hugely successful piano version, introducing the song to an even wider audience. The song also became a favourite among jazz musicians, with notable recordings by Cannonball Adderley alongside Miles Davis, pianist Bill Evans and singer Nat King Cole.
Part of its appeal is the balance between a memorable melody and a repeating chord progression. For anyone learning Autumn Leaves jazz piano, this makes the song an excellent introduction to the sound and structure of jazz.
Once you’ve learnt this classic, explore other favourites such as Fly Me to the Moon, Blue Moon and many other of the best piano songs Skoove has to offer.
How well do you know Autumn Leaves?
A. Johnny Mercer
B. Joseph Kosma
C. Roger Williams
D. Miles Davis
A. C major
B. A minor
C. G minor
D. E minor
A. Two notes from each chord
B. The melody
C. Full four-note chords
D. Nothing
A. A
B. C
C. F
D. E♭
A. D7
B. Gm7
C. Cm7
D. F7
A. 3/4
B. 4/4
C. 6/8
D. 2/4
A. Cm7
B. B♭maj7
C. E♭maj7
D. Gm7
FAQ
The chords depend on the key and arrangement. Standard versions use seventh chords, including Am7, D7, Gmaj7, Cmaj7, F♯m7♭5 and B7 and Em7, or equivalent chords in other keys. This is a common cycle of fourth progression in jazz encompassing both major and minor ii V I progressions.
Autumn Leaves is usually played in either G minor or E minor, although arrangements use different keys.
Yes, Autumn Leaves is one of the best-known and most played jazz standards. Its memorable melody and common jazz chord progression have made it popular with jazz musicians.
The original song was called Les feuilles mortes, a French song composed by Joseph Kosma with lyrics by Jacques Prévert. Johnny Mercer later wrote the English lyrics.
A simplified version like this with a single-note melody and two-note left-hand chords is accessible to many beginners. More advanced arrangements might include fuller chords, complex rhythms and improvisations.
Ready to make Autumn Leaves your own? With a bit of practice the Autumn Leaves piano chords, sheet music and melody, you’ll soon be playing this jazz classic with confidence. Follow our Autumn Leaves piano tutorial on Skoove, explore the melody at your own pace, and enjoy discovering how to play Autumn Leaves on piano. Start practising today and bring this timeless tune to life, one note at a time!
Author of this blog post:
Matthew Dickman
With over a decade of experience in music education Matthew holds a BA in Music from Paul McCartney’s LIPA and an MA in Composition from the University of Salford. Mathew has developed a distinctive compositional voice and approach to music theory education through his research and work in the music industry. Matthew’s writing for Skoove combines experience from orchestral and media composition, and as a gigging jazz musician, to create a wholistic and accessible pedagogy for musicians of any level. Away from music, he enjoys reading and exploring nature to expand his horizons and knowledge contributing to his holistic teaching style.
Published by Lydia Ogn from the Skoove team
