Introduction to Jazz Guitar Chords Using Autumn Leaves
- Michael DeGiovine
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
For many guitarists, jazz can seem intimidating. The chord symbols look complicated, the harmony sounds sophisticated, and it can be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, many jazz standards are built from a handful of common chord types that can be learned one step at a time.
In our latest lesson video, we use the classic jazz standard Autumn Leaves as an introduction to jazz guitar chords and harmony.
Why Learn Jazz Chords on the Guitar?
Jazz chords expand your harmonic vocabulary and help you become a more versatile musician. Even if your primary interests are rock, blues, folk, or pop, understanding jazz harmony can improve your chord knowledge, ear training, and overall musicianship.
Many styles of music borrow chord progressions and voicings from jazz, making these skills valuable for any guitarist.
Three Essential Jazz Chord Types
One of the reasons Autumn Leaves is such a popular teaching tune is that it introduces three of the most important chord qualities in jazz:
Minor 7 Chords
Minor 7 chords are foundational to jazz harmony. Compared to a standard minor chord, the added seventh creates a richer and more colorful sound.
Dominant 7 Chords
Dominant 7 chords create tension and movement. These chords often lead to another chord and are responsible for much of the forward motion in jazz progressions.
Major 7 Chords
Major 7 chords have a smooth and sophisticated sound that is closely associated with jazz guitar. They are commonly used as points of resolution in many jazz standards.
Understanding the ii-V-I Progression
One of the most common progressions in jazz is the ii-V-I progression.
In the key of G major, that progression is:
Am7 → D7 → Gmaj7
This progression appears throughout Autumn Leaves and countless other jazz tunes.
Learning to recognize and play ii-V-I progressions is one of the most important skills for aspiring jazz guitarists.
The Importance of Voice Leading
A key element of jazz guitar is voice leading—the art of moving smoothly from one chord to the next.
Rather than jumping around the fretboard, jazz guitarists often use chord voicings that stay close together. This creates a connected and professional sound while making chord transitions easier to execute.
As you practice Autumn Leaves, pay attention to how little movement is needed between chord shapes.
Practice Exercise
A simple way to begin developing your jazz comping skills is to repeat the following progression with a metronome:
Am7 | D7 | Gmaj7 | Gmaj7
Focus on:
Clean chord changes
Consistent rhythm
Smooth transitions
Relaxed technique
Start slowly and gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
Watch the Full Lesson
In the video lesson below, we walk through these chord types, demonstrate their use in Autumn Leaves, and provide a simple practice exercise to help you get started with jazz guitar.
Learn Guitar with Four on Six Music
Four on Six Music offers personalized in-home guitar lessons for kids, teens, and adults throughout Syracuse, Madison, Oneida, and Onondaga counties, as well as online lessons for students outside those areas.
Whether you're interested in jazz, rock, blues, classical, or beginner guitar, lessons are tailored to your goals, experience level, and musical interests.
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