Marc-Andre Seguin – Autumn Leaves

Chord Melody, Soloing, and Comping Guide on Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves is a true classic in the jazz standards repertoire, and this video course offers an in-depth exploration of this iconic tune. Whether you are new to the song or looking to refine your skills, this course covers everything you need: the lead sheet with accurate chords, a chord melody arrangement, a comping study, and a single-note solo example. Designed for guitarists, this comprehensive guide allows you to master the intricacies of Autumn Leaves while expanding your musical vocabulary.

Chord Melody

In this section, you’ll get a complete arrangement for solo guitar. Every chord melody in our Standards series is crafted with interesting themes and musical vocabulary in mind. Learn the arrangement, and then apply similar techniques to create your own chord melodies for other tunes! The chord melody for “Autumn Leaves” is written in the Real Book key of Em, making it easier to play for guitarists. The arrangement also utilizes a plectrum for those who prefer this technique, with chord punches between melodic phrases for a dynamic, engaging sound.

Comping Study

In the comping study, you’ll explore accompaniment techniques based on the chord progression for Autumn Leaves. Each comping study centers around a specific theme, technique, or piece of comping vocabulary. The comping study focuses on sparse chord punches, perfect for playing behind a soloist at a faster tempo. This gives you the ability to take these ideas and apply them to your own playing on other jazz standards or in various musical settings.

Single-Note Solo

If you’re looking for an example of how to solo over this timeless tune, the course provides a fully-transcribed single-note solo arrangement. The solo flows from the core melodic idea of “Autumn Leaves,” showcasing thematic development and helping you expand your improvisational vocabulary. This solo serves as a great example of how to use jazz vocabulary effectively. Learn the entire solo, then take your favorite lines and integrate them into your own playing and improvisation.

What’s Included in This Course?

This course comes jam-packed with high-quality materials to help you master Autumn Leaves. With a wide range of resources, you’ll get:

• Soundslice Integration: This incredible tool allows you to hear the demonstration while following synchronized sheet music. Control the playback speed, loop sections, or slow things down for easier learning!
• Complete Video Instruction: Watch step-by-step videos for each arrangement, with accompanying backing tracks to help you practice.
• Fully-Fleshed-Out Sheet Music: Includes TABs for each arrangement, along with a simple lead sheet for the song (just melody and chords). Perfect for guitarists at any level!
• XML Files for Sheet Music: These files are compatible with Finale or Sibelius, allowing you to plug them in directly for playback and practice.
• Backing Track MP3s: Downloadable MP3 files to help you practice the chord melody, comping, and solo sections with a full band sound.

All materials, including sheet music PDFs, XML files, and audio tracks, are downloadable and yours to keep forever, allowing you to return to the course whenever you need.

Course Curriculum

• Video Sample – Autumn Leaves [1:30]
• Introduction – How to Use This Course [2:29]
• Lead Sheet: Introduction [1:00]
• Lead Sheet – Melody + Chords (with backing track) [1:36]
• Lead Sheet – Melody + Chords (with metronome) [1:43]
• Chord Melody: Introduction [1:47]
• Chord Melody – With Backing Track
• Comping Study: Introduction [1:06]
• Comping Study – With Backing Track
• Single-Note Solo: Introduction [1:49]
• Single-Note Solo – With Backing Track
• Single-Note Solo – With Metronome
• Plain Videos without Soundslice (for those who prefer simpler video formats)

Additional Resources

• PDF Files: Autumn Leaves Lead Sheet, Chord Melody, Comping Study, Single-Note Solo
• Backing Tracks: Multiple tempo variations to suit your practice needs.
• BONUS: September 2015 Webinar on “Autumn Leaves”
• BONUS: Sibelius Files (.sib format) for easy integration into your music software.

How to Use Soundslice

To maximize your learning experience, we provide a 5-minute tutorial on using Soundslice effectively. Learn how to control the playback speed, loop sections, and get the most out of this powerful learning tool!

What’s Next on Your Journey?

Now that you’ve learned the core techniques and skills for playing “Autumn Leaves,” you’re ready to take on more advanced jazz standards. Continue your journey by exploring more lessons, refining your improvisation skills, and expanding your musical vocabulary. Each lesson is designed to help you unlock new levels of jazz mastery, building on the skills you’ve developed so far!