When I first began to learn how to improvise over jazz standards (as a music student) the song everyone recommended I study was ‘Autumn Leaves’. It is of course a very popular composition and most (if not all) jazz musicians have studied it in depth at some point or other.

In today’s mini-lesson I’m giving you my ‘Autumn Leaves’ practice routine which I have used in my own personal practice regime for many years. I often adapt this very routine for other compositions too. 

The following eight practice exercises are ones that I came up with based on the suggestions of various teachers I have studied with. These exercises really helped me to ‘get inside’ the harmony of this classic song and in many ways, helped unlock countless other songs that I studied later.

The exercises begin by firstly playing the diatonic arpeggios of each chord as they occur in the song’s progression. (n.b. I have only illustrated the first few bars of each exercise, so you will need to work out the remaining arpeggios from a lead sheet or fake book)

These arpeggios are played ascending, descending, alternating and then later in random order. Following these arpeggios are additional exercises using mixed rhythms, approach notes and finally specific intervals.

Your eventual plan should therefore be to play through the entire progression with each exercise (and preferably do this from memory).

All this may take many weeks of diligent practice, but the results are well worthwhile. 

If you’d like study more jazz orientated material like this, but in far greater detail and depth, you might also like to consider my online jazz guitar lessons. 

Scroll down for the PDF and audio recording. 

Here is a PDF file of all the above exercises: ‘Autumn Leaves’ Practice Routine

Here is an audio recording of the exercises: