Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Early Autumn on piano
- C major
- 4/4
- 60 BPM
- 1994
- Easy
Learn Early Autumn in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – B7 – Bb – A7
Early Autumn sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; B7 is B, D#, F# and A; Bb is Bb, D and F; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIB7VII7BbbVIIA7VI7- CC · E · G
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- BbBb · D · F
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 60 BPM
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about Early Autumn
What chords are in Early Autumn?
The loop is C – B7 – Bb – A7 (I – VII7 – bVII – VI7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Early Autumn in?
C major, at about 60 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Early Autumn?
Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Early Autumn easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.