Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Early Autumn on piano
By Woody Herman
- C major
- 4/4
- 76 BPM
- 1949
- 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: G7 – C – B7 – Bb
Early Autumn sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; B7 is B, D#, F# and A; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIB7VII7BbbVII- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Gentle rocking
Root, fifth, octave, fifth: the gentle rocking under countless pop ballads. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 696 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 76 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: Dm – G7 – C
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DmG7C- DmD · F · A
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Questions about Early Autumn
What chords are in Early Autumn?
The loop is G7 – C – B7 – Bb (V7 – I – VII7 – bVII) in C major, and the song ends on Dm – G7 – C.
What key is Early Autumn in?
C major, at about 76 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Early Autumn?
Gentle rocking: broken chord 1-5-8-5, 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.