Eric Clapton - Autumn Leaves Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar Gm chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar E chord diagram
Guitar A chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram
[Opening]
[Dm]
[Dm]The falling [Gm]leaves
[C]Drift by my [Am]window [Dm]
The falling [Gm]leaves
Of [C]red and [Dm]gold
[verse 2]
[Dm]I see your [Gm]lips
[C] The summer [Am]kisses [Dm]
The sunburned [Gm]hands
[C]I used to [Dm]hold
[verse 3]
[Dm] Since you [E]went away
[Am]The days grow [Dm]long
[Dm] And soon I’ll [Gm]hear
[C] Old winter’s [Am]song [Dm]
[verse 4]
But I [Gm]miss you
Most of [C]all
My [Am]Darling [Dm]
[Closing]
When autumn [E]leaves [A]
[D]Begin to [Dm]fall
How to play Autumn Leaves on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Eric Clapton - Autumn Leaves on guitar requires 7 chords and 10 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Autumn Leaves uses these transitions most often: Dm → Gm (6), Gm → C (6), and Am → Dm (5). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Dm - Gm chord transition.
1. Dm → Gm chord transition
To move from Dm to Gm;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.
- Place pinky on E string fret 3.
2. Gm → C chord transition
To move from Gm to C;
- While playing Gm, lift your pinky from E string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
3. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
4. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
5. C → Dm chord transition
To move from C to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
6. Dm → E chord transition
To move from Dm to E;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.
7. E → Am chord transition
To move from E to Am;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
8. E → A chord transition
To move from E to A;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 2.
9. A → D chord transition
To move from A to D;
- Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 2 to fret 3.
10. D → Dm chord transition
To move from D to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on B string fret 3.
Autumn Leaves chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Autumn Leaves.
- Autumn Leaves includes 29 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Autumn Leaves contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Autumn Leaves connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).
- Dm → Gm: 5%
- Dm → E: 1%
After Gm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (15%), F (12%), and Dm (9%).- Gm → C: 15%