Skip to song content

Ed Sheeran - Autumn Leaves Chords

ChordsEm, G, C, D, C#
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

EmGGC
EmAnotherGday,anotherGlife,passesCbyjustlikeEmmine
It’snotGcomplicatedGC
EmAnotherGmind,anotherGsoul,anotherCbodytogrowEmold
It’snotGcomplicatedGC
CDoyoueverwonderiftheDstarsshineoutforyou?
GFloatGdown,EmlikeCautumnleaves.
GHushGnow,EmcloseyoureyesCbeforethesleep.
GAndyourGmilesaway,EmAndCyesterday.G
GYouwereEmherewithCme…
EmGGC
EmAnotherGtear,anotherGcry,anotherCplaceforustoEmdie
It’snotGcomplicatedGC
EmAnotherGlifethat’sgonetoGwaste,
AnotherClightlostfromyourEmface
It’sGcomplicatedGC
CIsitonlywonderordoDbirdsstillsingforyou?
GFloatGdown,EmlikeCautumnleaves.
GHushGnow,EmcloseyoureyesCbeforethesleep.
GAndyourGmilesaway,EmAndCyesterday.G
GYouwereEmherewithCme…
C#OohhowICmissyou.
MyGsymphonyplacestheDsongthatcarriesyouout
C#OohhowICmissyou
IGmissyouandIwishDyou’dstay
CIsitanywonderthattheDstarsshineoutforyou?
GFloatGdown,EmlikeCautumnleaves.
GHushGnow,EmcloseyoureyesCbeforethesleep.
GAndyourGmilesaway,EmAndCyesterday.G
GYouwereEmherewithCme…
GFloatGdown,EmlikeCautumnleaves.
GHushGnow,EmcloseyoureyesCbeforethesleep.
GAndyourGmilesaway,EmAndCyesterday.G
GYouwereEmherewithCme…
EmOohoh,GoohGoh,Emoohoh,GoohGoh
GTouchGdownEmlikeaCsevenfourseven
GStayGoutEmandwe’llCliveforeverGnowDG
Album+
GenresPop
Year2011
KeyG
DifficultyEasy

How to play Autumn Leaves on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Ed Sheeran - Autumn Leaves on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 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: G → Em (19), Em → C (18), and C → G (17). 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 Em - G chord transition.

1. Em → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to G:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 12 times.

Em to G

2. G → C chord transition

Here's how to move from G to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

G to C

3. C → Em chord transition

Switching from C to Em:

  1. While playing C, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

C to Em

4. C → D chord transition

Here's how to move from C to D:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 3 times.

C to D

5. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 4 times.

6. C → C# chord transition

To move from C to C#:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on A string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse.

7. D → C# chord transition

Switching from D to C#:

  1. Slide your index finger on G string from fret 2 to fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to B string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on A string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Autumn Leaves.

  • Autumn Leaves includes 101 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Autumn Leaves contains 4 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 G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → D: 24%
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%