Autumn Sun - Introduction and Harmony

Introducing the Song: Autumn Sun

So I'm going to introduce a song now called Autumn Sun, which is loosely based on the great standard Autumn Leaves from 1945.

Structure

Form-wise, it's very similar to things we've played before:

• It's an A and B tune
• A 32-bar sequence

You'll notice that the 25 ones are exclusively major key and minor key. So I'm dealing with the keys of G major, specifically:

• II V: A minor, D7 to G
• Then A II V into the relative minor, which is E minor.

Chords

Here are the chords used:

• F sharp 7
• F sharp minor 7 flat 5
• B 7
• B 9
• E minor 7

These are all diatonic to the modes of G major, but I'm treating them as a modulation between the major and the relative minor.

Tune Overview

Have a look through the tune:

• It starts with a major 2-5-1
• Followed by a minor 2-5-1
• In the bridge, we reaffirm the minor key and then go back to the relative major.

It's really interesting to hear how the solo and the head move between these two.

Performance Structure

The performance runs as follows:

• Once through the head
• Two choruses of solo
• A head to finish off

Style Influence

The head and the solo of Autumn Sun are written to sound in the style of the great sax players of the 1950s:

• Dexter Gordon
• Sonny Rollins
• Cannonball Adderley

I've gone for a kind of relaxed swing feel, emphasizing the minor key.

Key Elements to Listen For

Listen out for:

• All those D sharps that will bring out the minor key.
• A little bit of blues in there, and otherwise, melodic lines based on chord tones and scales that we've looked at over the relevant chords.

A Special Technique

There's just one little trick that I used on an E minor chord in the second chorus:

• I put a C sharp over my E minor chord.

Now that's outside the key, but it's really just a little trick I borrowed from Miles Davis, which makes the root chord a Dorian chord. It adds a different kind of color to that chord.

Listening Suggestion

If you listen to Miles Davis play Autumn Leaves, Summertime, or minor tunes, he will often put that mysterious sounding Dorian note over his minor chords.

Key Takeaways

• There are elements we've looked at: blues scales, chord tones, and scales from modes that we've covered before.

• Remember to keep your swing feel nice and relaxed:

  • We don't want a too short second note
  • Aim for nice, smooth, and fluid playing.

Express Yourself

As always, after you've played the head and the solo, there's space for your own solo. So jump in, express yourself, and try to find those minor cadences.

Find your voice over those progressions!