Just for context, I’ve been playing guitar for about 6 years, learned to read music and have been pretty much only studying jazz theory during this time. Aside from dabbling in a little bit of transcribing by ear small parts of tunes this will be my first real dedicated attempt to learn a standard.
I’ve been listening to the Chet Baker version of Autumn Leaves quite a bit. Is there another version I should be referencing as a source to get familiar with the tune? Also, concerning the Chet Baker version, it has several solos. I know I should obviously learn the main theme but what classifies a person as “knowing the tune”? Should I just pick one solo and learn that or do I need to know them all before I can say I know the tune? Finally, I plan on supplementing learning this tune with some type of notation…any tips on what notated version would be best to use would be very much appreciated. Oh and i imagine BIAB will be helpful as well though I’m very new to the program.
A fantastic selection. One of the first I committed to decades ago. This american standard will always be called often in jazz giggling. But fefore you select a specific version, be sure to listen to my very favorite version of all time. Not so much a jazz standard version, but this turns the song into one of the most beautiful ever recorded and will always provide inspiration for you to stretch out the timing in your solos. Once you hear this you will never forget it!
A fantastic selection. One of the first I committed to decades ago. This american standard will always be called often in jazz giggling. But fefore you select a specific version, be sure to listen to my very favorite version of all time. Not so much a jazz standard version, but this turns the song into one of the most beautiful ever recorded and will always provide inspiration for you to stretch out the timing in your solos. Once you hear this you will never forget it!
As far as learning the head, decide whether you're playing single notes or using the guitar's polyphony to create a more complex arrangement. If its a guitar arrangement then perhaps listen to some of the great guitarists arrangements of the tunes to inspire you. Perhaps a little of both if you have a band or some backing tracks.
The arrangement is yours and yours alone. Make you part of your work.
On the soloing, personally I find memorization less than compelling. If I want to hear Chet Baker's solo on Autumn Leaves, I just play the record. That being said an homage to Chet in your solo is definitely cool. Identify some real "Chet" licks in his solo and reference them in your solo. A difficult one or two is nice to add just to show your chops. While your adding Chet consider some of the others- maybe even an Eric Clapton lick or a Wes Montgomery octave passage. Its all legit. Certainly does NOT have to be note for note.
Don't think too hard about it. Just start playing the tune. Let it come to you. Rubato. Never play the same thing twice.
Have fun
biab2026(Mac) Latest Build Mac OS (Latest) Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram Logic Pro (latest or pretty close) Blue and White Sea Star
Seems every great jazz guitarist has taken a swing or two at Autumn Leaves. They each offer something unique and worthwhile. My favorite is the one by Joe Pass on the Unforgettable album. So elegant and melodic, like everything else Joe did. Enjoy your journey!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
Hell ya, if you can cover this you will be able to sit in with anyone! This is jazz! Are you a horn player?
No im actually a guitar player haha.
….Opps.... I see now you are a guitarist (me too). If you are a bit of a newbee, you will be initially relegated to comping so you need to learn the chordal arrangement flat out! No misses with the changes. When you got that under your fingers, you will have a chance to take the melody (head). Only after that will you be able to solo. So don't worry about that for awhile. Your time will come and when it does, that solo will be yours and not a transcription of the masters. Just my experience.
As far as learning the head, decide whether you're playing single notes or using the guitar's polyphony to create a more complex arrangement. If its a guitar arrangement then perhaps listen to some of the great guitarists arrangements of the tunes to inspire you. Perhaps a little of both if you have a band or some backing tracks.
The arrangement is yours and yours alone. Make you part of your work.
On the soloing, personally I find memorization less than compelling. If I want to hear Chet Baker's solo on Autumn Leaves, I just play the record. That being said an homage to Chet in your solo is definitely cool. Identify some real "Chet" licks in his solo and reference them in your solo. A difficult one or two is nice to add just to show your chops. While your adding Chet consider some of the others- maybe even an Eric Clapton lick or a Wes Montgomery octave passage. Its all legit. Certainly does NOT have to be note for note.
Don't think too hard about it. Just start playing the tune. Let it come to you. Rubato. Never play the same thing twice.
Have fun
Such wisdom. Thank you so much I really appreciate the insight!
….Opps.... I see now you are a guitarist (me too). If you are a bit of a newbee, you will be initially relegated to comping so you need to learn the chordal arrangement flat out! No misses with the changes. When you got that under your fingers, you will have a chance to take the melody (head). Only after that will you be able to solo. So don't worry about that for awhile. Your time will come and when it does, that solo will be yours and not a transcription of the masters. Just my experience.
Thanks so much for chiming in! I wouldn’t say I’m a complete newbie but I definitely don’t have a methodology for learning tunes. To both yours and DrDan’s point I would like to possibly experiment with some chord melody during the head. I’ll probably end up spending more time than I should getting this under my belt but I’m hopeful I’ll learn a thing or two during the process. I really value hearing from you guys as guitar players! Any advice on a chart to use as a supplemental aid?
There are a number of charts, tabs, and video instructions on how to play Autumn Leaves on the Internet. Here are a couple of ones I found that may help:
I'm sure that I have a BiaB file of Autumn Leaves and if you are interested I can give it to you.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Thanks for the response. I’m extremely new to BIAB. Does BIAB have anything similar to iReal Pro and its community of shared charts and progressions?
I don't think BIAB has quite the volume of standards that IrealPro has available. There are some zip files circulatiing with a 500+ standards in .SGU & .MGU (biab formats) IrealPro has a couple thousand if memory serves. While an overlap exists, there are some major difference.
IrealPro is a great tool for learning the changes of a particular tune. Its also great for practicing those tunes in other keys/tempos etc. Honestly I do think its a better tool for shedding than BIAB. Its just quicker. Not better, Just quicker. Especially if you don't want/need the melody of the head. The IrealPro forum is a GREAT place to argue about whether the changes to a tune are correct. Check out the never ending argument on Wayne Shorter's "FootPrints". Only I seem to know what to play.
But I would NEVER gig with IrealPro. BIAB is what you use to create high quality backing tracks to perform with. BIAB what you use to create a band to back you up that sounds like a real band.
At least that's what I feel is big difference
biab2026(Mac) Latest Build Mac OS (Latest) Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram Logic Pro (latest or pretty close) Blue and White Sea Star
I'm sure that I have a BiaB file of Autumn Leaves and if you are interested I can give it to you.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Thanks for the response. I’m extremely new to BIAB. Does BIAB have anything similar to iReal Pro and its community of shared charts and progressions?
Not as such, but there are some around, try ++ minor9 ++
BTW, I agree with MrGeeze about iRealPro vs BiaB. I can often enter the chords in iRealPro as someone reads them out to me at a jam and a tablet is much more convenient then than a laptop. BiaB definitely wins for performance quality and the head/melody.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
I'm sure that I have a BiaB file of Autumn Leaves and if you are interested I can give it to you.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Thanks for the response. I’m extremely new to BIAB. Does BIAB have anything similar to iReal Pro and its community of shared charts and progressions?
Not as such, but there are some around, try ++ minor9 ++
BTW, I agree with MrGeeze about iRealPro vs BiaB. I can often enter the chords in iRealPro as someone reads them out to me at a jam and a tablet is much more convenient then than a laptop. BiaB definitely wins for performance quality and the head/melody.
That is quite the collection of files. What is the mgu format? Edited: a quick GPT search says it’s a BIAB format.
What is the mgu format? Edited: a quick GPT search says it’s a BIAB format.
Yes it is ... this is a BiaB forum, so I rather presumed that's what you wanted.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
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With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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