I've Got The World On A String in B

Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler(1932)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
D♯aug7
G♯13
C♯13
C♯aug7
F♯13

Chord Diagrams — I've Got The World On A String in B (Guitar)

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I've Got The World On A String in B

Key of B

B major mixes barre and open elements. The B chord itself is a barre at fret 2, but E and A are comfortable open chords forming the IV and V. The open B string rings as the root, allowing creative drone-based arrangements. B is a intermediate-level key on guitar because the open B string rings as the root and the open E strings provide the 4th — useful for sus4 voicings and drone effects. This key mixes open and barre shapes, making it a good intermediate challenge that builds fretboard fluency.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through B to A (descending whole step), A to G# (descending half step), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to E (ascending minor third), E to D# (descending half step), D# to D (descending half step), D to F# (ascending major third), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to C (ascending tritone), C to A# (descending whole step), A# to D# (ascending perfect fourth), D# to D# (ascending unison), D# to G# (ascending perfect fourth), G# to C# (ascending perfect fourth), C# to C# (ascending unison). A half-step bass movement creates a strong leading-tone pull that demands resolution. The predominantly stepwise bass motion creates smooth, connected voice leading. When the progression loops, the bass returns from C# to B by whole step.

Scales for Improvisation

B major pentatonic works because every note is either a chord tone or a safe passing tone — there are no avoid notes. For soloing, this means you can play freely without clashing. Over dominant seventh chords, B Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: B, A7, G♯7, C♯m7, Em6, D♯m7, Dm7, F♯7, F♯13, Cdim, A♯m7, D♯7, D♯aug7, G♯13, C♯13, C♯aug7.

Scales for Improvisation B bebop, B bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of B