I've Got The World On A String in D

Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler(1932)swing
Do Re MiC D E
A
B
F♯aug7
B13
E13
Eaug7
A13

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

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I've Got The World On A String in D

Key of D

D major is one of guitar's most resonant keys. The open D string acts as a droning root, and the open A string provides the fifth. This gives D-based strumming a wide, ringing quality that flatpicks and fingerpicks love. D is a beginner-level key on guitar because the open D and A strings provide a powerful bass foundation, and the open high E is the 2nd scale degree adding brightness. Beginners will find this key approachable since most chords use open voicings with minimal stretching.

Voice Leading

The bass line moves through D to C (descending whole step), C to B (descending half step), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to G (ascending minor third), G to F# (descending half step), F# to F (descending half step), F to A (ascending major third), A to A (ascending unison), A to D# (ascending tritone), D# to C# (descending whole step), C# to F# (ascending perfect fourth), F# to F# (ascending unison), F# to B (ascending perfect fourth), B to E (ascending perfect fourth), E to E (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 E to D by whole step.

Scales for Improvisation

D 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, D Mixolydian adds the flat seventh for an authentic blues-rock edge.

swing4/4 · 27 bars · Form: AB

Chords: D, C7, B7, Em7, Gm6, F♯m7, Fm7, A7, A13, D♯dim, C♯m7, F♯7, F♯aug7, B13, E13, Eaug7.

Scales for Improvisation D bebop, D bebop major.

Diatonic chords: See all chords in the key of D