Standards

It's A Big Wide Wonderful World chords & key

Key: A♭ major
Form: AABA
Bars: 64
Groove: Jazz waltz
Time signature: 3/4

“It's A Big Wide Wonderful World” is a jazz standard by John Rox. Most bands play it in A♭ major, jazz waltz; the tune runs 64 bars in AABA form. Harmonically it contains 7 major ii–V–I cadences and 3 minor ii–V–i, uses 11 different chords and moves between the key centres A♭ major, B♭ minor and D♭ major.

Chord changes

to key

Showing in: Concert (C) — A♭ major

×2

D♭^maj7

G^7♭9

C^m7

F⁷

B♭^m7

E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

E♭^m7

A♭⁷

D♭^maj7

B♭^m7

E♭^m7

C^m7

F^m7

B♭^m7

E♭⁷

A♭^maj7

E♭^m7

A♭⁷

D♭^maj7

G^7♭9

C^m7

F⁷

B♭^m7

E♭⁷

A♭⁶

E♭^m7

A♭⁷

Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.

Harmonic analysis

7Major ii–V–I

3Minor ii–V–i

11ii–V moves

0Tritone substitutions

0Dominant chains

11Different chords

Most used chords

D♭^maj7×11
B♭^m7×9
C^m7×8
E♭⁷×8
F⁷×6
A♭^maj7×6

Key centres reached by ii–V

A♭ major, B♭ minor and D♭ major

Characteristics

AABA song form

Standards with similar changes

Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.

Title	Composer	Key	Form	Groove
The Sweetest Sounds 30%	Richard Rodgers	F major	AB · 40	Medium-up swing
I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket 29%	Irving Berlin	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
Ceora 26%	Lee Morgan	A♭ major	ABAC · 32	Bossa nova
How Are Things In Glocca Morra 26%	Burton Lane	F major	AAB · 30	Ballad
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening 25%	Jimmy McHugh	F major	AABA · 32	Ballad
Deed I Do 25%	Hirsch-Rose	C major	AABA · 32	Medium swing
I Want To Be Happy 25%	Vincent Youmans	C major	AABA · 32	Medium-up swing
I've Never Been In Love Before 24%	Frank Loesser	B♭ major	AABA · 32	Medium swing

Frequently asked questions

What key is It's A Big Wide Wonderful World in?

It's A Big Wide Wonderful World is usually played in A♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is B♭ major, for E♭ instruments F major.

Who wrote It's A Big Wide Wonderful World?

It's A Big Wide Wonderful World was written by John Rox.

What is the form of It's A Big Wide Wonderful World?

It's A Big Wide Wonderful World has 4 sections (AABA) with 64 bars in total.

How fast is It's A Big Wide Wonderful World played?

The usual groove is Jazz waltz.

What are the chord changes to It's A Big Wide Wonderful World?

The opening bars are Dbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | G7b9. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.