“What a Wonderful World” was written by Bob Thiele (credited as George Douglas) and George David Weiss and first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1967. It became a worldwide hit and gained renewed popularity after appearing in the 1987 film Good Morning, Vietnam. It’s a favorite at weddings, memorials and celebrations.
The tune is commonly played in F major. The harmony is simple and warm, using I, iii, IV and V chords with a few secondary dominants and a descending bass line in places. The melody is slow, gentle and easy to sing.
For improvisation, stay close to the melody and use the major pentatonic scale. Armstrong’s vocal phrasing, warm and unhurried, is the perfect model for instrumentalists. Add small embellishments and let the melody shine.
Practice at a slow tempo. Learn the melody by singing it with Armstrong’s recording, then play it in F and in a key suited to your instrument.
Section by section: the verses move through I, iii and IV chords, so use the major pentatonic scale and gentle embellishments. The bridge moves to new chords with a hopeful lift; let your phrases rise with it. The final section returns home with a warm cadence. Armstrong’s gravelly, heartfelt delivery is the model for phrasing.
Practice tip: play the melody with as few extra notes as possible, focusing on tone and phrasing. This song shines when played simply.
How to use this What a Wonderful World Lead Sheet PDF: print it or keep it on a tablet, mark the form sections and key centers in pencil, and write the guide tones you want to target above the tricky bars. Revisit those notes after each practice session so the tune gets easier every week.
Is it hard to play? It’s beginner-friendly. Recordings to study: Louis Armstrong’s 1967 original. Learn more about the performer on Louis Armstrong’s Wikipedia page, and find more beginner lead sheets on Minedit.