Happy Birthday is an easy song to learn that will bring joy on someone’s special day. This version uses a basic chord progression and strumming pattern which works for most vocal ranges.
The first measure opens with two pickup eighth notes to signal that this song is being performed in 3/4 time; each syllable receiving one beat.
C Major
As with any major scale, C Major features chords based on its notes; each chord consists of three notes known as triads.
Happy Birthday uses chords from C Major as its starting point, which has an exceptionally distinct sound that works beautifully within this song.
To play this chord, use your index finger on the bottom string and middle finger on the top string – this will produce a full-sounding chord that’s easy to sing while strumming at once.
Practice moving between these chords regularly so they become part of your muscle memory. ChordBank offers some fun games to help do this such as EmojiHunt and ChordPOP!
D Major
“Happy Birthday” has been around for more than 100 years and remains one of the most iconic songs in English language music, easy to play using only simple chords.
Matching melodies to chords you are playing can be challenging, and this song provides an ideal way to do just that. Start by strumming a B7 chord, then pitch your melody according to one of its two Bs in order to practice doing just that.
Use a capo to change keys, then practice matching your voice with the chords you are playing – eventually you will soon be singing and playing Happy Birthday at once! Just make sure that you use your vocal range wisely.
E Major
E major is a widely used chord in popular songs. It serves as the root chord for E, while also functioning as the IV chord for B and A keys.
This chord is easy to play on open strings and features several positions suited for beginners – although beginners might find the first position easiest; just three fingers need be fretted at once with minimal finger gymnastics required!
Move this chord triad up the neck, and it changes to an A-shaped D chord (the IV), followed by two more frets to create an E-shaped B chord (the V). Have fun practicing moving these shapes around for practice – they will help you understand how they relate to specific keys.
F Major
This major chord progression for happy birthday is very accessible for piano students and should become part of their repertoire. Its presence can be found in numerous songs across genres; knowing it helps pianists adapt it into multiple keys more easily.
Be mindful that in the first measure of “Happy Birthday”, the melody starts off with two pickup eighth notes played before each beat; this ensures each “Hap-py” will have more drama and be heard over simply playing chords for that syllable.
Strumming can be as easy as performing three down strokes per measure, or to add some variation, you could alternate down and up strokes for added dynamics.
G Major
Few Westerners haven’t heard this song, making it an invaluable asset in family events and gatherings. While its chords are relatively straightforward, its melody can sometimes prove more challenging to play correctly.
The first measure begins with two G pickup notes that sound out the first syllables of “Hap – py”, before playing an open G major chord for the entire measure.
Change to F major for the second measure and start strumming an F major chord on beat 1 of each measure, beginning on beat 1, until all three syllables of “Birth – day to”. Practice strumming this chord using Skoove’s metronome for optimal results that blend into the rest of the song smoothly. You should aim for a swing rhythm here that keeps up with it!