“Happy Birthday” starts on the note C, steps up to D, steps down to C, and then leaps up to F before stepping down to E. This means it uses the notes of the F major scale: F, G, A, B-flat, C, D, and E. This arrangement of “Happy Birthday” is in the key of F major. What are the notes of “Happy Birthday” on piano?
The song has been in the public domain ever since. Federal Court determined that the company couldn’t prove “Happy Birthday” was under copyright, and made the company pay everyone back. This large music company insisted that if anyone wanted to perform the song in public, they would owe the company money! Finally, in 2016, a U.S. In 1988, a global music company claimed to have acquired the copyright to the song by purchasing a smaller music company that had published it in the past. This simple song has an exciting history. This “Happy Birthday” song quickly spread throughout English-speaking countries all over the world. They created the tune to be used as a good morning song that would be fun and easy for children to sing.Ī few years later, a new verse was added that wished a happy birthday to anyone having a birthday that day. Patti was a Kindergarten Principal and Mildred was a pianist and composer. The tune is attributed to Patti and Mildred Hill, two sisters from Kentucky. It is one of the most recognized songs in the English language. The song “Happy Birthday” has been around for more than a hundred years. How would you like to be able to play any song you want on the piano? Sign up for Hoffman Academy and get started! Background information on “Happy Birthday” Just repeat this pattern of strumming throughout the song and you will have yourself a slightly fancier version of the song that feels just a little more awesome and helps you get to know your guitar a little better too.Learn How to Play “Happy Birthday” on Piano with Sheet Musicĭoes someone you know have a birthday coming up? Why not surprise them with a special song on the piano! You can get “Happy Birthday” piano sheet music from the Hoffman Academy Store and learn how to play “Happy Birthday” on piano today! This would leave you with a strumming pattern that looks something like this: This is the simplest strumming pattern for this song.īut, should you wish to go for it a bit more, and up your guitar game, you could try adding in an upstroke, on the 2nd and 3rd beats of each measure. The song is arranged in a ¾ timing, so there are 5 beats on every measure. The strumming patterns for Happy Birthday are also just about as simple as the chords are. The capitalized letters are where the focus is on, and thus is where you also start to play the relevant chord in synchronization Strumming Patterns Now, let’s take a look at how the chords and lyrics for Happy Birthday on guitar match up. Mute the 5th string and the 6th string to play. When you play chord D, leave the 4th string open, and only string the bottom 4 strings of your guitar. Then, place your 2nd finger on the 1st string at the 2nd fret.įinally, place your 3rd finger at the 2nd string on the 3rd fret. Place your 1st finger on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret. D is a lot like D7, except, the other way around! In order to play the D chord properly, you need to ensure that your fingers are placed on the fretboard correctly. Then, your second finger on the 4th string at the 2nd fret.įinally, put your third finger on the 5th string at the 3rd foot.Īs you play C, leave the 1st and the 3rd strings totally open, and do not strum the 6th. Position your 1st finger on the 2nd string at the first fret.
When playing C, you need to ensure your fingers are in the right place on the fretboard.
When you play chord D7, always leave the fourth string open, and open play strings 2 through 6, do not play the top two strings. Your second finger, on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret.Īnd, place your third finger on the 1st string on the 2nd fret. Place your first finger on the 2nd string at the 1st fret. To play D7, you need to ensure your fingers are placed correctly on the fretboard. You can technically play it either way, it just depends on what is best and most comfortable for you to play. Some may want to play the 3rd fret on string 2 as well, if this is the case just move your ring finger up a fret, covering the 3rd of the first string with your little finger. When you play this chord, you are leaving the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings totally open. Your second finger on the low-E string at the 3rd fret.Īnd, place your third finger on the high-E at the 3rd fret Place your first fingers on the A string at the 2nd fret. To play the G chord, you need to correctly place your fingers on the fretboard. Chords you need to learn to play G, D7, C, and D.