Whether you want to surprise your friends, family members, or pets on their birthday party, knowing how to play happy birthday on the acoustic guitar is a useful skill because music brings people together. The chords for happy birthday in the key of G are: G D D7 C G. The chords for Happy birthday can be played in many keys, but the key of G is the most common way. The chords progression for happy birthday is I V V7 IV I. Read on to learn how to play happy birthday with guitar chords.
Happy Birthday Guitar Chords For Beginners
Chords played with open strings are called open chords. They are the first chords we learn as beginner guitarists. If you don’t know how to play these chords, today is your lucky day. Here are the chords diagrams with instructions for getting them perfect every time.
G
- Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string. (B)
- Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 6th string. (G)
- Place your ring (or pinky) on the 3rd fret of the first string. (G)
- The open D, G and B strings are also played.
D
- Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. (A)
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string. (F#)
- Place your 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 3nd string. (D)
- D is also played on the open D string.
D7
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. (C)
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. (A)
- Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string. (F#)
- D is played on the open D string.
C
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string. (C)
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string. (E)
- Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string. (C)
- G is played on the open G string.
Happy Birthday Chord Progression
A chord progression is a sequence of chords played one after the other. If you have ever played a song on the acoustic guitar, you have played a chord progression.
Chord progressions are defined using roman numerals, and can be played in any key. The chord progression for happy birthday is:
I-V-V7-I-IV-I-V7-I
Happy Birthday Strumming Pattern
The strumming pattern for happy birthday is the same throughout the song. D means down and U means up.
DD UU DU
HBD Song Lyrics
For those of you who aren’t in the know, here are the words to happy birthday.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear (name)
Happy birthday to you
HBD Song Melody
The melody is a succession of pitches. When you sing, you are singing the melody because you can only sing one note at a time.
If you have a second guitar, you can ask a friend to play the melody while you play the chords, or you can just sing like most people! Here is how to play the melody to happy birthday on the guitar.
Happy Birthday With Chords & Melody
Okay we have come this far… It’s time to combine the chords and melody! It is important that your chord changes are synched with the song.
So here are the lyrics again but this time with the appropriate chord changes.
G D
Happy Birthday to you
D7 G
Happy Birthday to you
C G
Happy Birthday Dear (Name)
D7 G
Happy Birthday To youuuuuuuu
GGGGGGGGG
And many more!
Alternate Ways To Play Happy Birthday
As I said before, happy birthday can be played in basically any major key. Most people use G because it is easy for almost everyone to sing.
You wouldn’t want to play too low or too high! F is also another key that is popular for happy birthday, let’s learn how to play happy birthday in F.
F C
Happy birthday to you
F C
Happy birthday to you
F/A Bb
Happy birthday dear (name)
F C F
Happy birthday to youuuuuu
Conclusion
Happy Birthday is a simple addition to your repertoire that never gets old and is always in demand!
There is no loss to knowing how to play it. Happy birthday is played in the key of G with open chords. The chords to happy birthday are G D D7 C G. It is a I V V7 IV progression.
The strumming pattern is DD UU DU throughout the song. Playing happy birthday for your loved ones is a great gift. Let’s eat cake!&
