Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Happiness on piano
Written by Clark Gesner
- C major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- V7–I–IV–V7 loop
- 1965
- Easy
Learn Happiness in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – F – G7
Happiness sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIFIVG7V7- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Gentle rocking
Root, fifth, octave, fifth: the gentle rocking under countless pop ballads. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 696 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
- 5
Ending: F – G – C
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Happiness
What chords are in Happiness?
The loop is G7 – C – F – G7 (V7 – I – IV – V7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Happiness in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Happiness?
Gentle rocking: broken chord 1-5-8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Happiness easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.