Piano chords · Waltz garden
How to play Happy Birthday To You on piano
By Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill
- F major
- 3/4
- 120 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Happy Birthday To You in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – F – Bb – F – C7
How it goes
Happy Birthday To You sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIFIBbIVFIC7V7- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Waltz roots
How it goes
One low note on each of the three beats: a simple waltz floor. Musicians call it root bass · 3/4 quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 391 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
How it goes
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 – C7 – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FC7F
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Questions about Happy Birthday To You
What chords are in Happy Birthday To You?
The loop is F – F – Bb – F – C7 (I – IV – I – V7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on F – C7 – F.
What key is Happy Birthday To You in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 3/4.
What does the left hand play in Happy Birthday To You?
Waltz roots: root bass · 3/4 quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Happy Birthday To You easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Happy Birthday To You?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.