Happy Birthday chords & tab
Mildred & Patty Hill · 1893
Song
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear friend,
Happy birthday to you!
Guitar Tab
Key of G, standard tuning. Read the high e string at the top.
Melody, first four bars (key of G): e|---------|0----------3--|2------------|0----------5--|3------------| B|-3----3--|-------3------|-----3----3--|-------3------|-----3-------| G|---------|--------------|-------------|--------------|----------7--| D|---------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------| A|---------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------| E|---------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------| Hap- py birth- day to you, Hap- py birth- day to you, Hap- py
About this song
The tune began as 'Good Morning to All' by the Hill sisters in 1893 and is now sung at birthdays everywhere, and it's in the public domain. A 3/4 waltz that starts with a two-note pickup.
How to play it: Easy 3/4 waltz: one down-strum on beat 1, then down-up. Sing the pickup ('Happy') before the first strum.
Lead: G major (G A B C D E F#). The leap up to high D on the third 'Happy birthday' is the tricky bit; everything else moves by step or a small skip.
Chord Diagrams
No capoG
Chord Info
- Notes
- G – B – D
- Intervals
- 1 – 3 – 5
- Fingers
- 123
- Difficulty
- Easy
Strumming Pattern
- ↓1
- ↓2
- ↑3
Easy 3/4 waltz: one down-strum on beat 1, then down-up. Sing the pickup ('Happy') before the first strum.
Play with Beats
Fretboard View
G as you fret it in open position.