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patrick martin - Posted - 10/14/2022: 15:02:06
I am to play Happy Birthday with 2 ukuleles in a month or so and was looking for a version in F for Bluegrass/Scruggs picking style. I have a few in G and could change my tuning into F and play them but was wondering if anyone had a version in the key of F so that I could leave my banjo tuned normally. The chord progression is F, C7 and then B flat I'm told. I looked for tablature in the forum and online and could not readily find any in that key. Thanks much!
Old Hickory - Posted - 10/14/2022: 18:14:29
What a great opportunity to teach yourself playing in F!
Use a G version of the chords for reference. Change all the G to F, all the C to B-flat, and all the D(D7) to C or C7.
Hint: The first word "Happy" will be on C7. "Birthday" will be on F chord. It's a five (V) to one (I) change.
Use this info to find the melody, then see where the melody falls within the full or partial chord shapes you can find.
Good luck and have fun.
TreyDBanjoKS - Posted - 10/15/2022: 09:50:40
"Hint: The first word "Happy" will be on C7. "Birthday" will be on F chord. It's a five (V) to one (I) change."
I'll respectfully disagree- the first part of the phrase "Happy..." starts on the F(I) chord. It changes to the C7(V) on "You". It doesn't change to the Bb(IV) until "Dear ____".
Try it both ways and see which you prefer.
It's a simple song but can still be kind of tricky. I remember hearing a story about flatpicker David Grier challenging students at a workshop to play the melody of this simple and well-known song by ear and almost none of them could play the melody without making mistakes.
Just keep practicing, you've got this!
-TD
Texasbanjo - Posted - 10/15/2022: 13:14:55
If you are experienced enough on using a capo and playing in different keys, capo up 3 and use the D, G, A chords and you're in F. If that confuses you, then just use the F, Bb and C chords and pick out the melody. It's an easy melody.
earlstanleycrowe - Posted - 10/19/2022: 08:13:34
I've always thought Happy Birthday is a difficult song to sing or play on any instrument, but it's one people cite as being a simple song ("Try a simple tune like Happy Birthday"). The pickup notes are the fifth below the root, the first non-pickup note is not a chord tone, and it's a waltz. I think this is why it's often such a muddled mess (at least at the beginning when a group sings it.
Edited by - earlstanleycrowe on 10/19/2022 08:16:29
Ira Gitlin - Posted - 10/19/2022: 08:39:47
quote:
Originally posted by earlstanleycrowe
I've always thought Happy Birthday is a difficult song to sing or play on any instrument, but it's one people cite as being a simple song ("Try a simple tune like Happy Birthday"). The pickup notes are the fifth below the root, the first non-pickup note is not a chord tone, and it's a waltz. I think this is why it's often such a muddled mess (at least at the beginning when a group sings it.
Actually, THREE of the strong notes that start phrases are non-chord tones. The wild one is that first note over the 4 chord. IMNSHO, that's what makes it such an interesting melody.
You're right, it's not especially easy for beginners, but it does have the advantage of being EXTREMELY well known, and therefore easy to tell when you do or don't get it right.
patrick martin - Posted - 10/19/2022: 17:40:13
I would love to open the link...but it won't open for me. I appreciate your efforts and wonder if you posted in the tablature section on the site if I could access it there. Thanks Jack!
Jack Baker - Posted - 10/19/2022: 17:57:42
If you have Tabledit, it should open anywhere on BHO that I put it...good luck...Jack
Old Hickory - Posted - 10/20/2022: 18:33:07
quote:
Originally posted by TreyDBanjoKS
"Hint: The first word "Happy" will be on C7. "Birthday" will be on F chord. It's a five (V) to one (I) change."
I'll respectfully disagree- the first part of the phrase "Happy..." starts on the F(I) chord. It changes to the C7(V) on "You". It doesn't change to the Bb(IV) until "Dear ____".
Try it both ways and see which you prefer.
I have to admit I wrote that without an instrument in hand and was going by memory or imagining sounds in my head.
Now that I've tried it with a banjo, it seems to me the opening phrase works against several different chords.
You're right that the I chord (F in this case) is one of them. It also works against F6, Dm, C, C7, and the basic D7 shape on first three strings. Which do I like best? I don't know. Each one I try sounds better than the previous one. So it's circular. F sounds good, for sure, and makes sense.
The note for both syllables of "Happy" is C. The note for the syllable "Birth-" is up one whole step on D.
You're right that it doesn't go to the IV chord (B-flat) until the name of the person being celebrated.
Also: It goes back to the F chord on the second "you" at the end of the repeated line.
As Ira says, there are several non-chord strong notes. Each one is a whole step above a melody note/chord note that it immediately resolves down to. Some kind of suspension that's quickly resolved.
Jack Baker - Posted - 10/21/2022: 11:16:58
This is a rudimentary arrangement to show you the chords...
Originally posted by Jack Baker
If you have Tabledit, it should open anywhere on BHO that I put it...good luck...Jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 10/21/2022 11:26:29
Good Buddy - Posted - 10/21/2022: 17:58:02
Here's how I would play it in F.
| / / (C7)Happy | (F)Birthday to (C7)you. / Happy | Birthday to | (F)you. / Happy |Birthday (Faug)dear (Bb)Elmer. (C7)Happy | (F)Birthday (C7)to | (F)you. |
'Lot of Great parts!' 2 hrs
'Waynesboro' 3 hrs
