Month 3, Lesson 3: Happy Birthday – Lead & Chords
Source: Guitar Lessons
Happy Birthday – Text
Kids always like to play this one, either for their own birthday on a friend or family member. So this is one you will want to memorize for that special occasion.
About This Lesson:
Quite a few new little this on this lesson. This first major change is the Time Signature in this song is 3/4 time rather than the 4/4 time we have been working with up until now. 3/4 time is also called Waltz Time because all Waltz songs are played in 3/4 time.
The second major item is the use of Pick Up Notes in this song. There are two of them in the first measure.
Learning Points:
Play the Song in 3/4 Time or Waltz Time:
The times in shown in the score information and you simply count 1 – 2 – 3 rather than 1 – 2 – 3 – 4. Just drop the last number. Quarter Notes still receive the beat.
Rhythm Chords in 3/4 Timing:
The Rhythm Chords are played differently in 3/4 timing too. In 4/4 timing you played the chords basically like this:
Pick – Strum – Pick – Strum
1 2 3 4
With 3/4 timing you play them like this:
Pick – Strum – Strum
1 2 3
Pick Up Notes:
Note the two eighth notes in the first measure. These are pick up notes. They set the rhythm or speed of the song. Usually they are in the first measure, but sometimes you may see 2 or even 3 or more measures of pick up notes. Usually there is no accompaniment with pick up notes. Note in this song, in the rhythm track that there is a dotted half rest, which means silence for the 3 beats of the first measure.
Lead Chord Forms:
To spice up this version of the song, I have added several chords as part of the lead. If they are too hard for you to play first, just play the top note of the chord or the highest note. Then come back and work on the lead chord.
Notice how the lead chords “borrow” from the rhythm section chords. This is an easy way for you to see what lead chord might be coming up – simply look down at the rhythm track and see what chords are being played. You will copy them for the lead chords too.
About the Tab Notes:
The Tab Notes show that we are relating our lead chords to the rhythm section in the track beneath the lead track. Try to see how the lead chord forms follow the rhythm tracks. Even if there is only a double note, like in the 7th measure – If you look at the rhythm track beneath the double note you will see that an F chord if being played. That means that this double note will be taken from that F chord, or it will be just a partial 2-note F chord.
Articles You Should Read:
Waltz Time: Know what this is and be able to play in 3/4 timing.
Pick Up Notes: Know what they are, their purpose and how to play them.
Down Up Strokes of the Pick: This is really important for the fill-in notes. Using down ups is the only way to play them fast enough.
Chords in the Key of C Major and A Minor
Music Theory You Should Know:
Time Signature
Rest
Dotted Notes
TAB
Treble Clef
TAB Staff
Goals:
Play this song slowly, but with the correct timing, lead chords and down-up strokes.
Goal #1:
Be able to play smoothly in Waltz Time or 3/4 Time. Get used to the Pick Strum Strum or 1 – 2 – 3 timing in both the lead and rhythm sections of this song.
Goal #2:
Know and understand the Pick up notes. Be able to play them correctly and smoothly. Do not get confused when the rhythm section kicks in in the second measure. This will be a common thing you will see in many songs.
Goal #3:
Play the lead chords smoothly and at the same pace or tempo as the single notes. This may mean you have to work on these “rough spots” extra hard. Go ahead and spend several day going back and forth between the 2 pars of chords in the 2nd and 3rd measures, the 4th and 5th measures, and the 8th and 9th measures.
Probably the biggest challenge will be the g7 to C in the 4th and 5th measures. Play the G7 then immediately switch to the C, then back to the G7 then the C. That is what I mean by switching back and forth. If you do this for one or two days, it will become smoother.
Goal #4:
Try to play the rhythm section as well, with the chords shown here. Remember in Waltz Time or 3/4 timing it is Pick Strum Strum. And that is the way it is through the entire song. Work especially hard on the F chord in the 7th measure.
What You Should Practice This Week:
The most important thing to play this week is the lead, with the lead chords, play the pick up notes correctly and get the down ups right on the eighth notes in the first, 3rd, 5th and 7th measures.
Rhythm chords come secondly. It is very important that you know how to play rhythm, but for this song it is secondary, as we should play the lead first. On go on to the rhythm if you have mastered the lead and the lead chords smoothly. Remember to play along with the Guitar Pro file. It will help like you can’t believe. Just set it very slow.
See our How To Practice article:
If you are having trouble with your practice techniques, or can’t seem to get “in the groove”, review the article on How to Practice and this will help you develop a consistent practice method.
Help Us Out:
Lastly and most importantly, give us feedback, either good or bad. We want to improve this site and we want kids to learn how to play the guitar. If you have suggestions for us, leave a comment. If you appreciate these lessons, leave a comment on that too.
Songs in Downloadable Format:
If you have difficulty reading this score information, we have this score information available free of charge for you with an instant electronic download. Just click on the song title below and you will be taken to our secure server site. You will get a PDF file of the above score complete with the Tab Notes. Be sure to download Adobe Acrobat Reader v6.0 or above. This version will allow you to turn the Tab Layer on or off.
Also you will get the Guitar Pro file. You can download Guitar Pro and get a free trial so you can play along with this song in real time on your computer. If you upgrade to the full version of the song you will have a lot more features available to you, such as the RSE modules which give you realistic guitar files – they sound just like an Acoustic Guitar.
Guitar Pro File Happy Birthday
Download
PDF File Happy Birthday
Download
Go to Lesson 3.3 – Happy Birthday – Score Lesson
Go to Lesson 3.3 Score
Tags: free guitar lessons, happy birthday, Kids Guitar Lessons, pickup notes, waltz time
