Pachelbel Birthday Party

Johann Pachelbel’s exact date of birth is not recorded. Born in Nürnberg (Nuremberg), he was baptized on 1st September 1653, which means his 370th birthday is either happening soon or has already happened. We celebrated his greatest gift to the music world on Friday 1st September 2023. As an organist, Pachelbel was best known for his music for organ, although his famous Canon in D and its companion Gigue were originally written for string instruments (three violins and a ground bass, e.g. cello).

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Pachelbel Chord Progression

Pachelbel’s Canon is his one hit wonder. The eight-chord progression has been used in various pop songs, notably the following, listed alphabetically:

• Bruxelles (Boulevard des Airs)
• Can’t Stop Loving You (Phil Collins)
• Cryin’ (Aerosmith)
• Don’t Look Back in Anger (Oasis)
• Don’t Sleep in the Subway (Petula Clark)
• Go West (Pet Shop Boys)
• Graduation Friends Forever (Vitamin C)
• Hometown (Joe Jackson)
• I’ll Be There (Jackson Five)
• I Should Be So Lucky (Kylie Minogue)
• Let It Be (The Beatles)
• Let It Be Me (Elvis Presley)
• Memories (Maroon 5)
• No Woman No Cry (Bob Marley & the Wailers)
• Ode to My Family (The Cranberries)
• One Tin Soldier
• Pictures of Lily (The Who)
• Puff the Magic Dragon
• Spicks & Specks (Bee Gees)
• Streets of London (Ralph McTell)
• Sunday Morning (Procol Harum)
• Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)
• Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas)
• With or Without You (U2)

The Pachelbel Progression has inspired me to arrange the canon and supporting exercises for my piano students and aspiring ukulele players. The piano arrangement includes fingering for both hands. The ukulele arrangement is marked by sections of eight one-chord measures. I’ve identified and designated three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. You can stick to your skill level and repeat that section or sections or play as written. The ukulele exercises are designed to give practice to switching chords, using alternative fingering, and accompanying with block and broken chords.

Handouts and Video

Order the following items (US$ or equivalent by Paypal, Zelle, Venmo, Cheque, or other means). Use the new Google Form (9/11/2023)

1. Pachelbel Ukulele Arrangement
2. Pachelbel Ukulele Exercises
3. Pachelbel Easy Piano Arrangement
4. Pachelbel Medley of 7 Songs Ukulele Songsheet
5. Pachelbel Ukulele Chord Table
6. Workshop video (indexed, 90 minutes)
7. Workshop crossword puzzle (four numbers only – either chord frets or important years)
8. Bundled: Piano & Video (items 3 & 6)
9. Bundled: Ukulele arrangement, exercises, and video (items 1, 2, 6)
10. Bundled: Ukulele arrangement and exercises, piano arrangement,  video (items 1, 2, 3, 6)
11. Bundled: All ukulele (arrangement, exercises, song sheet, chord table) and video
12. Bundled – everything: All of the above

Note:

• the ukulele arrangement is for low G ukulele
• piano arrangement is for beginner to intermediate (both hands, with fingering)
• ukulele exercises can be used for either high or low G ukulele
• video is the unlisted YouTube livestream of this workshop which will be sent after the session
• submit your post-workshop feedback by Labor Day 4th Sept to get the 2-page summary of presentation

Prerequisites

To avoid disappointment and disruption to class, please be prepared by reading below.

Your choice of instrument:
This workshop is aimed at ukulele players with low G ukulele to pick all the notes. A high G ukulele is also possible (see below). You can also play the piano, organ, guitar, or any melodic instrument if you can read and play from the notation and/or the chords on the screen.

Please have your choice of instrument tuned up, ready to use. It’s ideal that you can read tablature or notation and fingerpick with correct fingering and technique. At the same time, it’s vital that you can keep a steady rhythm and strum the eight chord progression.

It is possible to use a high G ukulele to strum the chords (C-G-Am-Em-F-C-F-G) or pick out the bass line as shown in the first extract below “Level I is the easiest…” or the melodic line in the third extract below “Level III requires correct fingering and technique.”

For pianists, the easiest level is to play the eight single notes in the bass line with the left hand. Next easiest is play just the single notes with the right hand. Thereafter, you can try both hands together. The fingering is annotated to help you. The most advanced level is to use the notes for both hands as “boundaries” and voice the given chords accordingly. In other words, invert the chords so that the highest pitched note of the chord is the melody (as written) in the right hand. Check the extracts below.

Zoom audio setting:
Enable original sound. Make sure “original sound” is ON, so that we can hear your instrument if you will be unmuted at any time. When “original sound” is OFF, everything except your voice will be filtered out.

Ukulele Arrangement for low G in three levels

Piano arrangement with fingering

Workshop Description (by Participants)

Find ways to enhance Pachelbel’s Canon and impress yourself and your neighbors!!

Using the melody and chords from Pachebel to transfer to many other songs.

Celebrate Pachelbel by learning to play along on ukulele or piano.

This workshop is a concise history and overview of Pachabel’s Canon, transposed to an ukulele friendly key and with variations from simple to challenging. One could participate again as their skills develop and gain new insights each time.

Following the chord progression used by Pachelbel in the Canon in D, play with at least 3 different techniques.

An introduction to ensemble playing via the beloved and well-known Pachelbel’s Canon, suitable for uke players of all levels. Bonus: learn about popular songs that riff on the Canon’s melody and chord progression.

Testimonials

Instuction at all levels so everyone can play together.

A unique approach to a uke workshop, including the piano. Much fun!

This is a captivating and instructive workshop, suitable for -nearly- beginners and more advanced players (accompanying chords at different levels).
Saskia, the Netherlands

An enjoyable hour and a half of ukulele fun starting off simply and briskly moving to as much challenge as one is willing to take on.
Bob Smay, San Jose, California

“Pachelbel Birthday Party” was great to be at today. The Pachelbel Cannon is a piece of music that never tires me. In this workshop we accompanied Anne. Because it was a zoom meeting, we were not heard but enjoyed every minute. It was a great workshop. I liked that it was not too long. I also liked the way Anne presented the music, and a little bit of Music history. Debbie Fong, Kula, Maui, Hawaiʻi

A phenomenal workshop which makes not only Pachebel accessible but also helps you find many songs on the ukulele with the same chords and notes. A great exercise in finding different chords on the ukulele up the fretboard.

Anne is a great teacher, adjusting coursework and timing to those present. She is creative and enthusiastic which can’t help but rub off on us as we learn.

If at all possible please do take a class with Anne. She is an outstanding professional musician who can bring the work down to any level.

I found this workshop very helpful in introducing the composer Johann Pachelbel and the chord progression he used in his Canon in D. It gives ukulele chords and progresses to playing the melody line, chords, and arpeggios with various techniques.

This is a terrific introduction to ensemble playing of a classical piece. Though we were on Zoom and couldn’t actually play together, one could easily imagine how this will come together when we have a chance to gather. Anne’s arrangement is brilliant because she has provided parts for everyone, from beginner to virtuoso. And because it’s a canon, the chord progression is repeated over and over and it’s almost impossible to get it “wrong.” If you lose your place, it’s easy to jump back in.

I am a retired registered nurse from Canada. I found the workshop informative and enjoyable. I was able to learn some new skills and yet was able to work at my own level .

Previous FREE taster workshops

• Songwriting and composition, April 2023
• A taste of bootcamp: chord switching exercises, October 2022
• Introduction to Fingerstyle Ukulele, February 2022
• Music theory and other upcoming courses, March 2021
• Taster workshops, September 2020
• A taste of bootcamp: building your skills for the ukulele, August 2020
• Spice it up with suspended chords, July 2020
• Ode to Joy for Ukulele, March 2020