One of the most searched phrases that viewers use to find my website is “happy birthday chord melody arrangement.” The term “chord melody arrangement” refers to an instrumental version of a song in which both the melody and chords are included. Happy Birthday is a short three-chord song that accompanies singing. Why would anyone want to do an instrumental version of it?
I consider Happy Birthday tune for ukulele as my first commission. It was the first time anyone had asked me to arrange anything. In June 2017, I proudly wrote down the notes, the tabs, the lyrics, and the chords. I posted a short blog with the lead sheet on this website.
Revisiting this tune, I see why anyone would want a “chord melody arrangement.” The song is so short that you can play an instrumental version of it as an introduction.
Block chord melody arrangement
The easiest way to change a lead sheet into a chord melody arrangement is to add the notes in the chord of the melody notes wherever and whenever you can.
The result differs slightly for low G and high G ukuleles. Can you spot the differences?
To play the so-called “block” chord melody arrangement, you can either use your right hand fingers to individual fingerpick the notes as shown or strum the block chords, ending on the melodic notes, which are usually at the “top” i.e. they are the highest pitched notes of a chord with the melody in it.
Chord melody with a swing for low G ukulele
If you break up the block chords, you get broken chords. In line with the swing rhythm of the first word “happy” let’s continue the swing throughout the song.
Happy Birthday as a gift
Besides wishing someone a happy birthday, you can sing and play the Happy Birthday song. Even better, personalize it. I showed different ways to introduce the song, jazz it up, change the time signature and tempo, and much more in my workshops.
Happy Birthday’s common chord progression
The order of chords used in Happy Birthday is also used in “Charlie and the MTA” and “Banks of the Ohio,” to name a few. This is the principle of “common chord progressions” the subject of one of my new Ukulele Exercise Books and workshops.
Workshop Announcement
I’ll be giving an in-person workshop in a lovely coastal town of Cohasset, Massachusetts on Sunday 9th February 2025 from 2 to 4 PM EST (details). Free to participate.
Practice suggestions
Which right hand fingers are most natural for you to fingerpick? Here are the progressive steps.
- Thumb only, also known as p
- Thumb and index fingers only, , also known as pi
- Thumb, index, and middle fingers only, also known as pim
- Thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, , also known as pima
More information
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