Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Cuong Nguyen. Cuong Nguyen is a Music Teacher and the Co-Owner of both OC Musica and the Huntington Beach School of Music. He has been teaching music for over 45 years and has extensive knowledge in music teaching pedagogy. He and his team of over 20 professional instructors specialize in teaching piano, voice, guitar, violin, brass, and woodwind instruments. Cuong is the 1984 winner of the Yoshiro Irino Memorial Prize in Composition. He received his Bachelor of Music with Honors from the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
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Hoping to liven up a friend or loved one's birthday party with a rendition of "Happy Birthday"? Playing this famous tune is fairly simple—all you need is some basic piano knowledge to really nail this piece. We've walked you through everything you need to know, so you can master this easy piano song in no time.
Steps
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Locate middle C on the keyboard.
Place both your thumbs (right and left) on middle C.Advertisement
Play your fourth finger on your left hand twice. This note is "G."
Play the note beneath your third finger right after. This note is "A."
Play your fourth finger again (G).
Play middle C with the thumb of your left hand.
Play the B note with your left hand. Play this note with your second finger.
Repeat the 3rd, 4th and 5th instructions again. Play G twice, A once, and then G again.
Play the D note with the second finger of your right hand.
Play C with your right or left hand. It depends on which hand is more comfortable to play with.
Play the fourth finger of your left hand twice.
Play G with the fifth finger of your right hand.
Play E once and C twice. Play the E note quickly with the right hand. Then move on to the C and play the note twice.
Play B and then A. Play these notes with the second and third fingers of your left hand.
Play F with your right hand twice.
Play E, C, D, and C again.
Practice many times through. Keep practicing until it is smooth and sounds like the original piece. The notes are as follows, for the more confident players: Left hand: G, G, A, G, C, B, G, G, A, G Right hand: D, C Left hand: G, G Right hand: G, E, C, C, Left hand: B, A Right hand: F, F, E, C, D, C.
Community Q&A
- QuestionHow do I play "Happy Birthday" with only five notes and one hand?
Community AnswerFind a simple version of the song with few notes. Play only the treble line if you're playing one-handed. - QuestionWhere are the A and B keys?Community AnswerThere is a pattern of alternating groups of 3 and then 2 black keys (||| || ||| || ||| || |||). The A key is the white key on the left of the farthest right black key in any group of 3 black keys. The B key is the white key to the right of that one.
- QuestionI think the happy birthday piece is great, but the only part that doesn’t sound right is in the middle that has the two notes, A and B, one after another. Is this correct?
Community AnswerSometimes when you are playing a piano piece, you come across a couple of notes that sound wonky. Seconds, for example playing 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, or 4-5, are used in several famous pieces. When you play the whole thing together at normal speed, A-B won't sound as odd.
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Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about playing music, check out our in-depth interview with Cuong Nguyen.
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