Other arrangements of Happy Birthday
Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.
You know it (C)does n’t make much sense.
There ought a (Bb)be a law a gainst
an y (Am)one who takes of fense
at a a side day in your cel e bra tion.
’Cause we (C)all know in our minds
that there (Bb)ought a be a time
that (Am)we can set a side
to show who lived should make just how much we il love you.
And I’m (F)sure you would a gree.
What could (G)fit more per fect ly than to (F)have a world par ty on the (F)day you came to be.
Hap py (C)birth day to (F)ya,
py birth day to (F)ya, hap py (F)birth (C)day.
Hap py birth day to (F)ya,
py birth day to (F)ya, hap py (F)birth (C)day.
I just (C)nev er un der stood
There how a (Bb)man who died for good
could not (Am)have a day that would
be set
and u day in rec all og ni tion.
Be cause (C)it should nev er be
just be (Bb)cause some can not see
the (Am)dream as clear as he,
that they who lived and died just the one ness of lu sion.
And we (F)all know, ev ’ry thing that he (G)stood for time will bring.
For in (F)peace our hearts will sing thanks to (F)Mar tin Lu ther King.
Hap py (C)birth day to (F)ya,
py birth day to (F)ya, hap py (F)birth (C)day.
Hap py birth day to (F)ya,
py birth day to (F)ya, hap py (F)birth (C)day.
I just (F)birth (C)day.
Why has there nev er been a hol i day
where peace is cel e brat ed (Ab)all
through out
the world?
The (F)loud as you can.
Hap py (Db)birth day to (Gb)ya,
py birth day to (Gb)ya, hap py (Gb)birth (Db)day.
Hap py (Db)birth day to (Gb)ya,
py birth day to (Gb)ya, hap py (Gb)birth (Db)day.
Hap py (Gb)birth (Db)day.
(Db)(Hap
py
(Cb)birth day,
hap py (Bbm)birth day,
hap py (Ab)birth day.
Hap py) (Db)(Hap
py
(Cb)birth day,
hap py (Bbm)birth day,
hap py (Ab)birth day.
Hap py)
Happy Birthday — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along
110 people have learned this song
Free karaoke for "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of C, 100 BPM.
This arrangement is a fantastic workout for navigating chromatic chord movement — you've got 14 chords here, and many of them (Ab, Bb, Db, Eb, Gb) sit outside the key of C, so your hands will be constantly shifting into unfamiliar shapes.
Start hands-separate at around 70 BPM: get your left hand comfortable with that oompah bass pattern first, because keeping it steady while your right hand handles the melody is half the battle.
Pay special attention to the transitions around Bbm and Cb — those are the spots where most students hesitate and lose the groove.
Loop any four-bar phrase that trips you up at least ten times before moving on.
Once both hands feel confident alone, combine them in short sections rather than trying to play straight through.
The syncopated R&B ballad feel at 100 BPM rewards a relaxed wrist, so stay loose and let the rhythm breathe.
This is the piece that'll genuinely build your confidence moving through chromatic harmony — a skill that unlocks so much of what makes soul music feel rich.
Try other practice modes:
About “Happy Birthday”
- What key is "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder played in?
- Happy Birthday is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
- What's the tempo (BPM) of "Happy Birthday"?
- The arrangement plays at 100 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
- Is "Happy Birthday" easy to play on piano?
- This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
- Can I download sheet music for "Happy Birthday"?
- Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
- Who composed "Happy Birthday"?
- "Happy Birthday" was originally performed by Stevie Wonder. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
- What chords are used in "Happy Birthday"?
- This arrangement uses 14 chords: Ab, Am, Am7, Bb, Bbm, C, Cb, Db, +6 more.
- What other songs by Stevie Wonder can I play here?
- Try "NGICULELA-ES UNA HISTORIA I AM SINGING", "PART TIME LOVER", "HEAVEN IS TEN ZILLION LIGHT YEARS AWAY". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
- Is there a karaoke version of "Happy Birthday" with lyrics?
- Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "Happy Birthday" by Stevie Wonder. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
- Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
- It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
- Can I change the key of "Happy Birthday" to match my voice or capo?
- Yes. The original is in C, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
- Can I slow "Happy Birthday" down to learn the words and chords?
- Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.