What key is "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" in?

"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" by Neil Sedaka is in the key of G with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: easy.

Is "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" easy to play on piano?

Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.

Can I play "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" without reading sheet music?

Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.

What chords are used in "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen"?

This arrangement of "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" uses 12 chords: A7, Am, Am7, B7, C, C#dim, C#dim7, D7, +4 more.

How long does it take to learn "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" on piano?

1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.

What other songs by Neil Sedaka can I play here?

Try "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO", "THE HUNGRY YEARS", "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.

Lyrics

(G)Tra la la la la la la la la.

Hap py (C)birth day, sweet six (D7)teen.

(G)Tra la la la la la la la la.

Hap py (C)birth day, sweet six (D7)teen.

To night’s the night

I’ve wait ed for

be cause you’re not a ba by

an y more.

You’ve turned in (C#dim)to the pret ti est (G)girl I’ve ev er seen.

Hap py birth day, sweet six (D7)teen.

What hap pened to

that fun ny face?

My lit tle tom boy now wears

sat ins and lace.

I can’t be (C#dim7)lieve my eyes, you’re (G)just a teen age dream.

Hap

py (D7)birth day, sweet six (G)teen.

When you were on ly six,

I was your big broth er.

Then when

you were ten,

we did n’t like each oth er.

When you were thir teen,

you were my (Am)fun ny val en tine.

But (A7)since you’ve grown up, your fu ture is sewn up,

from now on you’re gon na be (Am)mine.

(D7)So if I should smile

with sweet sur prise,

it’s just that you’ve grown up be (G7)fore my ver y eyes.

You’ve turned in (C#dim)to the pret ti est (G)girl I’ve ev er seen.

Hap

py (D7)birth day, sweet six (G)teen.

To night’s the night

I’ve wait ed for

be cause you’re not a ba by an

y more.

You’ve turned in (C#dim)to the pret ti est (G)girl I’ve ev er seen.

Hap

py birth day, sweet six (D7)teen.

What hap pened to

that fun ny face?

My lit tle tom boy now wears sat ins and lace.

I can’t be (C#dim7)lieve my eyes, you’re (G)just a teen age dream.

Hap

py (D7)birth day, sweet six (G)teen.

When you were on ly six,

I was your big broth er.

Then when you were ten,

we did n’t like each oth er.

When you were thir teen, you were my (Am)fun ny val en tine.

But (A7)since you’ve grown up, your fu ture is sewn up,

from now on you’re gon na be (Am)mine.

(D7)So if I should smile

with sweet sur prise,

it’s just that you’ve grown up be (G7)fore my ver y eyes.

You’ve turned in (C#dim)to the pret ti est (G)girl I’ve ev er seen.

Hap py (D7)birth day, sweet six (G)teen.

(G)teen.

(G)Tra la la la la la la la la.

Hap py (C)birth day, sweet six (D7)teen.

(G)Tra la la la la la la la la.

Hap py (C)birth day, sweet six (D7)teen.

Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen by Neil Sedaka

2 people have learned this song

Easy piano arrangement in the key of G at 100 BPM. Difficulty: easy. Color-coded notes — no sheet-reading skill required.

About “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen”

What key is "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" in?: "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" by Neil Sedaka is in the key of G with a tempo of 100 BPM. Difficulty: easy.
Is "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" easy to play on piano?: Yes — this arrangement is rated easy, meaning it uses simple chord patterns and a manageable tempo. Most beginners can play through it in 1-3 practice sessions using our color-coded notes.
Can I play "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" without reading sheet music?: Yes. Our player offers a falling-notes mode (Synthesia-style) and a beginner mode with color-coded keys — both let you play along without reading traditional notation.
What chords are used in "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen"?: This arrangement of "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" uses 12 chords: A7, Am, Am7, B7, C, C#dim, C#dim7, D7, +4 more.
How long does it take to learn "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" on piano?: 1–3 short practice sessions for the basics; 2–3 weeks to perform confidently with both hands.
What other songs by Neil Sedaka can I play here?: Try "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO", "THE HUNGRY YEARS", "BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO". All are available in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.