The piano notes for Cumpleaños feliz
Phrase by phrase, as shown beneath each note in the sheet music:
- C C D C F E
- C C D C G F
- C C C A F E D
- B♭ B♭ A F G F
How to Play It
- Place your thumb (1) on C and keep one finger on each key: 2 on D, 3 on E, 4 on F, and 5 on G. That lets you play the first two phrases without moving your hand.
- The song starts before the first downbeat, with a two-note pickup (a dotted eighth note and a sixteenth note). Sing it aloud before playing, and your hand will find the rhythm naturally.
- There's only one black key, B♭, which appears in the last phrase. Find it before you start: it's the black key immediately to the left of B.
- In the third phrase, after two low Cs, the melody leaps to high C. Move your hand higher to play high C, A, and F, then return to the starting position for E and D. For the last phrase, place your thumb on F. Play B♭ with finger 4, A with 3, and G with 2.
- Start with the metronome at 60 quarter notes per minute, then increase by five once you can play it cleanly twice in a row. You can use the site's metronome.
The left hand
Once you feel confident with the right hand, use your left hand to play the chords shown above the staff. They are F major (F), C7 (C7), and B♭ major (Bb). Play all the notes of the chord together at the start of the measure and let the melody do the rest. You can also play it step by step on the virtual piano, under "Play a Song," in the same key.
Chords in this score: F, C7, Bb.
About the Piece
Sisters Mildred and Patty Hill wrote the melody in 1893 for "Good Morning to All." The birthday lyrics came later, and the song has been considered public domain in the United States since 2015. This version has the right-hand melody in F major, note names underneath, and left-hand chords above.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes for Happy Birthday on piano?
In F major, the notes by phrase are C C D C F E, then C C D C G F, then C C C A F E D, and finally B♭ B♭ A F G F. In the third phrase, the first two Cs are low and the third is high C.
Is Happy Birthday easy to play on piano?
Yes. It uses only one black key (B♭), the notes are short, and the melody repeats. Just pay attention to the opening pickup and the leap to high C in the third phrase.
What key is Happy Birthday in?
This score is in F major, with one flat (B♭). It's a comfortable key for singing, which is why it's so widely used, though the song can be played in other keys.