How to Play Happy Birthday – Guitar Chords, Lyrics and Melody

Happy birthday is pretty simple to play even for a beginner. All you need to know is 4 simple chords – G, D, D7, and C. Let’s see how they look and how to use them to play the song right now.

Happy Birthday Guitar Chords

“Happy Birthday in 5 Levels” – On Classical Guitar

This is a small update (January 2020) where I’d like to share an awesome arrangement of Happy Birthday on classical guitar by Lucas Brar, a great guy who’s known for his original nylon-string guitar covers. Hope you enjoy it, make sure to give him a like for this video!

Chords and Lyrics to Happy Birthday on Guitar

————G—————–D

Happy BIRthday to YOU,

————D7————–G

Happy BIRthday to YOU,

————C———————–G———–

Happy BIRthday, mister PREsident

———–D7—————G—

Happy BIRthday to YOU!

Here you go. The large, bolded letters are those where the stress falls on. So that’s when you start playing the chord.

Melody Line (Lead Guitar)

If you are a lead guitar player and would like to jam along with the chords, here is a great, beginner-friendly guitar lesson on how to play happy birthday melody line from Andy Guitar.

Alan Jackman

Meet Alan, the guitar-slinging, blog-running, lesson-giving machine. By day, he shreds on the six-string like a rockstar, and by night, he shares his knowledge with the masses on his online blog. With Alan, you'll learn how to play the guitar like a pro!

This Post Has 13 Comments

Sandra 10/03/2021 Reply
May I know the strumming pattern?
Asma 17/08/2020 Reply
The chords in the video are…
(1st section)
– Open G
– Open G
– 2nd fret of G
– Open G
– 1st fret on B
– Open B
(2nd section)
– Open G
– Open G
– 2nd fret of G
– Open G
– 3rd fret of B
– 1st fret of B
(3rd section)
– Open G
– Open G
– 3rd fret on high E
– Open high E
– 1st fret on B
– Open B
– 2nd fret on G
(4th section)
– 1st fret on high E
– 1st fret on high E
– Open high E
– 1st fret on B
– 3rd fret on B
– 1st fret on B
Hope this helps! 🙂
P.S. I’m only a beginner so sorry if I use some incorrect terms
1. Mansi 03/09/2020 Reply
  Thank you so much Asma this really really helped b/c I am beginner and I need to play something to keep me going using terms open and all really helps:-) it would be good if you post some songs like this.
GB 23/01/2020 Reply
Yes, I am also looking for the chords. I find it hard to believe this song ever gets played. There is not one acceptable piece of music to play it. Thanks.
Jonathan True 08/12/2019 Reply
C and g are backwards on the third line.
1. Zoha 07/12/2020 Reply
  Thanks I’m a beginner and it’s very easy now for me to play this song 👍😀
  1. Allison Wunderland 20/09/2021 Reply
    Thanks. I’m a big weiner and very easy if you play me this song.
Cole 04/09/2019 Reply
This stupid i want the chords, not this.
1. Alan Jackman 05/09/2019 Reply
  Hi, your right, I’ll probably re-write the article soon
  1. Sarah 18/10/2020 Reply
    Thank you. I got it. Keep up the good work.
  2. Michelle 29/03/2021 Reply
    These are the chords