How to Play 'Happy Birthday' on Harmonica

Want to play the perfect tune for someone's birthday? I'm going to give you harmonica tabs to play the traditional song 'Happy Birthday to You' on a standard diatonic harmonica.

Learn more with my Free Harmonica Tabs!

Tabs for Happy Birthday on the harmonica

BEGINNER

You'll need a c diatonic harmonica for this. Any diatonic harmonica in the key of C will work. I am using a Hohner Marine Band*. This version contains no bends of overblows, so it's perfect for all levels, even complete beginners:

6 6 -6 6 7 -7

Happy birthday to you

6 6 -6 6 -8 7

Happy birthday to you

6 6 9 8 7 -7 -6

Happy birthday dear [someone]

-9 -9 8 7 -8 7

Happy birthday to you

INTERMEDIATE

The intermediate version uses some draw bends. We're playing in 2nd position so it has a slightly more 'bluesy' sound to it:

-1 -1 2 -1 -2 -2/

Happy birthday to you

-1 -1 2 -1 -3// -2

Happy birthday to you

-1 -1 -4 -3 -2 -2/ 2

Happy birthday dear [someone]

4 4 -3 -2 -3// -2

Happy birthday to you

ADVANCED

Finally, the most difficult version of the tab uses overblows. Not for the faint of heart! It's in 12th position (e.g. key of F on a C harmonica):

4 4 -4 4 -5 5

Happy birthday to you

4 4 -4 4 6 -5

Happy birthday to you

4 4 7 -6 -5 5 -4

Happy birthday dear [someone]

6* 6* -6 -5 6 -5

Happy birthday to you

Thanks for joining me for this lesson. Now you can play Happy Birthday on harmonica. I hope it helps you to brighten someone's day!

*I've added a link to the Amazon page for a C diatonic harmonica. You don't need to use this link. If you do, I get paid a very small commission.

Free trial of my harmonica school

Check out my harmonica school for step-by-step courses and feedback on your progress.

Click here for more details