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How to play 'Happy Birthday to You' on harmonica

Updated: Oct 22, 2021

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


Download free tabs:

Happy Birthday
.pdf
Download PDF • 134KB

BEGINNER

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. I hope it helps you to brighten someone's day!


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#beginner #birthday #happybirthday

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