Real Book Site - Jazz Music Education

Happy Birthday Chord Melody Arrangement | JamieHolroydGuitar.com You’re out playing a gig with your combo at a packed jazz club, and during the bass solo you notice someone eagerly waiting to ask you something at the edge of the stage. After the song has finished, the person comes up to you and politely asks “it’s my friend’s birthday tonight, can you play happy birthday for us?” You pause for a second and confront the rest of the band to ask if they know it only to awkwardly reply to the person who requested the song “Sorry, none of us know it, but we can play Giant Steps in 7!” While musicians can’t be expected to play every request they get asked on gigs, one tune every musician should know is how to play is happy birthday. This short melody is worth learning so you’re prepared at gigs for requests, or if you just like to play for your friends and family. As a gigging musician, I’ve had some nice tips over the years for been able to play this while busking or on a gig, so it’s worth having it as part of your repertoire. About The Song

FreeJazzInstitute - Jazz Educational Website: Transcriptions, Theory & Analysis, Changes