Happy Birthday Omnichord Chords
Traditional · 1893
Happy Birthday is a traditional song, dated in our chart to 1893, and almost everyone can hum it. That makes it the perfect test of your timing: if a chord comes late, every listener will notice. On the omnichord the song takes on a sweet, twinkling quality, a bit like a toy piano and a harp combined, that suits a party table or a short video message.
It is played here in G, its original key, with four chords and a three-beat Waltz sway. The whole song fits in eight bars, so you can learn it in a single sitting and have it ready by the time the candles are lit.
Played in G (original key) · Waltz rhythm · 100 BPM · Easy
Bar-by-bar chart
Each box is one bar of 3 beats. Two chords in a box split the bar (2 beats + 1 beat).
Song
- G
- D
- D
- G
- G7
- C
- G · D
- G
Chord changes, step by step
The order you press the buttons in, with the computer key for each one, and every new hand move the first time it appears.
Song
G TD YG TG7 BC RG TD YG T
- G to D: one column right
- D to G: one column left
- G to G7: straight down to the 7th row
- G7 to C: up to the Major row, one column left
- C to G: one column right
Key and simplifications
Happy Birthday stays in its original key of G: every chord it needs has a button on the instrument.
No chord had to be simplified.
Tips for playing Happy Birthday on the omnichord
The chord map
You need G, D, G7 and C. G is the T key on the Major row, D is one step right on Y, and C is one step left on R. G7 sits two rows directly below G, on the B key in the 7th row.
The eight bars run G, D, D, G, G7, C, then G and D sharing a bar, and finally G. The G7 bar is a lovely moment: dropping your finger straight down from T to B adds tension that resolves when you move up and left to C on R.
Waltz time and the quick bar
The chart suggests the Waltz rhythm at 100 BPM, with three beats per bar. The trickiest spot is bar seven, where G takes the first two beats and D only the last one. Keep your index finger on T and your middle finger hovering over Y so the switch is a tiny roll rather than a jump, and land back on T for the final bar.
Use the Hold chord style while the Waltz plays so chords sustain through each bar, and keep Sustain around one to two seconds so the short D does not blur into the last G. With Memory on you can tap each chord once and strum freely with your other hand, using Space for a full sweep on beat one.
Making a recording to share
Because people often play this song for someone specific, the recorder is handy. Practise in the practice bar first, using Play-along to check your timing after its one-bar count-in, then press record and play the song through. Each take can last up to five minutes and you can download it straight away, ready to send.
Happy Birthday on the omnichord: questions
What key is Happy Birthday played in on the omnichord?
It is played in G, the chart's original key, so nothing is transposed. The chords are G on T, D on Y and C on R in the Major row, plus G7 on B in the 7th row, directly below G. All four sit within three columns of the grid.
Which rhythm should I use for Happy Birthday?
Use the Waltz rhythm, because the song moves in three beats per bar. The chart suggests 100 BPM. If you are playing for singers, watch them and slow the Tempo slider down a little, since groups usually sing this song more slowly than a solo player would choose.
Is Happy Birthday easy enough for kids?
Yes. There are only four chords and most bars hold one chord for all three beats. The only quick change is the bar near the end where G lasts two beats and D just one. Children can practise it in Follow mode, which waits until they press the right chord.
Can I play Happy Birthday with just my computer keyboard?
Yes. Your left hand holds T, Y, B and R for the four chords, while your right hand strums with the number keys 1 to 0, minus, equals and Backspace, or presses Space to sweep the whole plate. Holding Shift with a chord key keeps that one chord ringing after you let go.
How many buttons does Happy Birthday need on the omnichord?
4: G (T), D (Y), G7 (B), C (R). G carries the song, sounding for about 46% of all beats, and there are 7 chord changes from start to finish.
How long does it take to play Happy Birthday through once?
The chart here is 8 bars of 3 beats. At the suggested 100 BPM that is about 14 s, plus a one-bar count-in in Play-along mode. Slow the Tempo fader down while you learn the changes.