Tag: jazz guitar music

Happy Birthday

Over the years I have played HAPPY BIRTHDAY in all kinds of styles and whatever key was needed at the time. I always had a hankering to work it out finger style with a walking bass line. So here it is! It’s one time through so very short- 10 measures in all. HAPPY BIRTHDAY is usually in 3/4 but I like it in 4/4. I just think it swings a little better. I feel this is certainly a good one to get under your belt. It can certainly be useful on the special days of our loved ones.

So below you will find the link to the PDF of the notation and tab as well as the YouTube video.

Happy Birthday finger style PDF

Arpeggio Exercise

Arpeggios are a big part of playing guitar and probably any instrument. They are great to use in improvised solos and fills. Learning these also help you learn the neck a bit better and understand what’s inside each chord better. I’ve written out an exercise using the chords in the key of C.

It simply follows the harmonized C scale using appropriate 7ths, as well. So that means each arpeggiated chord is some kind of 7th chord.

Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7(b5)

Scroll down for the video related to this exercise…

Arpeggio PDF

Below are the chords that go with each arpeggio. They follow each arpeggio right up the neck. One practice suggestion – play the chord then play the corresponding arpeggio right after it. Listen to how the strummed chord and the single note arpeggio connect sonically.

Chord PDF