Zum Geburtstag viel Glück! (German)

      C             G7
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück
      G7            C
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück
      C             F
Zum Geburtstag, liebe(r) -Name-
      C        G7   C
Zum Geburtstag viel Glück

Cumpleaños feliz! (Spanish, Spain)

Cumpleaños feliz
cumpleaños feliz
te deseamos (name)
cumpleaños feliz.

Feliz cumpleaños a ti! (Spanish, Mexico)

Feliz cumpleaños a ti
feliz cumpleaños a ti
feliz cumpleaños querido/a -Name-
feliz cumpleaños a ti.

Tanti auguri a te! (Italian)

This version flows beautifully on ukulele. The Italian lyrics make it sound warm and melodic.

Tanti auguri a te
Tanti auguri a te
Tanti auguri a te -Name-
Tanti auguri a te

Happy Birthday in Japanese

In Japan, people often sing it in English, but some versions mix Japanese and English lines. It’s a fun twist for bilingual celebrations!

Happy Birthday in Korean

The Korean version, “Saeng-il chukha hamnida,” follows a slightly different rhythm. Try slowing down your strumming to match the phrasing.

Happy Birthday on One String

Try playing “Happy Birthday” on one string. It’s great ear training and helps you understand melody. Start on the A string and follow simple fret numbers. It’s an easy and rewarding mini challenge.
Take your time. This version could be more for your personnal fun, than to demonstrate your progress.

It's indeed a lot of fun!

Happy Birthday Rhythm: Easy to Intermediate

The magic of “Happy Birthday” comes from the melody. It's instantly recognizable.

However, the rhythm is always a big part of music.

Even simple chords sound great if your strumming feels steady and joyful.

Start with just downs.

🠫 🠫 🠫 🠫

Once you master that, try a slow down---down-up---up-down-up pattern.

🠫 🠫🠩 🠩🠫🠩

This rhythm is called the island strum.

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Once you’re confident, you can spice it up!

Try a little swing feel or a soft finger-picking pattern for a sweet touch.

Remember: rhythm is what makes people tap their feet.

Practise slowly, use a metronome, and most importantly — smile while you play. The happier you feel, the better it sounds!

More advanced players can even use percussive slaps or reggae-style off-beat strums.

Have Fun: Sing It in Different Music Genres

One of the best things about the ukulele is how easily it adapts to different genres. You can make “Happy Birthday” sound unique every time!
Here are some ideas to try:

Lullaby

Play softly using fingerpicking. Use slow, gentle strokes. Imagine you’re singing to a baby — calm and sweet.

Reggae

Add some island sunshine! Use off-beat strums and keep it bouncy. A reggae “Happy Birthday” will always make people smile.
You can also experiment with pop, folk, or even rock rhythms. Mixing genres is how you find your own musical voice.

Heavy Metal

This one is when insanity meets originality in a fun and profound way.

Want More?

Feel free to let me know in what music genre you'd like to play Happy Birthday! I'm here to help :)

Places where people don't usually sing the melody "happy birthday", but another melody

Not everyone in the world uses the same “Happy Birthday” tune! Some countries have unique birthday songs with different melodies.

For example:

• Hungary: “Boldog születésnapot” is sung with a completely different melody.
• India: Many regions have songs in local languages, often inspired by folk traditions.
• China: People sometimes sing “祝你生日快乐” (“Zhu ni sheng ri kuai le”) to a distinct melody.
• Mexico: the traditional song “Las Mañanitas” is often sung early in the morning to wake the birthday person with wishes of joy and life.
• Sweden: (and some neighbouring countries) there is the song “Ja, må han (hon) leva” which has a distinct melody from the English version.
• Suriname: the birthday song “A di mi yere yu friyari” in Sranan Tongo uses a tune borrowed from a hymn and is quite different in sound.
• Poland: the traditional birthday song is Sto lat (“One Hundred Years”), rather than the English-melody “Happy Birthday”.

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In Mexico (and also in some Spanish communities), Las Mañanitas is the traditional birthday song. It’s sung, often early in the morning, to wake up the birthday person, or during a serenade. While Spain has the standard “Feliz cumpleaños” version too, Mexico’s Las Mañanitas stands out because it is a completely different melody, with its own history. So that shows one end of the “range” where a Spanish-language tradition uses a distinct melody rather than the English-tune “Happy Birthday to You.”

🇻🇪 Venezuela: Ay, qué noche tan preciosa
In Venezuela there’s a song called Ay, qué noche tan preciosa (also known as Cumpleaños Felíz in some references). It is traditionally sung at birthdays and has a melody different from the “Happy Birthday to You” tune. It may not literally be 10 minutes long every time—but culturally there’s mention of long celebrations, extended versions with many verses or additions, especially among friends and family.

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Exploring these songs can be fascinating. You might discover new rhythms and chord progressions that sound beautiful on the ukulele. It’s a fun way to connect music and culture while expanding your playing style.

Famous Happy Birthday Performance

Did you know “Happy Birthday” has been performed by many famous artists?

One of the most iconic versions was sung by Marilyn Monroe in 1962 for President John F. Kennedy — soft, elegant... sexy and unforgettable.

Stevie Wonder also released a soulful version in the 1980s, giving it a totally different groove. His song became a hit and is still played today.

Modern artists often add their own twist — from jazz arrangements to math rock (read Math Rock and more than 100 Music Genres!! to expand your knowledge in music genres). Watching these versions can inspire your own interpretation. Maybe your ukulele version will be next!

Loretta Lynn sang her song Happy Birthday (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year) in 1964, which became a hit in the Country genre.

On August 5 2013, the instrument aboard the Curiosity rover sang "Happy Birthday to You" to mark its first landing anniversary.

On 5 August 2017, the Curiosity rover (on Mars) was programmed by NASA to play the melody of “Happy Birthday to You” by vibrating its equipment — a quirky and memorable version of the tune.
54.6 million kilometres from Earth, the Curiosity rover celebrated 5 years on the red planet. Usually occupied with soil analysis, it has also been programmed to sing out birthday celebrations every year for Curiosity, arguably the loneliest birthday party in the Solar System.

At a large concert for Queen Elizabeth II’s 92nd birthday, held at Royal Albert Hall, thousands of attendees sang “Happy Birthday” to her, making it a grand communal moment.

At a concert celebrating the 100th birthday of musician Antonio Janigro, an orchestra of 158 cellos performed variations on “Happy Birthday”.

During a special event at the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in May 2024, composer Karl Jenkins’s birthday was celebrated when the orchestra broke into “Happy Birthday to You” instead of the planned piece — a surprise twist.

Origins and history

“Happy Birthday to You” was first published in the late 19th century. It evolved from a song called “Good Morning to All,” written by two American sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill.
Over time, people began singing “Happy Birthday to You” instead, and it spread worldwide. The tune became so popular that it was translated into many languages and is now sung almost everywhere.
It’s amazing how such a simple song became one of the most recognisable melodies in the world.

Fun facts about Happy Birthday

Here are a few cool things you might not know:

• It was once copyrighted and wasn’t free to use until 2016!
• Astronauts have sung “Happy Birthday” in space.
• It’s the most recognised English song in the world.

• There are thousands of creative covers on YouTube — from metal to ukulele!

• As mentionned in the Origins and history, the melody of the song originally comes from a greeting song called Good Morning to All, written in 1893 by sisters Mildred J. Hill (melody) and Patty S. Hill (lyrics).

• The song has been translated into at least 18 languages (so far) — so people around the world use the melody.
• According to the Guinness World Records, it is the most recognised song in the English language.

It’s a simple tune, yet it connects people everywhere. That’s the true magic of music.

What’s Next After Learning Happy Birthday on Ukulele?

Once you can strum “Happy Birthday” smoothly, it’s fun to check your rhythm. Try my Tap Tempo: Find Your Song's BPM In Seconds (Free Tool) — tap along with your strumming and you’ll instantly see your song’s BPM. It’s a great way to feel your timing improve and to choose the perfect tempo when you play for friends.

You can also try one-chord crowd-pleasers next: 21 Ukulele And Guitar Songs With Just One Chord (Easy).

Once you’ve learned “Happy Birthday,” you’ve built some solid basics. You can now play songs that use similar chords, like “You Are My Sunshine” or “Jingle Bells.”
Try exploring:
- Strumming patterns — learn to mix slow and fast rhythms.
- Fingerpicking — it adds beauty and depth to your sound.
- New chords — G7, Dm, Am, and more!
Playing “Happy Birthday” is just the start. Each new tune you learn helps you grow more confident and creative.

Conclusion

Learning to play “Happy Birthday” on ukulele is like learning a musical smile. It’s easy, joyful, and instantly connects you with others.
With just a few chords, you can bring happiness to any celebration — in English, French, Spanish, or any language you like!
So keep practising, keep smiling, and keep spreading good vibes. Every strum makes you better. And who knows? The next birthday you play for might just be the best one yet!

Learning to play “Happy Birthday” on the ukulele is more than just a party trick. It’s a little superpower you can carry anywhere.

With only a few chords, you can make someone feel seen, loved, and celebrated. You don’t need to be “good” yet. You don’t need years of practice. You just need the courage to play and sing with heart.

I hope I’ve been helpful today, and that this guide made things clear and simple for you. My goal as a ukulele teacher is to help you enjoy music, not stress about it.

If you’re a beginner, this is a perfect first step. You’ve already learned real chords. You’ve seen how to change key, try other languages, play different rhythms, and even switch style (lullaby, reggae, fun party vibes). That’s real progress.

From here, you can go further in a few nice ways:

Learn your next song (easy), try one chord songs 🎶

If you’d like personal help, or you want friendly ukulele lessons for you (or as a gift for someone you love), I’d be happy to teach you.

Ready to keep going? Come say hi and book your first lesson 💬🎵

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I hope this article has helped you :)

Have a fantastic day!

And, again, I wish a happy birthday to whoever you’re going to sing it to!