Old No7 Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 It has occurred to me that I need to relearn how to play "Happy Birthday" as I prep for some solo piano gigs, so as not to lose out on a tip or two... I'm thinking of playing it straight (yawn...), and then breaking into a raucous rendition of the Beatles "Birthday". But this lady has that beat in spades!! It's funny, it's on point for the styles, and it's dang impressive playing for sure! I am pretty sure I can't top that performance.... Old No7 1 Quote Yamaha MODX6 * Hammond SK Pro 73 * Roland Fantom-08 * Crumar Mojo Pedals * Mackie Thump 12As * Tascam DP-24SD * JBL 305 MkIIs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 I just sing it. I remember the words, easy. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 For a long time I got to hang out in the Steve Coleman talks and that was when Negative Harmony was the big thing and it's something Steve had studied a lot under the various names it's been called over the history of music. When he'd would first explain it to new people us would usually use Happy Birthday as his example tune to show how the melody would change. I loved how the Negative approach turned Happy Birthday into anything but happy sounding tune. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Schmieder Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Reggae style, mon. Quote Eugenio Upright, 60th Anniversary P-Bass, USA Geddy Lee J-Bass, Yamaha BBP35, D'angelico SS Bari, EXL1, Select Strat, 70th Anniversary Esquire, LP 57, Eastman T486, T64, Ibanez PM2, Hammond XK4, Moog Voyager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 One one level, obviously, one has to ask who gives a flying what-have-you. However, on various gigs over the years when called upon to play this tune, my inner geek couldn't help but ask me "ok let's try to figure out a way to play this that makes some musical sense". There are various ways to approach it that make sense, but for me it always comes down to melody. Figure out a set of changes that supports, and makes sense with, the melody. The bar(s) that can go wrong with this 8-bar tune, to me, are bars 6, and possibly, bars on either side of it. Let's use the key of C as an example. Melody for bars 5,6,7, and 8: | gg|ge c|ba ff|ec d|c |. For me, the trouble spot is Bar 6: "Dear Per-son". Depending on which changes you use, "Dear Person" can, potentially, clash. I usually use the following changes for bars 5 to 8: |C |F Dm7(b5)|C/G G7|C |. However, I only play the Dm7(b5) in bar 6 for the 4th beat. and I only play the G7 at the end of bar 7 for the 4th beat. Doing it this way means there are no clashes of melody against chord change. There are other ways to make it work. One way is to keep it dirt simple (bars 5-8): |C |F |C |C |. The clashes can happen when there are multiple chord and/or melody instruments, and one or more try to "get fancy" with it. I know some are thinking (if they've bothered to read this far): "What the h-e-double hocky-sticks?", and you definitely have a point! 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 have to play it almost every week in NYC, as it seems it's always somebody who supports us' b-day. we do it new orleans style kinda like IKO IKO. short and sweet with a cha cha cha ending. dunno if this video link will work or not if you don't have FB: https://www.facebook.com/margie.goldsmith.7/videos/10156240236093951 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill5 Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 I don't know why but this reminded me of the Peanuts Christmas special where Lucy asks Schroeder to play JIngle Bells and the simplest, stripped down one is the one she responds to. IMO Happy Birthday is like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 I'm amazed that Muggles get the "dear PERson" note right or close to right as they do, as often as they do. It's lydian to the chord it's over. But no one ever waits long enough after "person" and it drives me crazy. Anyway, as to the original question, around here if we're doing the Mildred and Patty Hill Happy Birthday it's most often a boppy country thing. Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Jazz+: Very amusing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyberGene Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Why do they change the lyrics so often 🧐 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Jazz+: P.S.: I'm pretty sure you can't copyright arrangements. If I'm wrong, please let me know cause I've got a few I'd like to copyright if I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 2 hours ago, MathOfInsects said: I'm amazed that Muggles get the "dear PERson" note right or close to right as they do, as often as they do. It's lydian to the chord it's over. But no one ever waits long enough after "person" and it drives me crazy. Anyway, as to the original question, around here if we're doing the Mildred and Patty Hill Happy Birthday it's most often a boppy country thing. Yeah, it's that lydian #4 note that can cause havoc (if I can call it that!). Not sure what you mean by no one ever waits long enough, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 I just went back and listened to Nicole Pesce in the OP's post. In her "Brahms" segment, she plays a IIm7(b5) on the 4th beat of bar 6 like I described in my first post. (approx 2:04 to 2:11 - without the trills) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 8 hours ago, Floyd Tatum said: Yeah, it's that lydian #4 note that can cause havoc (if I can call it that!). Not sure what you mean by no one ever waits long enough, though. Humans in the world--Muggles. Not musicians. Everyone makes a big "dear perrrsonnnnn...." and then no one knows how long to wait before the next "Happy birthday." Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polkahero Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 At one point I was playing it like Richard Tee does here, but nobody could sing along with it (lol) so I reverted back to a simple version in the same key (F). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubYaWgp4Jn0 Quote '57 Hammond B-3, '60 Hammond A100, Leslie 251, Leslie 330, Leslie 770, Leslie 145, Hammond PR-40 Trek II UC-1A Alesis QSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Coda Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 according to topic,- not at all A.C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyRude Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 15 hours ago, Old No7 said: How Do YOU Play "Happy Birthday" ? ? ? Well soused I hope Quote Some music I've recorded and played over the years with a few different bands Tommy Rude Soundcloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbo Fett Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Depends. If the birthday celebrant is with a large group of friends that are sure to sing along I'll play it reasonably straight. If it looks like there's not going to be a "chorus" singing along I'll play it in a bluesy style.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiel Minnee Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slg1013 Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 I wish I played it like this... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiel Minnee Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 40 minutes ago, slg1013 said: I wish I played it like this... so fan of Greg! he is awesome. The electric piano demo for keyscape is legend. funny guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slg1013 Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Yes. Huge fan of Greg. Saw him play years ago with Eric Clapton, Nathan West and Phil Collins. Absolutely amazing show. He always looks like he's having so much fun while playing just the right part/groove... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MathOfInsects Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 1 minute ago, slg1013 said: Yes. Huge fan of Greg. Saw him play years ago with Eric Clapton, Nathan West and Phil Collins. Absolutely amazing show. He always looks like he's having so much fun while playing just the right part/groove... He must be Nathan East's fiercest rival. 1 1 Quote Now out! "Mind the Gap," a 24-song album of new material. www.joshweinstein.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiel Minnee Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 5 minutes ago, slg1013 said: Yes. Huge fan of Greg. Saw him play years ago with Eric Clapton, Nathan West and Phil Collins. Absolutely amazing show. He always looks like he's having so much fun while playing just the right part/groove... Yes, me too, never knew him since I'm from the Netherlands. Researched what he did after this YouTube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiel Minnee Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 To add to this, the guy makes the groove without drums or bass, well outstanding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVC Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slg1013 Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 16 hours ago, MathOfInsects said: He must be Nathan East's fiercest rival. Ha! My bad. Thanks for the correction... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 A story that I have already told on this very forum a lifetime ago... Summer gig in a restaurant, when I was very young. Inevitably, a girl approached me between tunes, saying, "hi, today is my birthday, could you play the song for me?" Now, this particular girl was exceptionally cute... so I played "Happy Birthday" surrounding it with octave runs, jazzy arpeggios, suspensions, diminished chords series, in the hope of impressing her. After I had finished with a crashing cadenza, she came back to the piano, saying - of course - "wow, that piece was great, who wrote it? And when are you going to play "Happy Birthday"? My friends are waiting with the champagne bottle..." I guess I have understood several life facts that night. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Emm Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 I play it Ramones-style 💥, causing the birthday cake to start walking perilously towards the edge of the table. Quote "Stay tuned for a new band: Out Of Sync." ~ "The Vet Life" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluMunk Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Just noting that this song needs to be in F (or within 1 step) for the most number of voices to feel the most comfortable with the melody. F also allows for sopranos and basses who want to add spontaneous harmony to do so without too much effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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