THIS IS THE CHORD PROGRESSION OF HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY BY ST. VINCENT ON PIANO, GUITAR, UKULELE AND KEYBOARD.
[Verse 1] Bb
Remember one Christmas I gave you Jim Carroll Bb/A
Intended it as a cautionary tale Gm
You said you saw yourself inside there F
Dog-eared it like a how-to manual Bb
Remember one summer we walked in Times Square Bb/A
I showed you the zombies with hundred-inch stares Gm
You took a Bic, set your hotel on fire F
We took the blame, took the bags to the train
[Chorus 1] EbF
Happy Birthday, Johnny GbGmF
Wherever you are EbF
Happy Birthday, Johnny Bb
Wherever you are
[Verse 2] Bb
The last time you called it was on New Years’ Eve Bb/A
You asked me for dough to get somethin’ to eat Gm
Since we last spoke, you live on the street F
Yeah, I wouldn’t believe all the shit that you seen
[Chorus 2] EbF
Happy New Year, Johnny GbGmF
Is it 23? EbF
Happy New Year, Johnny Bb
Are the lights on the trees?
[Verse 3] Bb
When I said, Let me think, and you yelled through your teeth Bb/A
Accused me of actin’ like all royalty Gm
Always for show, no true charity F
You saw me on magazines and TV
[Verse 4] Bb
But if they only knew the real version of me Bb/A
Only you know the secrets, the swamp, and the fear Gm
What happened to blood, our family? F
Annie, how could you do this to me?
[Outro] EbFGbGmF
Of course, I blame me EbF
When you get free, Johnny Bb
I hope you find peace
For corrections please use the comment box below.
How to play Happy Birthday Johnny: key, chords and progression
Happy Birthday Johnny by St. Vincent is built around B♭ major (two flats: B♭, E♭), with 6 chords in all: Bb, Bb/A, Gm, F, Eb and Gb.
The backbone of the song is Gm – F – Eb – F (vi – V – IV – V in B♭ major), a minor-key rock and pop loop. In solfa, that is lah – soh – fah – soh. Practise these 4 changes until they feel natural and you can play most of it.
Easier on guitar: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes G, Em, D, C, Eb (80% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 0% without a capo). It sounds exactly the same.
What is the chord progression of Happy Birthday Johnny?
The main progression is Gm – F – Eb – F (vi – V – IV – V), a minor-key rock and pop loop.
Is Happy Birthday Johnny easy to play on guitar?
Yes, with a capo: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes G, Em, D, C, Eb (80% of the chords become easy open shapes, against 0% without a capo).
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