Learn How to Play "Happy" by Pharrell Williams on the Ukulele

In this lesson, we'll learn how to play Happy on the ukulele. This upbeat, catchy tune is sure to bring a smile to your face and will be a hit at any gathering.

This song is a great choice for those wanting to expand their ukulele skills. It offers a fun way to learn new chords and rhythms, and it's a song that everyone knows and loves. So grab your ukulele, and let's get started!

The Verse

The verse of Happy uses a chord progression that's easy to remember. It starts with an F7, moves to a B♭, jumps up to a C, and then back down to B♭. This progression repeats four times, creating the backbone of the verse.

The Rhythm

Getting the rhythm right is crucial to capturing the feel of Happy. We start by playing the F7 on beat one. After playing the chord, we also add some percussive elements by muting the strings with the outside part of the palm. This keeps the sound tight and prevents the chords from ringing out too long. The rhythm for the remaining chords is a simple down, down, down, up, up, up, up, up, down pattern.

The Chorus

Moving into the chorus, we encounter a cool D♭maj7 chord. From there, we transition to a Cmin7, a C7sus4, and then a regular F. These chords continue to repeat throughout the chorus, providing a catchy and uplifting backdrop to the lyrics.

In the chorus, we also change the rhythm a bit to keep things interesting. A suggested strumming pattern to start off with is: down, down, up, up, down, down, down, up, up.

Adding Some Flavor

Try incorporating some muted strumming into your playing for a bit of added flavor. This technique involves lightly resting your fingers on the strings and strumming, creating a percussive effect. It's a great way to keep the rhythm moving during parts of the song where there are big breaks with no chords.

This technique can also help keep the rhythm going during the bridges of the song, where there are long sections without any chords. If you plan to have a sing-along, it's crucial that someone keeps the rhythm, and muted strumming can be a great way to do this.

Wrapping Up

With its catchy tune and upbeat rhythm, Happy is a fun song to play on the ukulele. It's sure to bring a smile to your face and make any gathering more enjoyable. So give it a try, and remember to have fun with it!

Enjoy learning how to play Happy on the ukulele, and don't forget to check out the video for a more in-depth look at how to play it. Remember, practice makes permanent, so keep at it, and you'll be playing Happy like a pro in no time!

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