JAZZ REHARMONIZATION LESSON: How I Reharmonized Happy Birthday

Download the SHEET MUSIC at:
https://jazztutorial.com/sheet-music

Watch my FREE EAR TRAINING VIDEO SERIES:
https://www.TheMusicalEar.com/

Watch my original Happy Birthday performance video:
   • 'Happy Birthday' Gets A Makeover With...  

LESSON NOTES:
Start by mapping out your 'target chords' (chords you know you want to play). These will be based on your own personal taste, and can be as creative as you like, but it's a good idea to start and finish on the I chord.

Next, work backwards (not forwards) from each target chord, creating a cycle of fifths chord progression leading up to your target chord.

Each of the preceding chords can be played as any type of 7th chord (minor 7, major 7, dominant 7, or half-diminished). As a rule of thumb, alternating between minor 7 and dominant 7 chords tends to work well, like this:
Emin7 - Adom7 - Dmin7 - Gdom7 - Cmin7 - Fdom7, etc.

And be prepared to alter any notes in the melody to fit with the new harmony your chords are creating.

When I used this method to reharmonize my Happy Birthday arrangement, I ended up with this chord progression:
Cmaj7 - Adom7 - Dm7 - Gdom7
Bm7b5 - Edom7 - A7 - Ddom7
Dm7 - Gdom7 - Em7 - Adom7 - Dm7 - Gdom7 - Cmaj7

Practice writing your own reharmonization to any song (nursery rhyme, christmas carol, national anthem, etc) using this process.

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