Let’s look at learning a likely familiar melody. Ask if you get stuck at any point.
The song “Happy Birthday”
It sounds like happy_birthday_tenor_saxophone_tribe (mp3, right click and save).
The rhythm looks something like this.
On tenor the first note is C (in this recording).
That makes it G on alto.
For tenor, the melody uses the F major scale, but the lowest it will go is C and the highest it will go is the C above that.
C D E F G A Bb C
For alto, use the C major scale, starting on G. Lowest note is G, highest note is G an octave above.
G A B C D E F G
The Notes
You want to be able to figure out the notes, but it can be challenging sometimes, especially early on. So here I’m giving you options to pick.
Tenor:
1. C
2. (C or D)
3. (C or D)
4. (C or D)
5. (F or G)
6. (E, D or C)
7. (C or D)
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
(continues….)
Alto:
1. G
2. (G or A)
3. (G or A)
4. (G or A)
5. (C or D)
6. (A or B)
7. (G or A)
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
(continues….)
Leave comments with questions only.
Do not leave comments with what notes you play.
Eleni says
Tenor:
1. C
2. (C or D)
3. (C or D)
4. (C or D)
5. (F or G)
6. (E, D or C)
7. (C or D)
Neal 7 notes would this be the one I can practice?
2 weeks oh yeah!
Neal says
Those are the options, figure out which ones they are supposed to be. Get the first part and then the rest of it (which are not listed)
Eleni says
Found it Neal through the Search Feature. Thanks So When is your B-Day hhahaah
Neal says
In a couple of weeks.
KT says
Last note of Happy Birthday is elusive. Seems people are not worried about notes when they sing happy birthday….I hear so ant bad versions in my head despite listening to correct version.
Neal says
Maybe listening to the correct version more will help. How many times have you listened to it?
It takes something like 10x more time to replace a ‘habit’ than to build one from scratch.
KT says
It sounds close. Not big jumps between notes. I took a swing at it earlier today. Played GGAG…then I know I was off after. Time to listen.
KT says
Is it GGGA to start in key of C alto?
Neal says
Does that sound right to you?