7.33Let's use “Happy Birthday” as an exercise

Don't worry about matching one canonical key.

Put it in C major.

Find the melody by ear.

Then first try accompanying with only:

C

F

G7

Do not look up the chords.

Instead:

• identify where the phrase feels like home
• hear where tension is needed
• listen for likely G7 → C
• try F when the melody moves away from tonic

You may discover more than one workable version.

Good.

That is the exercise.