About This Video

In this beginner guitar lesson, Alex teaches participants how to play Happy Birthday on the guitar.

The lesson starts with a quick review of guitar string names and frets, then moves into the melody of Happy Birthday. Alex breaks the song into small phrases, showing participants how to use open strings, the second fret, and the fourth fret to play the tune step by step.

After the melody section, Alex teaches a chord version of Happy Birthday that can be used while other people sing along. Participants practice moving between A, E, and D chords, then hear how the full song sounds with strumming.

Throughout the lesson, Alex encourages participants to practice small sections many times, relax their hands, rewind when needed, and remember that learning guitar takes repetition. This video gives participants a familiar song to practice while building confidence with melody, chords, strumming, timing, and musical expression.

Supplies Needed

• Guitar, acoustic or electric

• Clip-on tuner or another guitar tuner

• Guitar pick, optional

Good For

• Adults with IDD who are learning guitar and want to practice a familiar song.

• Caregivers looking for a beginner guitar lesson that breaks a recognizable song into smaller, repeatable steps.

• Adult day programs, home routines, or music activities about guitar, rhythm, melody, chords, strumming, listening, and creative expression.

• Participants who benefit from visual modeling, repetition, flexible pacing, encouragement, and permission to practice gradually.

How to Use This Video

Use this video as the second lesson in the guitar series, after participants have tried the first guitar basics lesson.

Caregivers can help participants tune the guitar, review the string names, and get comfortable before starting. Because this lesson includes both melody playing and chord playing, it may help to focus on one section at a time instead of trying to learn the whole song in one sitting.

Participants can pause, rewind, and practice short phrases many times. They may start by watching Alex play, then try the first phrase, then return later to add the next phrase or the chord version.

Because guitar playing involves finger pressure, coordination, timing, sound sensitivity, and repeated practice, caregivers can provide support with tuning, hand position, pacing, volume, frustration tolerance, and celebrating progress.

At the end, participants can choose whether they want to practice the melody, play the chords while someone sings, or return to this lesson again before moving on to the next guitar video in the series.