I would love people to sing an octave instead of a major 6th in the third line of happy birthday to you

[Lio]

I'm sure I'm not the only pedant to care about music as well as grammar. Got to go and have a bath now, but I look forward to checking on this tomorrow to meet the hundreds of others who agree with me.

I thought everybody did too (a major sixth would indeed be annoying).

snort!

Dinghy, I'd love to know what thread you think you're on

Everyone I know sings an octave, but I'm now quite intrigued by the sixth and will have to go to piano to try it. But not right now. Maybe tomorrow.

i have never heard anyone do a sixth

this may however be because I do a belting octave and overrule them

too many people start it too high and get stuck though - I suspect this is the cause.
If I get the chnace I start it nice and low and people tend to fall in behind...

Not guilty! Octaves only allowed here :o

Intervals are easy to understand; imagine a scale of C Major - C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C

C-D is 'some sort' of 2nd
C-E is 'some sort' of 3rd

then you just work out if it is bigger or smaller than the major version of that interval. So take C-E - in the scale of C Major, there are C naturals and E naturals, so it is a major 3rd. If however the E is an E Flat, it has moved towards the C, so the interval is smaller by 1 semitone, so it is minor. If it is C# to E flat, it is smaller than the major by 2 semitones, so is diminished. If it is C to E#, or C flat to E natural, it is BIGGER by 1 semitone, so is augmented.

Obvious really...

This is extreme pedantry...

catinthehat and i are establishing that her dh is not christina Agauilerarereraa, as he has a penchant for hitting notes randomly near the correct tune, in the manner of the cartoon be-make upped one.

I can't remember when anyone last sang happy birthday to you, er, to me [Chuckle brothers] and for that reason I am now on strike. Fear not, OP, for I shan't be singing any version of Happy Birthday To Yoooooo to anyone until I hear a rousing chorus upon the anniversay of my birth. Which isn't for ages yet.

Ah, I see :humourless:

Dinghy suspects the man I am married to leads a double life as a American popular songstress.

I am concerned however that Dinghy is making barely veiled accusations relating to wardrobe contents and I am beginning to wonder if she has inside information.

My suspicions up to now have been centred on Shania Twain. But my DH doesn't have a wooden leg, so I'm not so sure about that one.

He's probably Janet JAckson thinking about it.

I am like Mrs Badger and do a good loud octave.

Agree that people do tend to start too high and then have nowhere to go at the crucial point.

in fact looking at it, Happy Birthdya is one of the few frequently-sung songs that only goes up from the starting note, never below it.

so the moral of the story is to start singing at your lowest comfortable pitch, then the octave leap will be easy.

[shaprens pencil to write a tutorial on How To Sing Happy Birthday - A Guide For Mothers]

I do an octave (may be just shy, actually, but that's what I'm punting for)

Actually, I just wish it would be banned. It's rarely sung well and often in an embarrassed oh god lets just get it over with way. As an introduction to group singing, it's a complete turn off. Far too difficult for young voices and not even very nice when sung well.

Had a go at rewriting the Hanuka song as '5 little candles ...., Secrets birthday's here' which works pretty well up to 12! and only a 5th so can be worked up to with littlies. Sounds beautiful in cannon too.

If they really do sing a sixth instead of an octave, then they will be producing a fairly unimpeachable harmony with you on the octave, Lio, and I can only conclude that you go to a lot of high class birthday parties. In my experience you usually get a a rather mournful sort of microtonal cluster at that point, with the odd higher pitched shriek from the more ambitious guests. Count yourself lucky

You could probably flog the idea to TV channels and radio stations easily as they have to pay a bundle in royalties every time someone sings HB on air. If you were prepared to gift your song to the world in order to obliterate Happy Birthday, it might just work!

I often get asked to play HB at parties etc and always start nice and low to ensure everyone can jump the full octave.

Not that I really give a shit...still sounds like a pack of rabid hyenas.

Didn't name change fot this, but it appears I am nestling nicely between the intervals under discussion

Hang on.

Shania Twain has a wooden leg? Are you sure that isn't Heather Mills? Or Blackbeard?

Janet's been quiet the last few years. I think we may now know why.....

I LOVE THIS THREAD - musical pedantry! I've rarely heard the major 6th version, but that's because I'm a loud confident singer and usually impose my version on everyone else.

Does anyone like a little major 3rd harmony on the last note?

Yes, and I now have the OP's major 6th version lodged in my head, and I have to admit it is pretty annoying.

I'm with Cereal and that Marilyn Monroe is to blame. I'm trying to imagine her singing it and its such a drawl I'm sure she doesnt reach the whole octave

That was a yes to cat. I must say I'm not a big fan of the last line harmonisers.

[miserable old crow emoticon]

MM not to blame - I've just checked on youtube. It's not the most beautiful tuning in the world but it's certainly a lot closer to an octave than a 6th.

What an unedifying spectacle though...