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Harmonic Analysis (RMA) Worksheet for the song: Happy Trails.
Happy Trails
Released: 1932
Happy Trails 1952 single by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Happy Trails
is a song by Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans, known as the theme song for both The Roy Rogers Show on radio and The Roy Rogers Show on television, in which they starred. It was written by Evans and always sung by the duo over the end credits of those programs.
(wikiwand)
Happy Trails" was released in 1952 as a 78 RPM and 45 RPM by Rogers and Evans with the Whippoorwills and Orchestra, on RCA Victor Records. It was re-issued in 1957 as a 45 RPM record on RCA Victor/Bluebird. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. (wikiwand)

Happy Trails is in the The Daily Ukulele
— 365 Songs for Better Living book.
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.
Theses and many other chords are covered in the Learn A Chord A Day series of lessons.
C Tuning, Low or High G
INTERVALS: Root=note that begins a scale of the starting key; C is C, D is D, Am is a, Em is E, etc... m=minor; M=Major; P=Perfect; D=Diminished; A=Augmented. • ↑ is up/ascending; ↓ is down/descending;
Visit the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection series of lessons for information on creating a your own Harmonic Analysis Worksheet
A re-harmonization, in Red can be simple, sticking pretty close to the original composer's intentions or complex and a whole new set of chord changes.
D#dim
* see performance notes below
I7
( V of IV)
VI7
( V of II)
II7
( V of V)
D Mix
B Mix
E Mix
As Happy Trails is a simple folk / country song simple Mixolydian scales for the 7th chord will do vs. alterted mixolydian scale a jazzer
might use.
VI7
( V of II)
II7
( V of V)
B Mix
E Mix
A Harmonic Analysis (RMA/HA) and its worksheet are intended to show the function of the chords, the harmonic principles used, the keys and tonalities the song explores. And, can be used for scale selections and chord and scale substitutions.
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NOTE: A Harmonic Analysis Worksheet is NOT intended to be a lead leadsheet.
Minimal roadmap information such as repeats, fines, D.S., D.C., and codas has been used in preparing the worksheets to somewhat mirror the leadsheet in the Daily Ukulele book.
The worksheets will show 1st, 2nd Ending, turnbacks, etc. as in indicated the Yellow Book
. You should start to recognize that 1st endings typically always return to a previous verse or an section. With a 2nd ending, a transition to a different part of the song, a
or chorus. Harmonic Principles are used for these repeats and transitions.
If turnback chords are not indicated for the these 1st and 2nd endings in the original Yellow Book leadsheet recommended chord(s) will indicated in parentheses or as an alternate harmony in Red . Typically the last measures or turnbacks will be a chord that resolves to and harmonically leads you to the next section or turning you back to the same section. Typically a V or direct substitution of that next chord.
This is the key of the source leadsheet.
- Happy Trails is in 4/4, Common Time and the Key of D . The original is in the Key of F , Tempo: 99 bpm
These are the harmonic principles used in Happy Trails.
- Full Diatonic
- Partial Diatonic • Full Diatonic includes Secondary Dominant chords
- Chromatic
- Cycle

Nashville Numbering System always uses four bars/measures per line, no bar lines, and default is each number of the number of beats per bar/measure based on the time signature. If multiple chords in same bar then they are underlined. It can be as simple as convert the Roman Numerals above to Arabic number.
At its simplest you simply replace the roman numbers with aberic numbers. e.g., I becomes 1 , II becomes 2 , etc. The only exception is the bVII7 chord becomes 7 as this borrowed chord from the Mixolydian tonality is so common and the VII (half-diminished seventh) in a major chord is so rare (actually never).
Check the definitive book Nashville Number System
Once a Harmonic Analysis has been completed then scale selections can be made. These scale selections can be either vertical and horizontal choices. And, really only needed if you are going to take a solo or embellish the melody with added notes.
Traditional Scales:
Maj: Major (Ionian),
Dim: Diminished,
WT: Whole Tone,
Har Min: Harmonic Minor,
Contemporary Scales:
Minor Pent: Minor Pentatonic,
Pent: Major Pentatonic,
Blues,
Scale/Mode Names:
Ion: Ionian (Major),
Dor: Dorian (Minor),
Phrygian: Phrygian,
Lyd: Lydian,
Mix: Mixolydian (Dominant),
Aeol: Aeolian (Natural Minor),
Loc: Locrian
Checkout LESSONSeries : Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection or download the Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection book. And the QuickStart Series of Scale and Arpeggio books.


Addressing the D#dim and A+
- D#Dim (D# Fx(G) A C) • I would most like, as it is only two beats address the chord tones and lead to the A7.
- A+ • The only difference betweer A7 and A+ is the fifth of the chord: E in the A7 and E#(F) in the A+.
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Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.
Related Lessons
Happy Trails.

Harmonic Analysis Lesson Series
Harmonic Analysis ( HA ) is the process used to determine the harmonic function of chords within a chord progression. A chord progression is defined as a sequence of chords, each chord has a root and has a particular chord type. The relationship of a chord's root to a scale determines its function within that scale's tonality. Once a chord's function is identified, scale selections along with chord and scale substitutions can be made. This process is called Root Movement Analysis ( RMA ). This series of lessons are extracted from my book for use with individual private and on-line students. Each lesson directly corresponds the chapters in my book Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution by Curt Sheller (me).
Related Lesson Series
Happy Trails.
Harmonic Analysis for Scale and Chord Selection
Harmonic Analysis (HA), also known as the study of chord relationships, is the method used to identify the harmonic role of chords within a chord progression or song. A chord progression refers to a sequence of chords, with each chord having a root note and belonging to a specific chord type. The function of a chord within a particular scale's tonality is determined by its relationship to that scale.
Related Books & Charts
Happy Trails.

Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.

The Daily Ukulele
Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys that are particularly suited for groups of one to one hundred to play and sing.

A Guide to Ukulele Strums
Learn a variety of strums and rhythmic patterns in wide range of musical styles. One of the first skills a ukulele player learns is the art and craft of strumming, playing rhythm. This refers to an accompaniment technique suitable for the singer, singer - songwriter or someone who plays a support role for another instrument.





Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
Reference Charts



A handy reference chart of all 15 major and relative minor key signatures. US Letter 8.5 x 11 sized (ANSI-A), A4
Checkout the Books for additional Handy, Dandy Reference Charts.
Related Lesson Files, Resources and Assets
Happy Trails.