UCL3 - WEEK 4
"YOU GIVE A LITTLE LOVE"
This week, we’re diving another movie classic “YOU GIVE A LITTLE LOVE” from Bugsy Malone. It’s a fun piece to play that uses gentle dynamics, flowing tempo changes, and a simple but expressive strumming technique called thumb and strum.
We’ll be learning it in the key of G, which sits comfortably on the uke and allows us to focus on rhythm, feel, and smooth chord transitions. So easy chords, new strumming pattern. Pies may be invovled!
We’ll be learning it in the key of G, which sits comfortably on the uke and allows us to focus on rhythm, feel, and smooth chord transitions. So easy chords, new strumming pattern. Pies may be invovled!
PDF DOWNLOADS
About The Song
🎬 A Little Love for “You Give a Little Love” is the final song from the 1976 musical gangster spoof Bugsy Malone, written and composed by Paul Williams—a legendary songwriter who also penned hits for The Carpenters and wrote for The Muppets.
Though the cast was made up entirely of kids (including a young Jodie Foster!), the vocals were recorded by adult session singers—giving the film its quirky and unforgettable charm.
This song wraps up the film with a hopeful, heartfelt message about kindness and unity—making it perfect for group singalongs and community vibes!
Though the cast was made up entirely of kids (including a young Jodie Foster!), the vocals were recorded by adult session singers—giving the film its quirky and unforgettable charm.
This song wraps up the film with a hopeful, heartfelt message about kindness and unity—making it perfect for group singalongs and community vibes!
PLUCk & STRUM TECHNIQUE
🪕 Technique Focus: For this song, we’re using a Thumb and Strum pattern to give the music a soft, flowing texture. Here’s how it works:
🎥 Watch the video below to learn the Thumb & Strum technique – Perfect for adding depth and dynamics to your playing!
- Pluck the G string (top string) with your thumb – this acts like a subtle bass note.
- Immediately strum down across all four strings using the back of your fingernails
- You’ll create a two-part motion that feels like a soft “pluck... strum.”
🎥 Watch the video below to learn the Thumb & Strum technique – Perfect for adding depth and dynamics to your playing!
SONG BREAKDOWN
Please note, videos will be uploaded within 24hours of your class taking place.
INTRO
We kick things off with a single strum on the A7sus4 chord, setting the tone before moving into the opening riff. Feel free to give the riff a go—it's a fun challenge! Don’t worry if it doesn’t click straight away—just take your time and enjoy experimenting.
🎧 Listen carefully to the spaces between the notes—those silences are just as important as the sounds.
🔊 Start with the audio to get a feel for the timing, then watch the video for a step-by-step breakdown.
Take it slow, trust your ears, and let the groove guide you!
🎧 Listen carefully to the spaces between the notes—those silences are just as important as the sounds.
🔊 Start with the audio to get a feel for the timing, then watch the video for a step-by-step breakdown.
Take it slow, trust your ears, and let the groove guide you!
VERSE 1
This is where the groove kicks in! The Pluck & Strum technique starts off nice and slow, giving you space to ease into the rhythm—then gradually picks up pace as the chord progression builds momentum.
Keep an ear out for the walkdown section—it's a smooth transition that adds flavour, but it might catch you off guard if you're not ready. Take your time, lock into the feel, and let the rhythm carry you!
Keep an ear out for the walkdown section—it's a smooth transition that adds flavour, but it might catch you off guard if you're not ready. Take your time, lock into the feel, and let the rhythm carry you!
VERSE 2
⚡ Things start to speed up here, following the same pattern as Verse 1—with one small twist: the section finishes with four funnky rounds of the riff at medium speed to round it off with a punch!
Verse 3 - Bridge
This verse picks up the pace again with the pluck and strum before hitting that laid-back, lazy strum on the G chord as you head into the bridge. Here you’ll smoothly transition into the calypso strum, adding a bit more bounce and energy to carry the song forward.
VERSE 4 - END
This is the high-energy final verse burst that then launches you straight back into easy mode for the final chorus! You’ll return to the familiar calypso strum, cruising smoothly through two friendly chords--C (on the 7th - G shape) and G - in open position —all the way to the end. The song wraps up with a satisfying single strum on C, bringing everything to a calm, confident close. Phew!
MP3 DOWNLOAD
🎧 Tips for Practice:
Ready to give a little love through your ukulele? Let’s go! 💛🪕
- Start slow and focus on a smooth, even motion between pluck and strum.
- Listen carefully to the changing tempos and feel of the song—it speeds up slightly in places, then returns to a slower pace.
- Sing or hum along if you like—it’ll help with your timing and connection to the melody.
Ready to give a little love through your ukulele? Let’s go! 💛🪕
OPENS A WEEK TUESDAY AT 5PM - HALF TERM NEXT WEEK - NO CLASS!