UCL PLAY - WEEK 1
"AFRICA"
Welcome to week 1 of term 1, 2025. This term we will begin by working on a song arrangement that combines a number of chords, keys, picking patterns and strumming patterns. The song is AFRICA by TOTO which reached no 1 on the charts back in 1983, which means it is now over 40 years old :)
It is a fantastic song to play once the complexities of the arrangement are worked out and there are loads of vocal harmonies that can be added to the chorus lines so this is your chance to sing your hearts out!
FUN FACTS: UCL first performed this song at our very 1st gig as a club back in April 2013. We were summonsed to perform at a fundraising event at Parr St Studios called African Strings. They must have enjoyed it as they invited us back for round 2 in August! The fundraising efforts saw a bunch of young people head over to Africa to help build water wells where they took a photo of our UCL logo as you can see below . . .
It is a fantastic song to play once the complexities of the arrangement are worked out and there are loads of vocal harmonies that can be added to the chorus lines so this is your chance to sing your hearts out!
FUN FACTS: UCL first performed this song at our very 1st gig as a club back in April 2013. We were summonsed to perform at a fundraising event at Parr St Studios called African Strings. They must have enjoyed it as they invited us back for round 2 in August! The fundraising efforts saw a bunch of young people head over to Africa to help build water wells where they took a photo of our UCL logo as you can see below . . .
UCL's very 1st gig at Parr Street Studios. April 2013.
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The lovely volunteers from African Strings displaying a thank you from Africa.
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PDF DOWNLOADS
The PDF download button contains both the song structure breakdown and the song sheet.
Have a listen to the audio for C tuning ukes only track at full speed of 132 BPM.
Have a listen to the audio for the baritone part at full speed of 132 BPM.
Strumming Patterns
We are going to simplify a pretty solid rock strum which would usually played with using down strokes only but this can be pretty hard work at speed so instead, we will use the pattern illustrated below to achieve a similar effect.
INTRO / BRIDGE / OUTRO
INTRO / BRIDGE / OUTRO
UKULELE PART: This part is played 3 times throughout the song.
VERSE SECTIONS
The verse section is played 3 times during the first part of the song and twice in the second part before the link comes in. Look out for the extra up strums on the D & C chords near the end of each line.
The verse section is played 3 times during the first part of the song and twice in the second part before the link comes in. Look out for the extra up strums on the D & C chords near the end of each line.
LINK SECTIONS
These are essentially another verse but the chord structure is slightly shorter as follows:
These are essentially another verse but the chord structure is slightly shorter as follows:
CHORUS SECTIONS
This chorus is nice and easy with calypso strum and a half chuck strum for the final chorus.
This chorus is nice and easy with calypso strum and a half chuck strum for the final chorus.
VIDEO TUTORIALS
INTRO / BRIDGE / OUTRO
VERSE SECTIONS
LINK SECTIONS
CHORUS SECTIONS
MP3 DOWNLOAD
Click on the button below to download the full arrangement of Africa complete with the baritone part.
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