Have you ever been captivated by a song with just a few chords, yet it fills stadiums and hearts alike? “Give A Little Bit” by Supertramp is one of those timeless tracks. This iconic song, rumored to be inspired by The Beatles’ message of love and peace in “All You Need Is Love,” is a testament to simple yet powerful songwriting.
In this guitar lesson, we’re going to unlock the secrets behind playing “Give A Little Bit”. Grab your guitar, and let’s dive into the essential Guitar Chords Give A Little Bit of magic to your playing!
The Story Behind “Give A Little Bit”
“Give a Little Bit” is a celebrated song by the British rock band Supertramp. While credited to both Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, it’s widely known as a Roger Hodgson masterpiece. Released in 1977 on the album Even in the Quietest Moments…, the song carries a straightforward, uplifting message about the significance of sharing love and kindness.
Recorded at The Record Plant in Los Angeles, the song’s signature rich sound comes from meticulously layered 12-string guitars. Roger Hodgson himself played both acoustic and electric guitars on the track. The production was intricate, demanding complex mixing techniques to manage the numerous overdubs.
Commercially, “Give a Little Bit” soared, reaching number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US and achieving chart success globally. It earned Platinum certifications in the UK and Spain, cementing its place as a classic.
Its popularity endures, remaining a firm fan favorite. Anecdotally, a touring guitarist for Supertramp mentioned that simply playing the opening chords of this song on a 12-string Taylor guitar live is enough to ignite the audience.
So, let’s explore the essential element to playing this classic: the guitar chords.
Essential Guitar Chords for “Give A Little Bit”
To play “Give A Little Bit” on guitar, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with 11 main chord shapes: A7, D, G5, Bm, Esus4, E, Asus4, F#m, C, C/D, and Am7. While this might seem like a substantial list, remember that expanding your chord vocabulary is a hallmark of seasoned musicians and opens up a world of musical possibilities. The good news is that most of these chords can be played in open position. Let’s break down how to play each of these guitar chords give a little bit easier.
A7 chord:
Alt text: A7 guitar chord diagram, demonstrating finger placement for playing A7 chord.
D chord:
Alt text: D major guitar chord diagram, illustrating the finger positions for D chord on guitar.
G5 chord:
Alt text: G5 guitar chord diagram, showing simplified G5 chord without the 5th string.
Bm chord:
Alt text: Bm guitar chord diagram, illustrating the barre chord shape for B minor in 2nd position.
Esus4 chord:
Alt text: Esus4 guitar chord diagram, demonstrating the suspended E chord shape.
E chord:
Alt text: E major guitar chord diagram, showing finger placement for the standard E major chord.
Asus4 chord:
Alt text: Asus4 guitar chord diagram, illustrating the suspended A chord shape on guitar.
F#m chord:
Alt text: F#m guitar chord diagram, showing the barre chord for F sharp minor in 2nd position.
C chord:
Alt text: C major guitar chord diagram, demonstrating the finger positions for C major chord.
C/D chord:
Alt text: C/D guitar chord diagram, illustrating the C over D slash chord shape.
Am7 chord:
Alt text: Am7 guitar chord diagram, showing the finger placement for A minor 7th chord.
You’ll notice some “slash chords” like C/D, which add a unique flavor to the song. These can be thought of as ‘hippie chords’ as they were popular in that era. Essentially, they are standard open position chords moved up the fretboard, combined with open strings. This technique offers a broader sonic palette to your guitar playing.
Embracing a wider range of chords, like those used in “Give A Little Bit,” is a rewarding endeavor for any guitarist. It challenges you and ultimately enhances your musical expression.
Difficulty Level: Is “Give A Little Bit” Hard to Play on Guitar?
Yes, mastering “Give A Little Bit” on guitar presents a moderate challenge. The combination of numerous chord changes, the rhythmic complexity, syncopation, and the original 12-string guitar arrangement does elevate its difficulty beyond a beginner level. However, with dedicated practice and by methodically learning the elements outlined here, playing this iconic song is absolutely achievable.
Guitar Tuning for “Give A Little Bit”
The tuning for “Give a Little Bit” by Supertramp is standard tuning. Roger Hodgson utilized a 12-string guitar to achieve the song’s rich, full texture, a key component of its recognizable sound.
Standard tuning is: EADGBE, from the 6th string (lowest pitch) to the 1st string (highest pitch).
- 6th String: E
- 5th String: A
- 4th String: D
- 3rd String: G
- 2nd String: B
- 1st String: E
Understanding the Strumming Pattern
The rhythmic foundation of “Give A Little Bit” is a subtle 16th-note feel. Sixteenth note strumming involves dividing each beat in a 4/4 time signature into four equal parts.
To count 16th notes, you use the syllables: “1 e & a, 2 e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a”.
- 1: Downbeat (first 16th note)
- e: Second 16th note
- &: Third 16th note
- a: Fourth 16th note
Count it out loud: “One ee and uh, Two ee and uh, Three ee and uh, Four ee and uh”.
For strumming, maintain a consistent up-and-down hand motion:
- Downstroke on “1”
- Upstroke on “e”
- Downstroke on “&”
- Upstroke on “a”
While the song is based on a 16th-note feel, you don’t strum every single 16th note in “Give A Little Bit”—that would be too busy. Instead, maintain a steady quarter-note rhythm and then incorporate selected 16th notes to create the characteristic groove, as illustrated in this simplified rhythm notation:
Give a little Bit strumming pattern
The Key of “Give A Little Bit”
“Give A Little Bit” by Supertramp is composed in the key of D major. Most of the chords used are diatonic to the D major scale, which includes the notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#.
Let’s see how the chords fit within the key of D major:
Chords in D Major:
- D major (I): (D, F#, A) – Tonic chord, the root of the key.
- A7 (V7): (A, C#, E, G) – Dominant 7th chord, creates tension and leads back to D.
- G major (IV): (G, B, D) – Subdominant chord, provides harmonic movement.
- Bm (vi): (B, D, F#) – Relative minor chord.
- F#m (iii): (F#, A, C#) – Mediant chord.
Chords Outside D Major:
- Esus4: (E, A, B) – Often resolves to E major; functions as a secondary dominant.
- E major (V of V): (E, G#, B) – Secondary dominant, leading to A or A7. The G# is not in D major.
- Asus4: (A, D, E) – Suspended chord, often resolves to A major. The suspended note (D) is from the key.
- C major (♭VII): (C, E, G) – Borrowed from D Mixolydian mode; the C natural is not in D major.
- Am7 (v7 of D minor): (A, C, E, G) – Borrowed from D minor (parallel minor); C and G naturals are not in D major.
In Conclusion
“Give A Little Bit” by Supertramp is more than just a song; it’s a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire with its simple yet powerful message of love and sharing. Its distinctive sound, largely created by the 12-string guitar layers, is iconic and instantly recognizable.
While the number of chords might seem extensive initially, understanding their placement within the key of D major and practicing them methodically will make the song accessible. With dedication, you can master the guitar chords give a little bit of magic to your own playing and bring this classic to life.
Keep practicing, and to accelerate your guitar learning, explore fretboard mastery techniques to unlock your full potential!
Jon MacLennan
