Apr/6/08
25comments

The Godfather Theme (Speak Softly Love)

The Godfather Love Theme (Tab)

I think The Godfather would have to be my favourite film score of all time. In terms of recognisability, The Godfather theme is second only to Star Wars. The piece (also known the Love Theme and Speak Softly Love) crops up in all three Godfather films in a wide variety of guises. It was written by Nino Rota who also wrote most of the music for Fellini’s films.

By far the most difficult part of playing this tune is teasing out the melody from the backing. You don’t have to worry about it too much in the first few bars – the only accompanying notes are the 3 – 2 – 0 at the start of the third bar. But once it gets into bar six, they switch between melody notes and accompanying notes regularly. Make sure you listen carefully to the original so you know what’s what.

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25 Comments

  1. Jackm28 April 6th, 2008 10:03 pm

    Haha, this is great. The theme from one of my favourite films. I’ve been playing a really simple version i pieced together from guitar tabs until now. Thanks.

  2. Woodshed April 7th, 2008 8:13 pm

    Yeah, it’s a tricky tune to make work on the uke. I’m not sure I entirely got it.

  3. Michelle June 12th, 2008 1:43 pm

    Hey Woodshed! Thank you for adding my video to this tab. What a nice surprise! Thank you for this tab – it’s a great arrangement, not too hard to play, but can still sound really nice.

  4. Rob August 17th, 2008 4:32 am

    I think you nailed it Woodshed

  5. Woodshed August 17th, 2008 6:40 pm

    Thanks, Rob.

  6. Bob Daye August 30th, 2008 4:41 pm

    I think you did a great job on this , I’ve been trying to play for
    a couple years and I can play this piece. The young lady
    who plays it , did a fine job.

  7. Woodshed August 31st, 2008 7:29 pm

    Bob Daye: Yep, she does a great version.

  8. Pascal September 22nd, 2008 12:02 pm

    Hello,
    Thank you for this tab! This is the first piece on which I have trained really … This kind of thing is valuable for a beginner! And if my family is ready to denounce me to the authorities… myself, I am enjoyed with it… night and day!

  9. Woodshed September 22nd, 2008 7:50 pm

    You’re welcome, Pascal. I hope it’s worth getting carted away by the authorities for ;)

  10. tom082 April 12th, 2010 4:54 pm

    lol cat! good job its fairly easy to play, thanks man

  11. Woodshed April 14th, 2010 8:11 am

    tom082: Thanks.

  12. art slader May 11th, 2010 5:02 am

    great job young lady

    im a beginner, you made my day. im motivated

    to keep playing. Thank you,

  13. Gordon December 2nd, 2010 10:50 pm

    Awesome and the cat pretry good also

  14. Mike June 10th, 2011 6:21 pm

    Hell Guys,
    I am a banjo player and dropped ont your site by chance, and am I glad I did! What a great Site Guys, I had been looking for another instrument to try and your site is just the beauty many maany thanks,I have found something else other than the banjo to play now, and a Uke is so small I can take it with me everywhere.
    Delighted to meet you all and thank you again. Oh by the way, please can you say how does one get into those tabs that go with the videos.
    Kind regards to you all,
    Mike

  15. Woodshed June 10th, 2011 11:06 pm

    Mike: Good to have you aboard! Right click where it says ‘The Godfather Love Theme (Tab)’ in the orange box and save it.

  16. Charlotte August 31st, 2011 8:51 pm

    Hi Woodshed,
    Thanks so much for your website, I literally learned to play off here… bought my uke searched the web and settled here.
    Spent over a hundred bucks on learn to play books and cannot play them at all. Its all you man!
    I just downloaded this tab and when I opened it the first two bars had symbols instead of numbers like ! $ # ? I am just curious should I play it as !-1 #-3 $-4 or what? made me laugh anyway….
    keep up the good work
    Cheers Charlotte
    (from OZ)

  17. Woodshed August 31st, 2011 11:12 pm

    Charlotte: That’s weird. Not sure why that would happen. Try this. Thanks for the kind words.

  18. Stasha January 17th, 2012 2:49 am

    Greetings from Serbia!
    Bought my first uke 3 weeks ago, and I simply fell in love with it! It took me a few days to learn all the basic chords and strumming patterns, but tabs were tricky. This one is great for us beginners – not too difficult, but still interesting enough to keep us practising. I enjoyed it very much. So, thank you very much for doing this!

  19. Woodshed January 17th, 2012 11:29 am

    Stasha: Thanks! You’re very welcome.

  20. roberto jovel February 19th, 2012 11:54 pm

    bueno yo la toco con armonica y nunca la habia escuchado con uku, esta muy bella .

  21. Trace March 11th, 2012 12:25 am

    Great job on the tabs, this is where i get all of my music for the uke. I just started playing a few weeks ago. And this site has helped a lot
    And awesome job on the song Michelle, loved it.especially the cat at the
    end.

  22. Woodshed March 12th, 2012 6:25 am

    Trace: Thanks very much! Very glad you like it.

  23. mikey September 8th, 2012 9:44 pm

    Bit of an odd one, could you do a tab for Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Mellowship Slinky in B Major’ ? Cheers :)

  24. tooney May 25th, 2014 9:05 pm

    This was too difficult for me when I first began playing. I revisited it this morning and it’s already sounding quite nice after about an hour’s practice, mostly due to Michelle’s fantastic rendition. I don’t know which I like the most: the arrangement, Michelle’s playing, or her cat.

    The only change I *might* make is in measure 13, the 4th note, D. I’m playing it as a D#.

    Al, thanks for always having a choice of beautiful, interesting and accessible arrangements, no matter someone’s skill level. I can’t wait to play this for my Italian FIL.

    THANK YOU!

  25. Woodshed May 26th, 2014 8:27 am

    tooney: Hooray! And thanks!

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