Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand): Ukulele
Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) Sheet Music Preview

Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand): Ukulele

By Nickolas Ashford / By Valerie Simpson / As performed by Diana Ross

Item: 35-DS00293761
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Additional Details
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Page Count: 2
SKU: 35-DS00293761

More about this title

About the Composer: Nickolas Ashford

Nickolas Ashford was one half of the songwriting and production team Ashford & Simpson, alongside Valerie Simpson. Together they crafted some of soul and R&B's most enduring material, writing for and producing Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and countless other artists throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Their gift for melody and emotional directness made them essential voices in popular music education and repertoire.

Ashford's compositional approach emphasized singability and accessibility without sacrificing sophistication. His work remains a cornerstone of vocal jazz and popular music curricula, offering students clear examples of how to build memorable, emotionally resonant melodies within straightforward harmonic frameworks.

Why we love this

This arrangement brings one of soul music's most universally recognized messages into the ukulele classroom without losing its warmth or vocal character. The two-page format keeps focus on the core melody while remaining accessible to intermediate players, making it ideal for building confidence on the instrument. You'll find students gravitate toward this one immediately because they know it, which means they can concentrate on technique rather than decoding unfamiliar material.

What to expect

Warm, inviting, and unhurried. This is a song built on connection and reaching across distance, and the arrangement captures that intimate quality. Playing it feels like participating in a moment of genuine human contact rather than performing a technical exercise.

Who it's for

Intermediate ukulele players looking to develop musicality and interpretation beyond basic strumming. Teachers seeking repertoire that bridges popular and standard song literature while keeping engagement high.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the melody with dynamic awareness rather than playing it straight through; the emotional arc of 'reach out and touch' depends on subtle vocal phrasing that ukulele can capture through deliberate volume control and strategic breath points.
  • Keep the rhythm pocket steady but relaxed. This song thrives in a conversational tempo rather than a metronomic one, so lock in with any accompaniment early and resist the urge to rush the lyrical passages.
  • Pay attention to the harmonic rhythm underneath. Even on a lead sheet, understanding when chords change helps you voice transitions smoothly and sustain the song's gentle, unrushed quality.

How to use it

Pair this with other soul and R&B standards to create a unit on songwriting across genres and eras. It works equally well as a solo piece for a spring concert or as part of an ensemble set where ukulele players can accompany vocalists. The accessibility makes it suitable for a variety of performance contexts, from informal classroom performances to recital programs.

Skills your students will build

  • Phrasing and dynamic shaping in melody-driven pieces
  • Interpreting and executing vocal-style articulation on a non-vocal instrument
  • Recognizing and responding to harmonic movement
  • Building confidence through repertoire that connects to students' existing musical knowledge

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