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4 Non Blondes - What’s Up - Guitar Cover

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

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Speed
100%

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BPM
Key G major
4 Non Blondes - What’s Up guitar cover video
Kfir Ochaion
Kfir Ochaion Top Contributor
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Bigger, Better, Faster, More ! album cover
Bigger, Better, Faster, More !
1992 4:56
Listen on Spotify
4 Non Blondes Alternative Rock 1992 G major
Capo Advisor 0 G major · Original key

About What’s Up

At 100 BPM in G major, "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes is built on a repeating four-chord loop that sits comfortably in standard tuning and is genuinely approachable for players past the beginner stage. The chords themselves, G, A minor, C, and G, are not the challenge here. What catches people out is keeping the strumming pattern consistent and rhythmically alive through the long, repetitive verses without losing momentum or drifting in tempo. The song rewards a relaxed, slightly behind-the-beat feel rather than a stiff, metronomic attack, so focus on locking your strumming hand into a groove before worrying about anything else. There is a simple but effective arpeggiated intro figure worth learning separately, and the Practice Toolbar is ideal for looping it slowed down until your pick-hand motion feels natural. Alternative Rock songs like this one often hide rhythmic subtlety behind simple chord shapes, and that is exactly where the real work is.

  • The entire song uses a four-chord loop, G, A minor, C, and G, all playable in open position in standard tuning.
  • The main challenge is maintaining a consistent, groove-based strumming feel across long repeated sections without the rhythm going stiff.
  • The intro features a gentle arpeggiated guitar figure that is worth isolating and practising slowly before adding the full strumming pattern.

How to Play What’s Up

Tuning: E Standard · Key: G major · Tempo: 100 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 100 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Roger Rocha's Strat delivers the jangly, articulate single-coil tones that layer perfectly beneath 4 Non Blondes' acoustic arrangements. Its glassy neck and middle position pickups provide the transparent, open quality essential to their signature sound on tracks like 'What's Up.'

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

The Tele's bright, cutting single-coils complement Rocha's clean electric parts with clarity and chime. This guitar's twang sits ideal in the mix without competing with the acoustic layers that define the band's folky-alt-rock texture.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The Twin Reverb's natural spring reverb and warm tube compression give 4 Non Blondes their signature clean, spacious tone. Pushed just enough for natural harmonic coloration, it's the sonic foundation for their lightly driven, articulate electric textures.

Fender Deluxe Reverb
Amp

Fender Deluxe Reverb

This amp provides the same clean, chimey warmth as the Twin but in a more compact package with equally lush spring reverb. It captures the band's emphasis on clarity and natural amp compression without heavy saturation.

Boss CE-2 Chorus
Pedal

Boss CE-2 Chorus

A subtle chorus pedal thickens 4 Non Blondes' electric guitar layers with gentle modulation, adding subtle depth without overwhelming the acoustic-forward mix. This minimal effect choice reflects the band's restraint in keeping tone transparent and song-focused.

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