Nathaniel School of Music

How to Play "What's Up" on Piano (4 Non Blondes)

To play "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes on piano, loop the chords A major, B minor, D major and A major (I, ii, IV, I in A major) in a 16th-note strumming rhythm, with close right-hand inversions, left-hand root octaves, and your thumbs adding guitar-style ghost notes.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Beginner · 7 min

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Key points

What this lesson teaches

This lesson shows you how to turn "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes, from the 1992 album Bigger, Better, Faster, More!, into a full piano part. The original recording is driven by acoustic guitar, and the piano is barely audible, so Jason Zac adapts the guitar part for the keys. It is a beginner-friendly song, with a few extra tricks for intermediate players who want a more percussive sound.

The chord progression

The song is in A major and uses one short progression that repeats throughout:

  1. A major (A C# E), the I chord
  2. B minor (B D F#), the ii chord
  3. D major (D F# A), the IV chord
  4. Back to A major, the I chord

In the right hand, play these chords close together using chord inversions, so your hand moves as little as possible between changes. If inversions are new to you, work on them first. They make this song much smoother.

The rhythm

The heart of the song is its strumming groove. The guitarist plays a busy 16th-note pattern. Some strokes are real chord hits, while the rest are ghost notes, where the fretting hand mutes the strings to make a percussive scratch.

Count each beat in sixteenths: 1 e and a, 2 e and a, 3 e and a, 4 e and a. Within that grid there are five main hits per bar that carry the actual chord. These are the strokes you play with your right hand.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Right-hand hits with a steady pulse

Play only the five chord hits in your right hand while snapping or tapping a steady pulse. Do not add the left hand until the rhythm feels secure against the pulse.

Step 2: Add left-hand roots

Play the root of each chord in the left hand: A, B, D and back to A. Once that is comfortable, play the roots as octaves.

Step 3: Fake the ghost notes

The piano cannot really mute a note the way a guitar does, so you imitate the effect instead. Use the thumb of your left hand to fill in the extra 16th notes between the main hits. You can also add your right-hand thumb. With both thumbs tapping in between, you get the busy, strummed texture guitarists create so easily. The groove sounds fine without ghost notes too, so add them only when you are ready.

Step 4: Use the fifth when the hands collide

If your left-hand octave runs into your right hand, play the root and fifth instead. That means A and E, B and F#, or D and A. Don't fix the clash by moving the right hand higher. A higher right hand moves into the singer's range and competes with the vocal, so keep the right hand grounded in the middle of the keyboard.

How to practise

This is a high-energy song and a great one to play with a band. If you are just starting out, it will teach you a lot about timing and locking in with other players.

Questions about this lesson

What chords are in What's Up by 4 Non Blondes?

The song is in A major and repeats A major, B minor, D major and back to A major. These are the I, ii, IV and I chords of the key.

How do you play ghost notes on piano?

A piano cannot mute notes like a guitar, so you imitate the effect. Use your left-hand thumb, and optionally your right-hand thumb, to tap the in-between 16th notes around the main chord hits.

What should my left hand play in What's Up?

Play the root of each chord (A, B, D, A) as octaves. If the octave collides with your right hand, play the root and fifth instead of moving the right hand higher.

Is What's Up a good song for beginners?

Yes. It uses only four simple chords, and it builds strong timing, especially when you play it with a band. The ghost-note tricks are optional for intermediate players.

Practise it

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