New Radicals might be considered a one-hit wonder, but “You Get What You Give” was in loads of movies and very much felt like a part of childhood for many of us. That uplifting, optimistic vibe hits different on ukulele. It’s got a simple intro that translates really well to the instrument, so let’s learn to play it.
What Are We Learning To Play?
Below is a video of what you will be able to play by the end of this post.
Ukulele Tabs
This is quite simple—just two chords with some fingerpicking. We’re playing a Dmaj9 and a Cmaj9, which might sound complicated but they’re actually very manageable shapes.
Let’s start with the Dmaj9. Use your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string, your pinky on the 5th fret of the E string, and your ring finger on the 4th fret of the A string. We’re playing this chord throughout the whole first measure, so keep those fingers in place.
For your picking hand, create a claw-like shape. Use your thumb for the G and C strings, and simultaneously use your index and middle fingers for the E and A strings. This creates that flowing, cascading sound that makes the chord progression so effective.
Now let’s move to the second chord, the Cmaj9. Use your index finger on the 3rd fret of the E string, middle finger on the 4th fret of the C string, and your ring finger on the 5th fret of the A string.
That’s it—just repeat those two chords throughout the entire intro. The beauty is in the fingerpicking pattern and how these extended chords create that dreamy, nostalgic sound that made the original so memorable.
A|---4-4---4-4---4-|---5-5---5-5---5-|
E|---5-5---5-5---5-|---3-3---3-3---3-|
C|-----------------|-4-----4-----4---|
G|-2-----2-----2---|-----------------|