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Michael Jackson - Black or White - Guitar Cover

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Key E major
Michael Jackson - Black or White guitar cover video
Kfir Ochaion
Kfir Ochaion Top Contributor
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Dangerous album cover
Dangerous
1991 4:16
Listen on Spotify
Michael Jackson Pop 1991 E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Black or White

Few pop singles from 1991 open with as much guitar muscle as "Black or White." The intro riff, built around a driving E major groove, is the main event for any guitarist learning this track. Slash played on the original recording, and that connection shows in the riff's confident, rock-forward feel. At 114 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo sits at a comfortable mid-range, but keeping the riff tight and rhythmically precise throughout the verse sections takes real attention. The chord work leans on open and barre shapes in E major, so getting clean transitions under speed is where most players will need focused reps. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that opening riff slowed down until each note speaks cleanly before you bring it back up to tempo. Michael Jackson rarely leaned this hard into guitar-driven Pop Rock, which makes this one genuinely worth the time to get right.

  • The signature intro riff sits in E Standard tuning and centers on an E major tonality, making open-position shapes a natural starting point.
  • Slash played guitar on the original recording, giving the riff a blues-rock edge that rewards attention to pick attack and tone.
  • At 114 BPM the groove feels approachable, but locking the riff in rhythmically with a metronome before adding dynamics is strongly recommended.

How to Play Black or White

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 114 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 114 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Slash wielded a '59 Les Paul replica on 'Give In To Me,' delivering that warm-yet-cutting midrange essential to MJ's hardrock guitar moments. The guitar's thick body resonance pairs perfectly with Marshall stack overdrive for Michael Jackson's most aggressive rock tracks.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul's humbucker firepower cuts through MJ's dense pop production with natural tube saturation and sustain. This guitar provides the weighted tone needed for Slash's solos and rhythm work across the Thriller-era rock-influenced catalog.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Slash cranked a Marshall JCM800 2203 head to achieve natural tube overdrive on 'Give In To Me,' delivering the aggressive rock punch that defines Michael Jackson's harder-edged guitar moments. The amp's responsive gain structure lets the Les Paul's humbuckers shine through dense production.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

Eddie Van Halen's modified Marshall Super Lead (variac'd for sag and compression) powered the legendary 'Beat It' solo, creating that compressed, singing lead tone perfect for tapping techniques. The Plexi's harmonic richness made the single humbucker's output cut through MJ's production.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

The Fender Twin Reverb's clean headroom and natural reverb capture the glassy, percussive rhythm tones on tracks like 'Billie Jean' and 'Rock With You.' This amp provides the transparent platform that lets funky single-coil snap and light chorus effects define Michael Jackson's pop-soul foundation.

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro
Pickup

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro

Slash's Les Paul uses Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro pickups, delivering warm-yet-cutting midrange that sits perfectly in MJ's pop arrangements while maintaining rock credibility. The pickup's balanced output ensures clarity and sustain whether driving Marshall heads or cutting through dense studio mixes.

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