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Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana - Guitar Lesson

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Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana - Guitar Lesson

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Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana guitar lesson video
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Number Ones album cover
Number Ones
2003 4:42
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Michael Jackson Pop 2003 G minor
Capo Advisor 0 G minor · Original key

Dirty Diana

"Dirty Diana" by Michael Jackson is the ninth track on his 1987 album Bad, released as the fifth single in April 1988. The song stands out for its harder rock sound, drawing comparisons to "Beat It," and features a memorable guitar solo by Steve Stevens. For electric guitarists, it offers a rare blend of rock attitude within a pop context, making it a rewarding and distinctive piece to study and perform.

  • The lead guitar solo was performed by Steve Stevens, best known as Billy Idol's guitarist, not a typical Michael Jackson collaborator.
  • The song was co-written and co-produced by Michael Jackson alongside legendary producer Quincy Jones.
  • Running just over four and a half minutes, the track's rock-driven arrangement gives guitarists substantial riff and solo material to work with.
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
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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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