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Michael Jackson - Beat It Pt.2 - Complete Solo - Guitar Lesson

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Michael Jackson - Beat It Pt.2 - Complete Solo guitar lesson video
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Michael Jackson Pop

About Beat It Pt.2 - Complete Solo

The complete solo section of "Beat It" is one of the most-studied rock guitar moments to appear on a Pop record. Eddie Van Halen's guest spot runs at a brisk 139 BPM in E Standard tuning, and the passage covers a wide range of techniques: rapid legato hammer-ons and pull-offs, two-handed tapping, string bending, and tight vibrato, all packed into a short but dense stretch of playing. The biggest challenge is not just hitting the right notes but keeping everything clean at that tempo while maintaining the swagger the part demands. Beginners will want to break the solo into small phrases and use the Practice Toolbar to loop each one slowed right down before chaining them together. Pay close attention to where the bends resolve, because sloppy intonation there will flatten the whole feel. Michael Jackson and his producers chose Van Halen specifically because they wanted the solo to feel aggressive, so lean into the attack rather than playing it cautiously.

  • The solo is played in E Standard tuning at 139 BPM, so precise left-hand fingering and right-hand picking control are both tested at a demanding pace.
  • Two-handed tapping is central to the solo, making it a practical exercise for players working to connect tapping runs smoothly into conventional legato phrases.
  • Focus your practice on the bending passages: accurate pitch on each bend is the detail that separates a convincing run-through from a sloppy one.

How to Play Beat It Pt.2 - Complete Solo

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 139 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 139 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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