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Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - Guitar Lesson

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Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - Guitar Lesson

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Michael Jackson - Billie Jean guitar lesson video
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Thriller album cover
Thriller
1982 4:54
Listen on Spotify
Michael Jackson Pop 1982 F# minor
Capo Advisor 0 F# minor · Original key

Billie Jean

"Billie Jean" is a 1983 single by Michael Jackson, released as the second single from his landmark album Thriller. Blending post-disco, R&B, funk, and dance-pop, the track tells the story of a woman claiming the narrator fathered her child. Its iconic bassline and tight rhythmic groove make it a rewarding study for electric guitarists exploring funk-driven accompaniment and minimalist melodic phrasing.

  • The song was written solely by Michael Jackson and co-produced with Quincy Jones for the Thriller album.
  • Jackson said the lyrics were inspired by groupies making paternity claims about his brothers during Jackson 5 tours.
  • The track blends four distinct genres, post-disco, R&B, funk, and dance-pop, offering guitarists a rich rhythmic template to study.
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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