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Michael Jackson - 4 Riffs - Guitar Tab

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Michael Jackson - 4 Riffs guitar tab video
Guillaume Vrac
Guillaume Vrac Top Contributor
YouTube: 144Ksubs 7.5Kviews
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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.
Michael Jackson Pop

About 4 Riffs

"4 Riffs" by Michael Jackson is a guitar-driven track that does exactly what the title promises: it puts the guitar front and center through a series of distinct riff ideas. The challenge here is not just learning each riff in isolation, but nailing the feel and transition between them, since each one likely has its own rhythmic character and phrasing. Pay close attention to your picking hand, as tight, consistent attack is what keeps riff-based playing locked in and musical. If any of the four riffs trips you up, set the Practice Toolbar to loop that section at a reduced speed until the muscle memory is solid before bringing it back up to full tempo. This kind of song rewards patient, section-by-section work far more than running through the whole thing repeatedly at speed.

  • With four distinct riff sections, this track is a good exercise in switching cleanly between different left-hand shapes and rhythmic feels.
  • Focus on keeping your pick attack even across all four riffs, as inconsistency in tone will make the transitions feel rough.
  • Using the Practice Toolbar to slow down and loop each riff individually is the most efficient way to build accuracy before playing them in sequence.
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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