Guitar & Bass Tabs
Michael Jackson
About Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson rose from The Jackson 5 in Gary, Indiana, to become a defining figure of modern pop and a catalyst for worldwide cross-genre appeal. As a versatile singer, dancer, and entertainer, he pushed the boundaries of studio production, music video storytelling, and live performance from the 1960s through the 2000s. His breakthrough era with Motown and his later solo run yielded an extraordinary catalog of hits, including the freestanding pop anthem Thriller. MJ's career spanned five decades, and his influence on pop, R&B, and the broader rock-adjacent space remains unmatched.
One key moment bridging pop and rock was Beat It, a track that married Michael's vocal charisma with Eddie Van Halen's virtuoso guitar solo, turning a pop single into a guitar driven rock moment. This collaboration, along with ambitious music videos and stadium scale performances, helped redefine how audiences experienced music, dance, and fashion in popular culture. Michael's legacy includes chart topping albums like Thriller, the highest selling album of all time, and a string of Grammys and awards that cemented his status as a global icon who reshaped the parameters of mainstream music.
🎸 Want to know what gear Michael Jackson used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Beat It
Michael Jackson
View Tab →Playing Style
Michael Jackson did not play guitar on most recordings, but his songs showcase a rock sensibility that guitarists can study. In Beat It and other rock leaning tracks, the rhythm guitar provides chugging power chords, tight palm muted riffs, and punchy accents that propel the groove. The guitar parts often sit behind the vocal melody with clean to bite tones, delivering punchy downbeats and call and response moments. Learning these parts helps players develop tight rhythm, muting precision, and dynamic phrasing. Overall his work demonstrates how pop and rock can fuse in a way that rewards chordal rhythm, melodic hooks, and energetic performance.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
In Beat It, Eddie Van Halen laid down the famous solo on his Frankenstrat guitar through a high gain amp, creating a now iconic rock tone that bridged pop and rock. The broader 1980s MJ productions used a mix of guitars from Fender and Gibson, played through large amps and studio effects to achieve polished textures; while MJ himself did not have a signature guitar like a rock star, the collaborations and production choices defined the era's guitar sound.
Why Learn Michael Jackson Songs?
Learning Michael Jackson songs—especially Beat It—gives guitarists practical bread and butter rock skills: tight rhythm chops, palm muted chugging, precise picking, and dynamic phrasing in a pop rock context. The parts range from beginner friendly to intermediate, making it a great stepping stone for building groove, attention to timing, and stylistic nuance. These songs train you to lock in with drums, serve a strong memorable riff, and deliver energetic performances that are essential to classic rock influenced pop.
Did You Know?
- 1Michael Jackson began performing with The Jackson 5 at a very young age in Gary, Indiana.
- 2Beat It features Eddie Van Halen's iconic guitar solo, one of pop music's most famous rock moments.
- 3Thriller is widely regarded as the best-selling album of all time.
- 4Known as the King of Pop, Jackson redefined global pop stardom and music videos.
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