Billie Jean

How to play Billie Jean by Michael Jackson on guitar

These are the sounding chords. With a capo on fret 2 you play Bm, Em, D, Am, B, E and more, the shapes the player above shows.

This song is a great groove builder because the pulse is steady, the harmony is simple, and the feel stays cool and controlled. You get to lock into a tight rhythm without rushing, which makes it satisfying at about 120 BPM and a strong choice for building confidence.

The chart uses a mix of open shapes and barre shapes, so the left hand has to switch between easier grips and more demanding ones. E and D are the open shapes, while C#m, F#m, Bm, C#, F#, and B are the barre shapes, so watch the move between C#m and F#m in the opening progression - that change sets the tone for the whole song.

Start by looping C#m - F#m - C#m - E slowly until the shapes feel automatic, then add the rest of the progression in short sections. Once the changes are clean, practice with a steady count, then bring the tempo up little by little until you can keep the groove relaxed and even.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.