Michael Jackson - Thriller

How to play Michael Jackson - Thriller by michaeljackson on guitar

This song is a fun one to learn because the groove is tight and familiar, so you can focus on locking in the rhythm and keeping the changes clean. It feels steady and punchy at about 120 BPM, which makes it a good beginner play-along once you settle into the pulse.

You will spend most of the song on barre shapes, with only E as an open shape, so your fretting hand needs to stay relaxed and ready to move. The change to watch is the opening move from C#m to F# and back again, then into C#, since that shift can feel awkward until your hand learns the distance.

Start by practicing the opening progression slowly, one change at a time, until the shapes feel automatic. Then loop C#m to F# and add C#, keeping the rhythm even before you try to play along at full speed. Once that feels solid, bring it up to tempo and focus on smooth, confident transitions.

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.