Michael Jackson Guitar: 5 Legendary Tracks Featuring Iconic Players
When Pop meets Rock
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Michael Jackson Guitar: 5 Legendary Tracks Featuring Iconic Players · Source: Alamy Stock Photo / Davide Sciaky
These Michael Jackson guitar songs teach us players lots of valuable lessons. Check out these timeless riffs from the likes of Slash and EVH.
Notable Michael Jackson Guitar Songs:
Key Information about Michael Jackson Guitar Work:
- Michael Jackson did a lot of worth with both session, and other established guitarists. Names such as Eddie Van Halen and Slash come to mind to bring rock vibes to pop tracks.
- Thanks to these players, Michael Jackson’s guitar songs featured memorable hooks and inspriational riffs that have enticed players for years. All helping with chart success in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Not just rock, but Michael Jackson’s music blended genres as far as the guitar parts were concerned. Adding 80s Floyd Rose flaire, or 70s funk strumming. These switches make great references for guitarists looking to learn new styles and grenes.
Michael Jackson Guitar: Call the Professionals
As of late, there has been a lot of talk about The King of Pop. Be that down to the recent biopic film, or even the recent Netflix series, it’s great to see his music and life coming back into focus.
Having always been a fan of the white glove and being a guitarist, I’ve always found it fascinating that a singer and dancer always had incredible guitar parts on his records.
We have the likes of Steve Lukather, Slash, Eddie Van Halen, Jennifer Batten and more to thank for these. Because Michael Jackson’s music was mainly pop, the guitar parts stand out even more than most people realise. Let’s check out 5 Michael Jackson guitar parts.
Beat It
Kicking us off, we’re looking at one of my favourite beginner riffs. With 1.3 billion views on YouTube, I’d say that Beat It is fairly well known!
For beginner guitarists, it’s always good to learn songs that are both easy to play, and are familair. Therefore this track ticks both of these boxes. A great open string riff, however there is something to watch out for.
Steve Lukather of Toto fame recorded this incredible hook in Eb tuning. So, when practising you’ll either need to *downtune, or search for a version in 440Hz. We also can’t forget about Eddie Van Halen’s era defining solo.
I Want You Back
Let’s go back a couple of years now and look more towards the start of Michael Jackson’s career. Not many people think of guitar work when it comes to I Want You Back, but if you listen carefuelly, there’s a lot of cool stuff going on.
Aside from the notable bassline that brings the track in, there’s a great Motown style hook that plays throughout the intro and verse. Adding extra texture to the track, there’s a rich and thick octave sound vamping on a G note.
Here, you’re playing both the D and B strings together on different frets, teaching guitar players how to mute strings, and adding in a bit of theory. Just one note makes all the difference with this Michael Jackson guitar part.
Billie Jean
Back to the 1980s again for another tune with a cracking bassline intro. However, we’re not here for that. It’s the legendary strat tone that we’re after.
As far as guitar tones were concerned, the 1980s was a time for big gains, humbucking pickups, and digitial chorus. Despite this, the guitar solo in Billie Jean is as clean as you like.
The story goes that the Stratocaster was just plugged straight into the mixing desk at the recording studio, and that tone is as dry as possible. For whatever reason, it works so well. Highlighting a great funk part, and the beauty of a clean 60s strat tone. More on the player of this track later. David Williams.
Dirty Diana
Our next pick sees a slice of glam-metal from the Bad album, which was released in 1987. Jackson had imprecible tast when it came to choosing guitarists. On this occasion, it was Steve Stevens from Billy Idol fame.
One of the more rock focused tracks that you’ll hear from Michael Jackson, and his voice really suits it. Just compare this to something like Earth Song. Both have such a refined rage to them.
However, the verse guitar parts and so evil and mysteriuous. But by contrast are diluted compared to the main chorus hook. Combining that pentatonic hook with stacks of gain, it’s a winning combination for this Steve Stevens and Michael Jackson guitar track.
Smooth Criminal
Concluding our look at Michael Jackson guitar parts, we have Smooth Criminal. This is of course the video where Jackson debuted his unmistabkable lean dance move, inspired by Fred Astaire.
Once again, we have David Williams on guitar. Laying down a wicked funk guitar track in an otherwise all electronic track.
Williams also played on Rock With You and Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, which are two great funk guitar parts and have to be honourable mentions for this list of Michael Jackson guitar parts. Despite being more pop, Alien Ant Farm saw the potential with this track, and in 2001, put their own spin on it.
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