Billie Jean Bass tab video
Mickael Jackson
Make your own Billie Jean tab video, freeNo editing. No card. 10 minutes free.- Instrument
- Bass
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Tuning
- E A D G
- Key
- Fa♯ minore
- Tempo
- 118 BPM
About this riff
The Billie Jean bassline is a hypnotic two-bar figure built mostly around root notes over the F#m–G#m–A progression, so the pitches are approachable, but the real challenge is rock-solid timing and evenness. Every note must sit perfectly in the pocket with consistent length and dynamics, since the line is exposed and drives the entire song. It's a great study in groove, restraint, and playing 'less but tighter' rather than technical flash.
Did you know?
Producer Quincy Jones later admitted that the Billie Jean bassline was closely derived from Vangelis's 'State of Independence,' a track Jones had recorded with Donna Summer, saying that on the subject of borrowing, 'the notes don't lie.' Vangelis/Yes singer Jon Anderson, who sang on the original, wasn't bothered, noting that they 'took the riff and made it funky.'
Sources: [1]
FAQ
Is this the real audio?
The audio is rendered from a high-quality SoundFont (FluidR3), so it plays for real. It is not the original master recording.
Can I make my own Billie Jean tab video?
Yes. Upload your file to Tab2Vid and export a 9:16 or 16:9 video with real audio in about a minute. The free plan needs no credit card.