Beat It by Michael Jackson
Beat It by Michael Jackson runs at 139 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of Eb minor. It is built on 3 chords — Ebm, Db, Cb. Released in 1983.
✓ Key sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected. See how we verify →
What to watch for
At least one shape here is a full barre — one finger pressing all six strings, no open strings to lean on. Fret it unplugged first; if a string buzzes, it's the barre, not the chord.
Practice at the right tempo
This song sits at 139 BPM. Start at 60% until the changes are clean — speed is a by-product of accuracy, not a goal.
Learn the theory
Play it on a live fretboard
Every shape, every voicing, and the scale that fits over them — on a board you can hear. Then just talk to it: Melody Monkey's personal music teacher controls the fretboard, so ask for a chord, a scale, a progression, or why any of it works, and watch it land under your fingers. Free to start.
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Frequently asked questions
What key is Beat It in?
Beat It is in Eb minor, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.
What tempo is Beat It?
Beat It runs at 139 BPM (or 70 half-time).
What chords does Beat It use?
Beat It is built on 3 chords: Ebm, Db, Cb.
Does Beat It need barre chords?
Yes — at least one shape is a full barre (one finger across all six strings). Everything else on the page is a standard open shape.
What tuning is Beat It in?
This recording sits about 27 cents sharp of concert pitch (A=446.9Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.