Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' by Michael Jackson
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' by Michael Jackson runs at 122 BPM in 4/4 and is in the key of D major. It is built on 2 chords — D, E. 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
Only 2 chord shapes here — get each one clean on its own before worrying about switching between them at tempo.
Practice at the right tempo
This song sits at 122 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 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' in?
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' is in D major, sourced from the McGill Billboard Project's expert chord annotations — not auto-detected.
What tempo is Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'?
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' runs at 122 BPM (beats per minute).
What chords does Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' use?
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' is built on 2 chords: D, E.
What tuning is Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' in?
This recording sits about 23 cents flat of concert pitch (A=434.2Hz, not 440Hz). Tune to the track or you'll fight it the whole way.