DRUMY
Read Billie Jean as drum notation
Billie Jean drums: tempo, difficulty and parts
Billie Jean by Michael Jackson is 117 BPM and runs 4:55: 144 bars and 1,745 notes played on the hi-hat, snare, kick and tom 2.
The drum part is rated Easy — a good first song: steady, and forgiving while you find the groove.
Its longest section is the Intro (0:29), the hi-hat opens as well as closes.
Song map
- Intro
- Verse 1
- Verse 2
- Pre-Chorus
- Chorus
- Verse 3
- Verse 4
- Pre-Chorus
- Chorus
- Guitar Solo
- Interlude
- Chorus
- Outro
- Fade Out
How to play Billie Jean on drums
- Plug in your electronic drum kit over USB — or play on the keyboard.
- Press play. The notes of Billie Jean come down in time with the recording, or with the drums taken out so it’s just you and the band. Play it in Beatfall or read it as drum notation.
- Slow it down. Take the Verse beat at 0.5× or 0.75× with a click and a count-in, then bring it up to 117 BPM.
- Check every hit — on time, early or late — before you record your Billie Jean drum cover.
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Guides
- How to connect an electronic drum kit to your computer
- How to play along to songs on electronic drums
- Why your electronic drums feel late — and how to fix it