This ^^^ 
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I have completed B2B last summer, been playing bass for a few years, Iām active in a rock band but Iām still struggling with BJ.
Move on and keep tryuing but you donāt need to play BJ to have fun on bass
I see it more as a challenge and one day I might be there (not far at the moment to nail it for a few measures ā¦ but not for 4 min :-). )
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I have to tell this story here - went to a jam session tonight, husband jokingly mentioned to the group that Iād been learning Billie Jean and they didnāt realise it was a joke so learned it especially for me! Very sweet and felt very bad that I couldnāt live up to the expectation 
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Billie Jean kicked my butt.
Today was my third time going through the lesson, which I can complete fine, but when I get to the slow workout my fingers get tied in nots.
Just got through this thread, going to keep moving on in lessons, and will revisit at some point.
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Good plan.
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Played BJ last week with my band during rehearsalā¦ not perfect (far from) but I see myself doing it in June for our family concert
If not ok, Iāll bring in the loop pedal 
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can relate, dont have much problems with BJ compared to that one.
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@JerryP told me to post this here 
Iāve been trying to master octaves for a long time, but I think I still need another year. This is a good workout and is going to be a part of my training to build stamina.
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Thank you. Cool of you to put together a video with the tab.
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That, my friend, was unexpected and a joy both to watch and listen to.
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Thereās a tarantula doing a dance on the neck of your base, just sayinā.
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Yes. @Johnnyb did awesome in that video. Skills and stamina were on point.
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I have just begun to tackle the beast that is Billie Jean when the wires on my jack decided they didnāt want to be connected anymore. My bass is now out of commission for three WEEKS while it gets fixed and I am now borrowing my friendās 5 string, which feels like a whole new instrument to me. 
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If you can get used to a five string they open up a whole new range of options with the extra string and notes!! Good luck 
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This was a very relatable story. I too had 2-3 weeks of bass (any instrument, really) and was flying through. Got to this one and first reaction on 3rd try of slow workout was that I made a serious mistake, Iāll never do this. Anybodyās GAS guy need another bass?
After I went to bed and got a fresh look at it the next day, I could do the notes somewhat slowly, but not with anything playing. The other sounds were distracting, fingers flying. I was like why on Earth is he doing this now, to weed people out? Then straight into music theory?
After 20 times on the slow workout opening, I feel like the āready for some funā chuckle was intentionally sadisticā¦ after 45 times, I now know it was. And donāt even get me started on the āso proud of you making it through the fast workoutā laugh. Haha
I know all the notes, Iām moving my hand like his, but it doesnāt sound like his. What was I missing? Then it dawned on me: about 30 years of practice and experience. I just need to get back after it.
I too realized my problems were that I aced the first lessons no problem, then promptly forgot all the things I ānailedā. I went back and watched from lesson 1 on some parts and practice alternating plucking for like 2 hours one day, I am much better at it now without thinking. I even do it every time I tune my base when starting, chug on all strings for a bit to make sure Iām in tune and reiterate alternate fingers.
That is what I like about this course, and Joshās style. He planned this course out to get you going for the next parts and keeps you engaged. Iām embracing the SUCK and powering through. Sometimes backwards is forward, Iād rather redo a little now to correct my mistakes than build on them and unlearn/relearn later. In the meantime, I learned a few more tab songs and I visibly see techniques improving the more I play.
Yes, itās hard. He said no less than 30 times skip it, come back and that it is hard. My personality wonāt let it escape. I decided to slowly move forward, but I visit her every day for a bit, now. I didnāt tell my family what it was, Iām not considering it passed until they know what it is. But in moving on, I pretty easily learned another thing that scared me, sheet music.
Now my GAS guy is hanging in this forum to see what kind of deals Billie Jean is causing on slightly used basses.
Well played, @JoshFossgreen ! Without my knowledge, you have fooled me into being a better player yet again. Now as soon as you come out with Bassbuzz shirts with āBillie Jean is not my M%#&@F#&%@* loverā, Iāll be first in line. I may even add ābut she says I am the oneā iron-on for the back when I pass.
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Learning to learn is the key, grasshopper. Well done.
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Itās the hardest part!
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I do love to visit this thread and remember the beating the dreaded b.j. bestowed upon me.
This was frustrating. And i really liked what @kfeldbauer said about not only personality, but about how the first few lessons were a breeze and then this all happened.
I spent a lot of time asking myself if Iād made a mistake attempting to learn to play, if i should just give it up. But i really wanted to do this.
Now Iām not gifted with things some other folks have, like talent or natural ability or totally sweet skinny surgeon fingersā¦
What i did have is work ethic. So i worked on it. A lot. Broke it down into phrases, slowed it down. Slowed it down more. And then i moved on past it, because it was becoming a real issue.
This is where id love to say it got easier. It didnāt. I retried it every day. I added it to my warm-up routine and forced it. To the point i hated it.
This went on for months. And then one day it just clicked, and suddenly it Just flowed. I could play it, maybe not great- but it was happening.
The only real advice i have about Billie Jean is this-you can do this-it may not be today, but you can do this. Donāt be afraid to move on and keep learning and come back later. Sheāll wait.
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Since I completed the course, thought it made sense to record myself playing this riff. it sounds OK to me, thereās a lil bit of buzz when Iām coming off the strings and Iām not sure if itās a setup problem?? Lemme know your thoughts:
P.S: Excuse the dopey face expression, Iām working on it!!
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Thatās Dope! @basspersoniglol Pun intended
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