It’s a “struggle bus” song for sure! I rode it for a spell haha 
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@Blaze ‘s video inspired me to check in again. I just managed the fast workout from the course and only really started having problems on the third rep. I guess this shows that my fretting hand strength is getting better. The last time I couldn’t manage the second repitition in any of the reps without my pinky getting way too tired.
This means I could now play a full verse of the song, and then you get a little rest in the bridge. So I could probably manage the intro, verse, bridge and then maybe the first chorus before running out of energy.
Goes to show how you can get better at something without actually practising it. I haven’t played BJ for 2 months but I’ve improved at it just by playing other stuff.
Keep at it!
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Great job! You’ll get it, just keep plugging away. I just kept working on the song over and over until I was able to make it through. It’s a beast!
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So TOTALLY AWESOME!!! Great job, Travis! 
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Thank you my friend!! Appreciate you 
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Billie Jean is a great tune and is a workout for consistency in both time and tone.
I have played it over the years a lot and on Gigs it really depends who the drummer is whether it works. The bass line is a comp of real bass (Louis Johnson) a farty Rhodes piano type sound and a clav type bass. Check this You Tube Video. The Guy is a Vocalist selling lessons, however the video breaks down the basses.
I play it regularly with my Band ‘Thunderthumbs’ which is Louis Johnson tribute. I play the bass line on a 2005 2 band Stingray and to start the keyboards have the farty rhodes sound. You have to keep the notes detatched and play quite hard to get the right sound in a live setting. I can put a pdf of the chart up here if thats helpful and could do a video if that would be helpful. I also did a backing track for a Student of mine who auditioned for a Music School many years ago. I will see if I dig it out. It has the real drums from the intro looped although a Stem Isolator could easily take the bass off the track.
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Hey Eric, after returning from working through some family issues, I started over at Module 1. Billie Jean is now the ‘hidden lesson’ between modules 4 and 5. I really like the revisions made to the lessons; it’s like they’re geared specifically to my learning style.
So anyway, After several hours of fun, I found that as my fretting improved, my plucking was beginning to suffer. Continuing along, the shift to the D and G string portion was killing my rhythm. Rather than spend some more hours to nail it, I’ve decided to continue the adventure and start Module 5.
Anyway, Billie Jean is not ‘just a girl’, she’s a complex woman, and, well, turns out the kid is mine after all! ; )
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I have been making my way through it… able to do medium speed if I really concentrate.
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You’re doing great man! Repetition is the key. Concentrate on playing it correctly at the speed you’re comfortable with, two or three times a night if you can swing it. Every other day try and increase the speed a little and just keep repeating the process until you can play the full song at the correct speed. Once muscle memory kicks in it’s all over for the wicked mistress!!
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Holy Smokes !!!
Good advice from Josh. I’m 20 days in from Module 1 Lesson 1 and have made my way to this Benchmark. Wow. I suck… I followed his advice and went through it once, slept on it and came back the next day - with no improvement. The advice? Put a pin in it and move along. Will do. I will take how proud of myself for taking each lesson, fully listening and not skipping ahead, no matter what. Today is December 6th, 2025 and I’m looking forward to coming back here to tell you (and me) that I have progressed. Upward and Onward.
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My first attempt I was too tired to put anything together. Second attempt was the first chunk on the A string, third was putting together with the D string, fourth was the shift to the G, but I couldn’t get the rhythm shift right. My plucking was getting disorganized by second chunk. This is my second time through the lessons, but the first time on the revised lessons.
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I just finished Module 9 so I looped back to try Billie Jean again. First time I couldn’t even keep up with the workup at the end of the lesson. Tried again after Module 6 and could do the slow workout. Now, I nailed the medium workout. It actually is a nice benchmark to revisit and see your progress.
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Benchmarking notes from my first try at Billie Jean:
Billie Jean is not my lover.
She’s just a girl who kicked my butt on this one.
But my fingers could not get it done.
She kicked my butt on this one.
But my fingers could not get it done.
Oof.
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Well.
I was trying to get into the right mindset for this challenge but it was just overwhelming between the string crossing and the speed by which it sounds right.
I would say I am more of a completionist than a perfectionist. So I was a little disappointed in myself. When I was able to get the fretting and plucking sort of okay, I would be getting a bit of ringing or buzzing from poor technique. When I make a major error, it is difficult to get back into the groove because it seems to pass you by. It was the first time I was really lost in the course. But mostly everyone had experienced this so I’ll do what they do and proceed and come back later for a try.
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I revisited this recently and the medium workout went fairly well. I got through the fast workout for the first time but it was a bit rough around the edges.
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Good work. BJ just takes time to get down. Slow and clean (then incrementally faster over sessions) is the key. 
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Man! I was doing great.. or so I thought. Then Billie Jean came along and she kicked my bass%@#&. 
I know it is a benchmark but I was really hoping I was a bit better at this. So frustrating. I hit the notes at the slow workout but at the medium I was missing the groove and hurting my pinky. And at the full workout I was basically just looking at my fingers imitating an octopus. 
Jeeeesshhhhhh !!!
I will slay Billie Jean one day !!!
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Billie is a wicked mistress! Keep at it, you’ll prove one day the kid really isn’t your son! I remember that “octopus fingers” stage myself. What a pain in the rear end!! Tough song, but it’s doable with consistent practice.
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That darn song is my first hiccup in the course. I know I am not supposed to let it phase me and I should move on…but I just can’t seem to pass on it.
One thing I discovered is that no matter how far I stretch, my stubby little fingers are NOT going to go as far as I need them to. Its physically impossible. But fretting my way back and forth is the way to do it. In the meantime, my plucking fingers get out of sync. Is that going to be a further problem? I hope not, I have been doing very good up to this point!
I made it halfway through the slow workout. I get lost. I am not really complaining as I am going to practice till I get it right! I just wanted to let others know the trouble I was having. Anyone else feel the same?
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