Welcome to the forum @scooterg56
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IDK, after trying that out, I think it might have made it harder to go back and play the real one. For me, IDK about anybody else, but for me, I think had I learned or practiced this version first, that it would have made the other one feel so hard that I might have given up on the song.
I would almost suggest NOT learning the song this way.
When first starting out when you reach this lesson, I think for the picking / plucking of the strings, to get the timing right, it might be safer to play with open strings, or everything on the 2nd or 4th fret. This is only for the right hand plucking practice, not for playing the song. so it would go
G - - - - - - - -
D 0 - 0 0 0 - - -
A - 0 - - - 0 0 0
E - - - - - - - -
OR
G - - - - - - - -
D 2 - 2 2 2 - - -
A - 2 - - - 2 2 2
E - - - - - - - -
And if you are going to practuce this for your right hand exercise, TRY to Rake the 1st and 2nd note and again on the 5th and 6th note.
ALSO
For anybody that uses this for a warm up or practice routine, I just played around with @bjams suggestion, and I find it really good and rewarding practice to go back and forth between the F# (4th fret on D) and E (2nd fret on D). And then I even start moving it around, like to the F# on the A (9th fret) string and the E (7th fret)on the A string.
I find it great practice to fluidly move around the neck, while playing the same riff, trying not to miss the timing and tone.
Even moving to the F# on the 16th fret makes for a whole new exercise.
Try playing it with your Ring and Index finger, then with your Pinky and Middle finger, and then try alternating.
Wow, thanks @bjams, I just got a whole new world of Biotch Jean exercises.
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Iām late to the party but I got to this today. Holy difficulty spike Batman!
Had to put the bass down and walk away.
Itās the ring finger function on string A4 that I havenāt been able to get to work consistently and it disintegrates from there.
I still havenāt settled on whether to persist with the ring finger or switch and use the pinky.
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I think that for me the ring finger is off the table if I want to do the octave. I just canāt stretch that far. For Joshās B2B way itās fine (for a given value of fine).
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I actually play it both ways. Its just the way it happens when I am not concentrating on the riff so much, and just feeling the groove.
I also suggest, once you know the notes, and where your fingers need to be, to start letting your mind think about other things, maybe song lyrics, or the beat to a backing track for instance, and let your fingers be guided by muscle and sub-conscience memory.
This takes time and practice, but it works for me. when I start over thinking it, I can end up missing a note, or crossing a string, but I can jam it all day long if I just feel the music.
Also, I am a huge proponent of using your pinky. Even if you donāt do the pinky roll for both strings, you are still strengthening your pinky. Strength in your pinky is the key to being able to do the pinky roll.
A strong pinky will be very helpful to your learning, progression and overall playing. I have done exercises to strengthen my fingers, any playing will help to strengthen, but there are other exercises, like isolated finger exercises, where you fret with all 3 fingers, and just do continuous hammer on/ of / on / off, etcā¦ with your pinky. There are 2 finger per time finger exercises, and a whole lot more. You can find them searching YT. As long as it is not PAINFUL, and it does not put unnecessary stretching / strain on your fingers, hand, wrist and arm, then they should be just fine. Also, it is highly suggested to do some hand / finger / wrist, elbow stretches prior to doing exercises. It is a good idea to do them before any playing actually, but especially if you are going to do strengthening exercises. It doesntā take much, about 90 seconds, where you stretch each finger, and all of them (pressing back towards the back of your hand), and then press your wrist back towards the back of your arm. Move your wrist 360 around the joint, and open and close your fingers, stretching them out as far as you can when open. Also, massage your forearm and back are (opposite your forearm below the elbow) for about 5 seconds, just to loosen them up. If you strects every finger for a 5 count, and do 5 seconds for each other stretch on your wrist, and massaging, and rotate both wrists, opening and stretching your fingers and closing them, all in one motion for 10 seconds, you will end up being done in about a min and a half.
My pinky is probably my 2nd best finger for fretting, followed by middle, and my ring finger is way behind. I broke my fingers in my youth, and the ring bends a little funny, making a stretch between the 2nd and 3rd fret almost impossibly without shifting if using my middle and ring finger.
HTH, just keep up practicing, and go SLOW and gradually speed up, and you will get there.
AL:SO, listen to Josh, if you get thru the slow workout, keep moving thru the lessons. It almost feels like you are slipping by and not really doing the work, however, you will gain strength by continuing the lessons, plus you will learn more, and gain finger dexterity while doing more lessons, just be sure to give it abut 5-10 minutes per day til you can nail at least the medium workout.
This is a hard one, donāt get discouraged by it, it is well placed in the lessons, to sort of check yourself while you think you are smooth sailing, but it is also placed there so you can go back to it, and learn it while you are learning and practicing other things that in turn help with this one. It is not easy, just donāt let it be a road block. EVEN if you finish the whole B2B, and canāt finish the fast Billie Jean workout, you are OK. The Fast one is not on the test to finish the course. You will want to, and you will eventually nail it, and probably put it into your practice / warm upās for a long time, cuz it is a good one to use, and once you nail that bitch, you want to keep her in check.
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Some excellent advice
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Really good advice, Iām new to stringed instruments (drummer most of my life) so have a good understanding of the bass line, but OMG Billie Jean. Iām about two weeks into the course, minimal finger stress and I canāt even come close to the slow workout. I know the notes, can play them, but felt like I was failing at the slow workout. Last night I almost gave up, which is a bad thing, but decided Iād come to the forums in the morning. Iāll keep practicing it but move on to the next lesson. Glad Iām not alone in the Billie Jean battles. Thanks @T_dub, love the part about Josh putting it in there to sort of check us. I did feel like I was just sailing along, so good to know.
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My pinky is good, itās my ring finger that throws the wrench in to the gears. Never thought of practicing the pinky roll though.
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LOL, your post EXACTLY!
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Iām really glad I happened upon this thread. Iāve been struggling with BJ for almost a week now and Iām beginning to wonder if Iāll ever get even the slow workout down. After reading though most of the posts here, I know that Iām not alone and that encourages me to keep at it.
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Itās a right of passage, BJ has hurt most of us, but it gets better
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Thanks! I may need to be reassured again in a week or so. 
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I never nailed the āfastā Billie Jean during the course (which I took Feb-May last year). I had forgotten about it and went back last week to play it and it was a breeze. So, if you donāt get the fast one, donāt worry, it comes along for the ride as you go.
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Thanks, John.
I just realized that if I splay my fingers, I donāt have to move my hand as far. Yay! 
Saves time.
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I just did Billie Jean last night. I think my previous attempts at shredding on guitar helped me with this piece. I really had no problem playing it, other than the occasional buzz from me just being a bass beginner. The fingering came easy and I had it up to speed fairly quickly. But up until then, I was dreading this particular lesson. Now, I know there really is no limit to what I can do. I have applied to play bass for Buckethead (he generally uses backing tracks) when he goes out on tour again. Cross my fingers but Iāll be a Bass Shredi Master by then 
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I feel like the āBillie Jeanā lick is the bass equivalent to āShe sells seashells by the seashoreā.
You know where to pluck, you know where to fret, youāve memorized the pattern. You may even get it up to speed and hold it there for a few bars. But your brain turns to radioactive mush playing it. xD
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Repeated note patterns crossing strings in the same fret can be finger-twisters for sure.
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Good luck! 
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Yes!
I always refer to these types of lines (similar frets / repeated notes / complex pattern with a limited supply of notes and strings) tongue twisters.
Glad Iām not the only one.
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