"BEAT IT" MICHAEL

JACKSON
As heard on THRILLER (E PIC )
Words and Music by Michael Jackson * Transcribed by Dave Whitehill and Jeff Perrin

G uit ars are tun ed down one half step (low to high, Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb).
Bass tuning , low to hi gh: Eb Ab Db Gb.
All pitches sound in the key of Eb minor, one half step lower than written.

li7frlisr,m
E5

144 . I 44
05
x
C5

144
xx

~ Intr o (0:00) N.C.(Em) (0) (Em) (0) (Em)

Gtr. 2 (e lec. w/dis t.)
(synth and drum machine) P.M. •••
13 • GLr. I (clec. w/d ist.)

(0) (Em) (0)

GLr. I

Bass
Bass Fig. 2 end Bass Fig. 2
- -"1--- 1-- ----- s -- 2-· -- 2- 4
t- --'-'-......
---- 2-+--+----+- -+ --t--+--+-- -l--- -'-~ -=t-"-,---- 2-+--+----1-- -1---+--I- --+-- ~ -- - ~

[!!]Ve rses (0:38, 1:26)

1. They told him don't you ever come around here Don't want to see your face you better disappear The
2. They're out to get you better leave while you can Don't want to be a boy you want to be a man You
E5 05 E5 05
Gtr. I
Rhy. F ig. 3
23 *

*repea t previous chord

Bass
Bass Fig. 3

© 1982 M IJ AC M USI C ( RMI ) .

ALL RICHTS ADMINI S TE RED BY WARNER •TAMERLAN E P U BLI S HINC COR P. (BM ! ).
US ED BY PERMISSION OF ALFRED PUBLI S H I NC CO ., INC .

1
 "BEATIT"
fire's i n their eyes and their words are really clear so beat it just beat it
want to stay alive better do what you can so beat it just beat it
cs DS ES DS
end Rhy . Fig. 1
27
. .
I . . . 7 -1 -1

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I v l I VI I v T l
You better run you better do what you can Don't want to see no bl ood don't be a macho man You
You have to show them that you're really not scared You're playing wit h your Ille this ain't no truth or dare They'll
ES DS ES DS
Gtr. I repeats Rhy. Fig. 1 (see bar 23)
Gtr . 2 (di st . ofl)
P.M .•••• _______________ •••••••••• ______ ___ _________ ••• (repearprevious two bars) 2
31

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
Bass 2
1--.....:....- 7 7 7 ----'-- 5~ 5
V I I V 1 l
want to be tough better do what you can so beat it but you want to be bad Just
kick you then they beat you then they'll tell you it's la ir so beat it but you want to be bad Just
CS DS ES DS (Em)

35 P .M . _ .................... ................................................ .......................... ...- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • • • ...• • • - - - - • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • • • • • • • • - • - - - - • 1

end Bass Fig. 3

1--.....:....- 3- 3--- ~------'--- ~-- -'- 5-- - -- 7-----'-- 5 -- 5

~ C h or us (1:06, 1:54)
beat it (Beat it) Beat it (Beat it) No one wants to be defeated Showi n'
(D) (Em) (D) (Em)
Gtr. I
39
;· Q
Bass play s Bass Fig. I twice (see bar 15)

2nd time on 2nd Chorus, skip ahead ro@ int erlud e

how funky and strong is your light It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just
(D) (Em) (D) (Em)
Gtr. 2 play s Fill 1 fo ur times (see below) omit repeat on 1st Chorus
(continue ahead to bar 47)

Bass s11bsti111t
es Bass Fig. 2 on repea t of 2nd Choru s (see bar 19)
7 7
.p
Fill 1 (1:13, 2:01. 2:15, 3:24. 3:38. 3:52, 4:06)
Gtr . 2 (dist . off)

( (

2
"BEATIT"
go back to (ID2nd Verse
beat It (Beat It) Just beat It (Beat it) Just beat it (Beat lt)Just beat It (Baal It) Ooh
(0) (Em) (0 )
Gtr . I
47 . .

II
Bass p 1ays Bass Fig . 1 twice (see bar 15)

IQ]Interlud e (2:22)
(J.) beat II beat it beat It beat It beat It beat it
(2.) Beat It beat It beat it beat It beat It beat It
(E5)

51 Rhy. Fig. 2 - - -.- - - - - - - : - - - ·_ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - : - - - - - - : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , 2

- . T
II
• II

..
11 0 II
•II

v y y ~_J_
y y
Bass 2T
.
-----
_J___ 11•
• II
II
• II

(lstti me) Beatit baatltbeat it

play 2nd tim e ___ • ____ •
1
Gtr. J play s Rhy. Fig. 2four times (see bar 51)

--
•wfbar grad.
Gtr 3 (elec . w/ dist) 10 bend
55
-- .
~ !.,;.:II
....
Gtr. 2 (w/dist.) •Dep ress bar prior

..
P.M. 1 P.M. _ ._ P.M. 1 P.M. _
1
- 2
to picking note.
II

§=§=H==§=§=ll :B===§=§==l=
H==§=§:U: =( •
~
-. •II

..
II
· II

b:I I LJ v I b:I I LJ L
...
Bass
.. .. ...
..
I
-cc
-, •
-,,. - II
-- __L - - --- ::::r: - •II

"Note is played
2nd time only.

IE]Guitar Solo (2:49)

E5 05
Gtr. 1 plays Rhy. Fig. 1 twice (see bar 23)
Gtr . 3 (Eddie Van Ha len)

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·······
···
··-
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•T
14
-~
--,.::=:o
,
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14

I
......
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'·I
Bass plays Bass Fig. 3 (see bar 23) pitch : A E
•use p ick-hand middlefinger to tap harmonic at Uthfret .

E5 05
61 -
I-----++:f 12 :;
T
:.-------.. ~ T T
~ T
15- 10- 14 - 15- 14 - 12 - 10- 14 - 15- 14 - 12 - 10 - 14- 15 --, 14 - 12 - 10
T T
14- 15 - 14 - 12 - 10- 14 - 15- 14 - 12 - 10- 1 2- 13-1 ~-'--(1~)74
-
l
I I
' ' ' ' l LJ
L..d ==== 6 7
L.....:

3
 "BEATIT"
63

E5 05
-----·
P.H.
w/bar wlbar
65 - f ----....._ ~' ~ v
f- 19...22
T
15 12
T
19 ,,-:: 2~ 15 1...
14~ ··-- 14)-( 14)- 1~- C)-(
---- ,,
,J)-(
....-- "'4:,
)-(
--- >- 9~ >- 7- -(
-- )-
-
•-( ,,
....
I

I L_ I I I I I
,____ .....___ l II '
pitch : E

E5 05 E5 05
-1 -1
v
--
P.H.

67

I
- 3>'1 -( )- -< )-
l---
+
-
}!..-(
~>-+- -( --
;)- 3
n--,; _
x
~H~ 1s --,.,13
12---,l
15 -~
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12 --
12
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15 -< 15f- 12~
-

--- ...........:: =- LL3

x

pilch: E
L......: I I I I
-
cs 05
70
l-
112
f\

14'-( 14H 2 14 -f 14H 14-

- ---
T
_ 15 - 8- 13
.,
T~
15 - 1 - 12
T--=-,
15- - 12
T,...----.._,
15 - - 12
T,..=,,
15- - 1~
T,...----.._, T
15 - - 1 --=--
15 - 8- 1~
T,...----.._,
15 - - 1 ;------;
15 - 1
4 - 1~
T

I I I I I I
L..b:! I L..d bdd s 6 7 7

E5 05 (Em)

T,....--._ T,,..-----....._ t------

I

, -:,.r--- --- -
tttm. pick g:,!)
.--- 10 - 17 - 10 - 17 - 10 ~ 8
- 1~\-- 1 2- 14-- 15 " 17----,-( 17)- 19-( 19~ ~1~

-
, 1~

'--3
-
__, '- ]--'
- ---= -- I L....J !) ~

IE]Outro C h orus (3:17)

Beat It (Beat it) Beat it (Beat It) No one wants to be defeated Showin'
(D) (Em) (D) (Em)
Gtr . 3 (play I st time on ly)
11-1
75 ~ - -....
---_-::::: ·_-_·::- - - - - - - ---~~~ - -- - - ·i t~!pe
rr- 2-,X (2 1)- 21:- - :: 1:.----= >'---------~--- ---------.---- --------
X"'-<-,19 - --
Gtr. I
v
-
LJ I - - -
. ,......
IL-(Y
)-1 -
...
I
v-
I
·:?'

I
Bass plays Bass Fig. I until fad e (see bar 15)
2 4-l-< 4>- :?
v LJ
·Q

I
-v
I
---
~~ ?)- 9
...
I
-
~

I
-2·
I
2 4-H 4)- 2
v LJ
0

I ~-
play four tim es (w/voca/ ad libs) and fade out
how funky and strong Is your fight It doesn't matter who's wrong or right Just
(D) (Em) (D) (Em)
Gtr. 2 plays Fill I four times (see 2nd pag e)
Gtr .1
79 (repea t previous four bars)

f -II