Michael Jackson - Beat It Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to E key to play this song with easier chords.
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar A# | B♭ chord diagram
[Opening]
[Dm]They told him, Don’t you ever come around here. [C]
Don’t [Dm]wanna see your face, you better [C]disappear
The [A#]fires in their eyes and their words are [C]really clear
So [Dm]beat it, just [C]beat it
[Dm]You better run, you better do [C]what you can
Don’t [Dm]wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho [C]man
You [A#]wanna be tough, better do [C]what you can
So [Dm]beat it, but you wanna [C]be bad
[chorus]
[Dm]Just beat (beat it), [C]Beat it (Beat it)
[Dm]No one wants to be defeated. [C]
Showin’ [Dm]how funky and strong is your fight. [C]
It [Dm]doesn’t matter who’s wrong or [C]right.
Just [Dm]beat it, just [C]beat it.
Just [Dm]beat it, just [C]beat it.
[Closing]
[Dm]They’re out to get you, better [C]leave while you can
Don’t [Dm]wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man [C]
You [A#]wanna stay alive, better do [C]what you can
So [Dm]beat it, just [C]beat it
[Dm]You have to show them that you’re really not scared [C]
You’re [Dm]playin’ with your life, this ain’t no truth [C]or dare
They’ll kick [A#]you, then they beat you,
Then they’ll tell you its fair [C]
So [Dm]beat it, but you [C]wanna be bad
[chorus]
[Dm]Just beat (beat it), [C]Beat it (Beat it)
[Dm]No one wants to be defeated. [C]
Showin’ [Dm]how funky and strong is your fight. [C]
It [Dm]doesn’t matter who’s wrong or [C]right.
Just [Dm]beat it, just [C]beat it.
Just [Dm]beat it, just [C]beat it.
How to play Beat It on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Michael Jackson - Beat It on guitar requires 3 chords and 2 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Beat It uses these transitions most often: Dm → C (24), C → Dm (23), and A# → C (4). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Dm - C chord transition.
1. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
2. C → A# chord transition
To move from C to A#;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 3.
- Place pinky on B string fret 3.
Beat It chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Beat It.
- Beat It includes 55 chord transitions, 2 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Beat It contains 1 of the top 25 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Beat It connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → Dm: 5%
- C → A#: 0%
After Dm, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (18%), G (16%), and Am (14%).- Dm → C: 18%