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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsEm, Am, C, B, G, Bm
Strumming↓↑-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

EmShewasmorelikeabeautyqueenfromamoviescene
Isaiddon’tmind,butwhatdoyoumeanIamtheAmone
WhowilldanceonthefloorintheEmround
ShesaidIamtheAmone,whowilldanceonthefloorintheEmround
ShetoldmehernamewasBillieJean,asshecausedascene
TheneveryheadturnedwitheyesthatdreamedofbeingtheAmone
WhowilldanceonthefloorintheEmround
CPeoplealwaystoldmebeEmcarefulofwhatyoudo
Don’tCgoaroundbreakingyounggirls’Emhearts
AndCmotheralwaystoldmebeEmcarefulofwhoyoulove
AndbeCcarefulofwhatyoudobeforetheBliebecomesthetruth
EmBillieAmJeanisEmnotmyGloverEm
She’sjustaAmgirlwhoEmsaysthatIamtheAmoneBm
ButtheGkidisBmnotmyEmson
ShesaysIamtheAmone
ButtheGkidisBmnotmyEmson
EmForfortydaysandforfortynights.Thelawwasonherside.
Butwhocanstandwhenshe’sindemand.HerschemesandAmplans.
‘CausewedancedonthefloorintheEmround
SotakemystrongAmadvice,remembertoalwaysthinkEmtwice
(Dothinktwice)
EmShetoldmybabywe’ddancedtillthree,thenshelookedatme
ThenshowedaphotomybabycriedhiseyeswerelikeAmmine
‘CausewedancedonthefloorintheEmround
CPeoplealwaystoldmebeEmcarefulofwhatyoudo
Don’tCgoaroundbreakingyounggirls’Emhearts
ThensheCstoodrightbyme.TheEmsmellofsweetperfume.
ThisChappenedmuchtoosoon.SheBcalledmetoherroom.
EmBillieAmJeanisEmnotmyGloverEm
She’sjustaAmgirlwhoEmsaysthatIamtheAmoneBm
ButtheGkidisBmnotmyEmson
ShesaysIamtheAmone
ButtheGkidisBmnotmyEmson
SotakemystrongAmadvice,remembertoalwaysthinkEmtwice(Dothinktwice)
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistMichael Jackson
AlbumThriller
GenresPop, R&B, Soul
Year1982
KeyEm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Billie Jean on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 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.

Billie Jean uses these transitions most often: Em → Am (15), Am → Em (11), and Em → C (8). 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 Em - Am chord transition.

1. Em → Am chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram

Here's how to move from Em to Am:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

Em to Am

2. Em → C chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

Here's how to move from Em to C:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.

This transition appears in the verse, played 8 times.

Em to C

3. C → B chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram

Switching from C to B:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger on D string from fret 2 to fret 4.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on B string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

C to B

4. B → Em chord transition

Guitar B chord diagram Fingering: 2-2-4-4-4-2 Barre at fret 2.Guitar B chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

Switching from B to Em:

  1. While playing B, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 4 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from G string fret 4 to D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

B to Em

5. Em → G chord transition

To move from Em to G:

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. Am → Bm chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Bm:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 4.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 4.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. Bm → G chord transition

To move from Bm to G:

  1. While playing Bm, lift your pinky from G string fret 4.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from B string fret 3 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

8. Bm → Em chord transition

To move from Bm to Em:

  1. While playing Bm, first lift your index finger and pinky.
  2. Lift your middle finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on D string from fret 4 to fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 4 times.

9. Am → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

Billie Jean chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Billie Jean.

  • Billie Jean includes 62 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Billie Jean contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Billie Jean connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Em, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (26%), G (18%), and D (18%).
    • Em → C: 26%
    • Em → G: 18%
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → G: 21%
    • Am → Em: 10%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.