Arteconciencias: Hear Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather’s isolated guitar parts from Michael Jackon’s Beat It

Created for sauuuuul.peliculas@blogger.com | Web Version

January 27, 2023

CONNECT WITH THE PICK

Handpicked stories from the world of guitar

Editor's Note

The inner workings of a game-changing mega-hit

With 40 years of cultural ubiquity under its belt, it's all too easy to take Beat It, Michael Jackson's groundbreaking 1982 smash hit single, for granted.

At the time, though, it marked a watershed moment in pop music – a dancefloor-friendly R&B/rock crossover with a swaggering riff, unstoppable groove, bullseye chorus, and haywire guitar solo, all packaged immaculately together by one of the greatest pop producers of all time, Quincy Jones.

Coming off of his disco-flavored 1979 album, Off the Wall, Michael Jackson wanted its follow-up, Thriller, to appeal to as broad an audience as possible, including fans of heavier music.

Enter Steve Lukather and Eddie Van Halen...

The two giants of rock guitar each made magical, timeless contributions to the song that helped make it a true game-changer. Here, you can listen to and appreciate those magnetic guitar parts entirely on their own.

Jackson Maxwell – Associate Editor, guitarworld.com

Dave Mustaine responds to praise from Kerry King: “It's not every day one of the most fearsome guitarists in the world gives you a compliment”

(Getty Images)

The former Slayer guitarist calls the Megadeth frontman a “f**king great guitar player” in the latest issue of Metal Hammer

Watch Måneskin's Thomas Raggi trade licks with Tom Morello in a fiery performance of Gossip on The Tonight Show

(The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon/YouTube)

The Italian rocker shone on his Strat while the Rage Against the Machine guitarist deployed his trademark Whammy tricks

From evocative standards to the missing link between Dokken and Nine Inch Nails: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

(Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

On tap this week are new projects from George Lynch, Graham Coxon, and Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, plus fresh tunes from Last in Line, Taj Mahal, Ana Popovic, Babymetal, and more

Features

Hear Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather's isolated guitar parts from Michael Jackon's Beat It

(Ross Marino/Lester Cohen/Getty Images)

From Lukather's iconic riff to Van Halen's ground-breaking solo, listen to all the guitar parts behind Jackson's 1982 smash hit in extreme clarity

10 unsung female guitar heroes you need to know

(Paul Natkin, Tim Mosenfelder, Scott Dudelson, Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images)

While not necessarily household names, these innovative and highly skilled players all made contributions to rock and metal guitar that are worth exploring

From Guitar Player

"He will eventually be remembered as one of the great composers of our time": Adrian Belew, Don Preston, Mike Keneally, and Jon Anderson remember Frank Zappa

(John Livzey/AtlasIcons.com)

The musical method behind the perceived madness of a "genius" guitarist

Famously played by the Rolling Stones' Brian Jones in the '60s, Vox's Teardrop guitars remain as distinctive as ever

(George Aslaender/Guitar courtesy of Retrofret Vintage Guitars)

These quirky cousins of the familiar AC30 and AC15 combos established an iconic look

Buyer's Guides

The best lunchbox amps

(Future)

Offering big sound in a portable package, these compact amplifiers are perfect for the live circuit

Lessons

How to use palm muting to add weight and tighten up your playing

(Samir Hussein/WireImage)

No rhythm game is complete without the ability to palm-mute and thicken up your riffs. Welcome to bootcamp for your picking hand, with rhythms in the style of James Hetfield, Al Di Meola, and more

Reviews

Positive Grid Spark Control footswitch review

(Daryl Robertson/Future)

Positive Grid's state-of-the-art wireless footswitch gives Spark fans hands-free control over their clever practice amp, with customizable parameters, a sleek design, and an incredibly small footprint