This Michael Jackson number is a blast to play on Harp. I am playing my improvisation on a Golden Melody in C through a Shure 520DX mic and Vox DA5 amp.
'Beat it' Michael Jackson. Harmonica improvisation tab by GREYOWL Feb 2010
This is the basic riff although I have improvised on the 2nd time through the chorus and also at the end , but the basic tab is a good starting point. -4wah = a wah sound on the 4 hole draw, +4 = blow hole 4, -3*= a one step draw bend on hole 3, -3**= a two step draw bend on hole 3
Improvised start
Then the main tune: -4-4-4-4-4,+4-4-5-4+4-4 -4wah, -4wah, -4wah, -4wah -4wah, -4wah -4wah, +4-3*,+4-3*-4wah -4wah, +4-3*-2-2**-2, -2**-2-3*-2-2**-1-2**, -2-3*-2,-2-3**-2**
Then Verse as at start:- but 2nd line modified -4-4-4-4-4,+4-4-5-4+4-4 -4, -4*, -4 -4* -4-4*, -4+4-3*,+4-3*-4 -4wah, +4-3*-2-2**-2, -2**-2-3**-2-2**-1-2**, -2-3*-2,-2-3**-2**
Beat it (not including improv. thru this section and at end):- +4,-4wah-4wah, -4wah-4wah, -4wah-4-4-4,-5,-4-5wah, +4-3*+4-3*+4, +4-3*+4-3*, +4-3*+4-3*+4, +4-3*+4-3*, and again :-+4,-4wah-4wah, -4wah-4wah, -4wah-4-4-4,-5,-4-5wah, +4-3*+4-3*+4, +4-3*+4-3*, +4-3*+4-3*+4, +4-3*+4-3*, +4,-3*-2, -3*-2, -3*-2, -3*-2, etc., -3*-2,-3*-2 to end
Thanks GreyOwl! I've sort of worked a little on this song myself. I had gotten the main riff, but hadn't worked out the rest. You've given me a big leg up here, and I appreciate it! This is what this forum is great for! ---------- ------------------ View my videos on YouTube!"
@Toddlgreene. Cheers & likewise. Hey we're making this a MJ fest! @ Isaacullah & Kyzer Sosa. Thanks guys, this song is just made for the harp.
Just saw this vid on flash mobbing on 'Beat it' recently, made me laugh!! Ummmmh now, how about moving this up to a new level where a whole bunch of harmonica players stroll casually, mingling with the shoppers through the mall, who then at a signal whip their harps out and break out into a mean 60 second blues lick (preferably same key, same lick!!), then melt back into the crowd!! I'd pay to see that!
