Billie Jean

This was one of the first pieces I learned with my teacher. The challenge lies in the fact that it lasts almost five minutes, and when you’re just starting out—like I was—you tend to press way too hard on the bass strings. That’s exactly why this piece is such a great exercise: it teaches you not to do that. Otherwise, you won’t make it past four minutes before your left hand starts to hurt.

Learning how much pressure you actually need to apply makes your life infinitely better. Your hands don’t get tired, you avoid tendon issues, and you can play faster and more comfortably.

The whole “calluses” thing is kind of a myth. Or rather… it’s true that you get them when you start playing, but mostly because you’re rubbing your fingertips against the neck unnecessarily and pressing the strings too hard. Over time, you learn to play with a lighter touch, and while your fingers will still develop a bit of toughness, it’s nothing like the exaggerated calluses I used to get even just a year ago.

This video is a bit old now—it’s from January 4th, 2025—but I still wanted to include it on the site.