The Best Michael Jackson Piano Songs
Play 26 Michael Jackson hits on piano — Billie Jean, Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Human Nature, Man In The Mirror and more. Free sheet music, color-coded notes, in-browser tutorial. No signup.
There is a reason Michael Jackson's catalog keeps finding new ears decades after each release: the songs are built around melodies, hooks, and harmonic moves that translate to almost any instrument. Strip away the bass slap of "Billie Jean," the orchestra hits of "Smooth Criminal," or the gated reverb of "Thriller," and what remains is a piece of writing strong enough to carry itself on a single piano. That is exactly why pianists keep coming back. You don't need a studio band, you don't need a vocal of his caliber — you need the chord changes, the rhythm, and the willingness to feel it.
This page collects 26 Michael Jackson piano arrangements available on Super Simple Piano, spanning his entire career: the early Motown sweetness of "Ben" and "Rockin' Robin," the disco-funk perfection of Off The Wall, the world-conquering pop architecture of Thriller and Bad, and the elder-statesman ballads of his later years. Every arrangement plays back in your browser with color-coded notes, key and BPM controls, and a free 30-second preview before signup. Most songs are available in multiple difficulty layers (beginner, easy, medium, advanced) so a parent learning "Heal The World" with a child can use the very-easy version while the same household's advanced student plays the full arrangement of "Billie Jean."
If you're picking your first Jackson piece, three things to know. First, his ballads ("Ben," "She's Out Of My Life," "Heal The World") are gentler than the singles imply — they sit in comfortable keys, move slowly, and don't ask for huge stretches. Second, the up-tempo singles ("Beat It," "Thriller," "Smooth Criminal") use riffs more than full chord voicings — start by learning the riff in the right hand and adding a simple root–fifth ostinato in the left before layering anything more. Third, the dance grooves ("Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Rock With You," "P.Y.T.") are mostly about rhythmic precision; if your right hand can keep a steady sixteenth-note feel against an offbeat left-hand chord, you've already captured 80% of why they work.
Browse all Jackson arrangements on the Michael Jackson artist page, or jump straight to the songs below.
Quick navigation by skill level
Beginner / Very easy — start here if you've been playing under a year: Ben, Heal The World (very easy), She's Out Of My Life, This Is It (beginner), Thriller (very easy).
Easy — comfortable with simple chords + steady rhythm: Black Or White, Dirty Diana, Earth Song, P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing), Love Never Felt So Good (easy), The Way You Make Me Feel.
Medium — solid sight-reading, hand independence: Billie Jean, Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Human Nature, Man In The Mirror, Rock With You, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.
Advanced — full arrangements with real demands: Billie Jean (advanced), Heal The World (advanced).
The 26 songs
1. Man In The Mirror
GMichael Jackson · Key G · 90 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: G | Tempo: 90 BPM
The 1988 anthem about personal change has aged into one of Jackson's most universally covered pieces — every wedding band, every gospel choir, every karaoke night eventually arrives here. On piano, it lives in the bridge: the modulation up a half step at "I'm starting with the man in the mirror" is the entire emotional payoff, and timing the lift in your left-hand voicings is what separates a passable read from a moving one. The G major opening sits gently under the hands; the challenge is patience through the long verses before that lift. An easy version is available if the medium arrangement feels stretched.
2. Billie Jean
F#Michael Jackson · Key F# · 125 BPMPlayDifficulty: Advanced | Key: F♯ | Tempo: 125 BPM
The bassline is the song — no debate. On piano this is your left hand's biggest workout in the catalog: a relentless eighth-note ostinato that has to stay locked while the right hand handles the melodic stabs and the iconic chord punches on the off-beats. F♯ minor isn't the friendliest key for beginners, which is why we offer this as advanced; for an easier first read try the easy F♯ version or the medium A version that's been transposed into a more keyboard-friendly key. Master the ostinato at 70% tempo before you ever attempt the full 125.
3. Thriller
C#Michael Jackson · Key C# · 120 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: C♯ | Tempo: 120 BPM
The intro is a Halloween standard, but the real piano interest is in the verse groove: a syncopated minor-key vamp that demands precise rhythmic placement between the hands. The Vincent Price spoken interlude doesn't translate to solo piano, so most players skip it or substitute a short improvised section. We also offer an easy E version for first-timers and a very-easy version suitable for total beginners (kids included).
4. Smooth Criminal
CMichael Jackson · Key C · 100 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: C | Tempo: 100 BPM
The orchestral hits in the original are pure theater, but the piano arrangement leans on the relentless A♭–E♭–B♭–F descending sequence that drives the verses. Played in C, the chord shapes are friendly; the difficulty sits in the right-hand syncopation on "Annie are you okay" — those triplet figures over the steady left hand take time. There's also an easy E♭ version for shorter sessions.
5. Beat It
GMichael Jackson · Key G · 140 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: G | Tempo: 140 BPM
Eddie Van Halen's solo isn't on this arrangement (sorry), but the rest of "Beat It" — the descending E minor vamp, the punchy chorus chords, the unmistakable riff — is all here. 140 BPM sounds fast on paper but the rhythmic feel sits naturally once you've internalized the syncopation. Two easier reads exist if you want to start lower: easy version 1 and easy version 2.
6. Human Nature
DMichael Jackson · Key D · 140 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: D | Tempo: 140 BPM
Steve Porcaro's gentle 1982 ballad is one of the most pianistic things Jackson ever recorded — the original is built on a piano hook, and the arrangement here stays close to that intent. The verses use shimmering broken chords in the right hand against a sustained left; the chorus opens up into more conventional voicings. Excellent for working on touch and pedal control. An easy alt-arrangement is also available.
7. You Are Not Alone
BMichael Jackson · Key B · 64 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: B | Tempo: 64 BPM
R. Kelly wrote this 1995 ballad, and on piano it's almost meditative — 64 BPM, long held chords, melodic phrases that breathe. The key of B might look intimidating (five sharps) but the chord shapes settle into the hand quickly because the song stays mostly diatonic. A great first ballad for working on legato and pedaling. An easier E♭ version is available if B feels like too many sharps.
8. Heal The World
DbMichael Jackson · Key Db · 60 BPMPlayDifficulty: Advanced | Key: D♭ | Tempo: 60 BPM
The 1991 anthem is deceptively gentle: D♭ major, slow tempo, simple melody. What makes the advanced arrangement demanding is the arpeggiated accompaniment that runs almost continuously under the vocal line — clean voicing, even tone, and pedal precision matter more than speed. For a much more approachable read, try the very-easy C version which we use for kids and absolute beginners.
9. Rock With You
DMichael Jackson · Key D · 115 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: D | Tempo: 115 BPM
The 1979 Rod Temperton hit is Off The Wall at its glossiest. On piano the groove translates beautifully: a steady chord-stab pattern in the right hand, walking bass roots in the left. D major is comfortable; 115 BPM is brisk but not frantic. This is one of the best Jackson singles for working on dance-pop accompaniment patterns generally. Two easier alternatives: Rock With You (D easy) and Rock With You (C♭ easy).
10. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
CMichael Jackson · Key C · 100 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: C | Tempo: 100 BPM
Jackson's first true solo statement of his adult career, and a master class in disco-funk arrangement. The piano part is rhythmically tight — every chord on the off-beat, no leaning on the downbeat — and 100 BPM is the perfect tempo to drill timing without burning out. C major keeps the harmony accessible. An alternate spelling exists as "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" (easy E) if you prefer the transposed version.
11. The Way You Make Me Feel
BbMichael Jackson · Key Bb · 180 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: B♭ | Tempo: 180 BPM
Don't be intimidated by the 180 BPM — that's the snare-snap tempo, not the chord change rate. On piano you're really playing at a leisurely half-time feel. B♭ major is friendly, the chord progression is bluesy and predictable, and the swung sixteenths in the right hand are what give it character. An easy and rewarding read.
12. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
AMichael Jackson · Key A · 108 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: A | Tempo: 108 BPM
The 1982 Thriller deep cut written by Quincy Jones and James Ingram. On piano, A major is one of the most ergonomic keys, and the chord changes are funk-clean: i–IV–V vamps with chromatic passing tones. 108 BPM is dance tempo without feeling rushed. A great first Jackson groove for an intermediate beginner.
13. Black Or White
EMichael Jackson · Key E · 110 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: E | Tempo: 110 BPM
The 1991 lead single from Dangerous — a rock-leaning song that translates surprisingly well to piano because the guitar riff outlines triadic shapes you can grab in the right hand. E major is sharp-heavy but the melody sits naturally. The bridge ("I am tired of this devil") is the spot to slow down and learn separately.
14. Smooth Criminal (easy)
EbMichael Jackson · Key Eb · 115 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: E♭ | Tempo: 115 BPM
The transposed easy version of Smooth Criminal lives in E♭, which puts the dramatic intro chords under more familiar finger shapes than the C original. If the medium read above feels rhythmically dense, start here and graduate.
15. Dirty Diana
EbMichael Jackson · Key Eb · 65 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: E♭ | Tempo: 65 BPM
The 1987 power ballad is one of Jackson's most rock-oriented hits, and on piano the slow 65 BPM tempo gives you room to lean into the dramatic chord changes. E♭ major is comfortable. The challenge is dynamics: this song lives or dies on the contrast between hushed verses and full-throated choruses.
16. Earth Song
G#Michael Jackson · Key G# · 70 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: G♯ | Tempo: 70 BPM
The 1995 environmental anthem builds from a whisper to a gospel-choir climax. G♯ minor isn't the friendliest key to read in (four sharps), but the harmonic motion is slow and the chords repeat. Pace yourself in the verses so you have somewhere to go in the final choruses.
17. Off The Wall
GMichael Jackson · Key G · 125 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: G | Tempo: 125 BPM
The title track from the album that announced Jackson as an adult artist. G major is friendly, the chord progression is the disco staple i–iv–V with chromatic walk-ups, and the tempo demands rhythmic precision. The bridge changes key briefly — mark the transition and practice it in isolation.
18. Love Never Felt So Good
BbMichael Jackson & Justin Timberlake · Key Bb · 117 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: B♭ | Tempo: 117 BPM
The posthumously released 2014 single (originally a 1983 demo) is pure disco joy. On piano the chord changes are friendly, the rhythm is the song, and B♭ major sits well under the hand. We offer two more arrangements if you want to compare voicings.
19. You Rock My World
GMichael Jackson · Key G · 100 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: G | Tempo: 100 BPM
The lead single from 2001's Invincible — Jackson revisiting his late-80s sound. The piano arrangement leans on a relaxed swing feel; G major keeps it readable, and the chord progression has that signature Jackson chromaticism in the bridge.
20. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
CMichael Jackson · Key C · 104 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: C | Tempo: 104 BPM
The opening track of Bad and a duet originally recorded with Siedah Garrett. As a piano solo, the C major key keeps things grounded, and the gentle 104 BPM gives space for the long melodic phrases. An easy version is available for first reads.
21. She's Out Of My Life
EMichael Jackson · Key E · 58 BPMPlayDifficulty: Beginner | Key: E | Tempo: 58 BPM
One of Jackson's purest ballads, and surprisingly accessible — 58 BPM gives you all the time in the world. E major is sharp-heavy but the melody is so vocal in shape that it falls naturally under the hand. A great first Jackson ballad for true beginners. The famous breakdown at the end (where Jackson's voice cracks) can be played with deliberate rubato.
22. Loving You
EbMichael Jackson · Key Eb · 95 BPMPlayDifficulty: Medium | Key: E♭ | Tempo: 95 BPM
A deep-catalog ballad that rewards careful voice-leading. E♭ major is one of the most pianistic keys (all three black keys involved sit naturally), and the slow tempo lets you focus on phrasing and tone.
23. This Is It
EbMichael Jackson · Key Eb · 96 BPMPlayDifficulty: Beginner | Key: E♭ | Tempo: 96 BPM
The title track of the 2009 posthumous concert documentary. As a beginner arrangement this is forgiving — slow tempo, comfortable key, no fast figuration. Good for working on phrasing without technical demands. An alternative easy arrangement is also available.
24. Ben
BbMichael Jackson · Key Bb · 90 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: B♭ | Tempo: 90 BPM
The 1972 ballad from the Ben film, recorded when Jackson was 13. As a piano piece it's almost a music-box: gentle, slow, sweetly melodic. B♭ major is friendly, and the simple chord progression makes this an ideal early Jackson piece for kids learning piano. An alternate arrangement exists.
25. Rockin' Robin
CMichael Jackson · Key C · 140 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: C | Tempo: 140 BPM
Jackson's 1972 Bobby Day cover. C major and a fast tempo: this is essentially a piano boogie-woogie exercise dressed up as a pop song. Great for working on a steady right-hand pattern over a walking left hand. Kid-friendly.
26. Say Say Say
CPaul McCartney & Michael Jackson · Key C · 140 BPMPlayDifficulty: Easy | Key: C | Tempo: 140 BPM
The 1983 Paul McCartney duet, often forgotten in Jackson summaries but a Top 40 hit. C major, brisk tempo, conversational call-and-response between the two vocal lines that translates well to two-hand piano playing.
How to practice a Jackson song
Three habits that compress weeks of struggle into a few productive sessions:
1. Start with the rhythm, not the notes. Almost every Jackson hit lives or dies on rhythmic precision. Before you read any pitches, sit with the score, count out the rhythm of just the chord stabs, and clap it. If you can't clap it accurately, you won't play it accurately. The player's tempo control lets you drop the song to 60% or 70% — use that aggressively for the first week.
2. Isolate the hands before you combine them. This is universal piano advice, but Jackson's syncopation makes it doubly important. Learn the left-hand groove until it's automatic without looking. Then learn the right-hand melody. Only then combine. Most students try to play both hands together too early and burn out on a passage they could've nailed in half the time hands-separate.
3. Use the loop button on hard sections. Every Super Simple Piano player has a loop control — set it to repeat just the bridge of "Man In The Mirror," or just the chord-punch transition in "Smooth Criminal," and play that 4-bar passage twenty times in a row at slow tempo. Spaced repetition on the actual hard spots is how recordings become muscle memory.
Beyond this list
Browse all Michael Jackson arrangements on the artist page, or explore related collections: 80s Piano Songs (where most of Jackson's catalog lives), R&B and Soul Piano Songs, Slow Piano Ballads, and Easy Pop Piano Songs for Beginners.
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