Can I Learn Cluster Pluck In 17 Days?!
So I'm starting a new project on this channel. I'm going to take guitar lessons, advice, tips, and tricks from around the web and put them to the test. This could be anything from what guitar pickups to stain longer EMGs or Seymour Duncan's to will rubbing your hands with essential oils every night before you go to bed make your fingers play faster the next day. Actually, I've never heard that one before, so don't quote me on that.
The first video trial that I'm going to take on is learning the Brad Paisley song "Cluster Pluck". "Cluster Pluck" is an incredibly fast song with some of the greatest country guitar licks that I've ever heard. "Cluster Pluck" features James Burton, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, John Jorgenson, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert, and Steve Wariner, basically the best country guitar players ever.
So, I got this inspiration to make this video from fellow YouTuber Jim Lill, with help from his friend James Black. They've created an instructional video of how to play "Cluster Pluck" and they posted it up, uh, a section of each, a section of the song for 17 consecutive days. So, I decided that this would be my challenge. After watching the first video, can I learn how to play "Cluster Pluck" in 17 days, spending only an hour a day?
So they broke the lessons into bite-sized chunks. So I decided I would spend 30 minutes learning what I had learned previously, and then the next 30 minutes learning the new lesson of the day. So here it is, my first video trial, putting the guitar lessons of the internet to the test. Can I learn how to play Brad Paisley's "Cluster Pluck" in 17 days?
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All right, here it is, day 17 of 17 of the "Cluster Pluck" challenge. Uh, it doesn't sound nearly as perfect or as fast as Brad Paisley's play album version, but for 17 days in a row, 17 hours of practicing this incredible song, I think I, I know this song. I don't know how to play it well, but I know how to play it or what to play.
So there you have it. I could not learn how to play Brad Paisley's "Cluster Pluck" in 17 days. I don't think that's a surprise to anybody. There are some licks that are similar, but each one's truly unique. So I should mention now that Jim never said you can learn this song in 17 days, let alone 17 hours. That was only my own decision to see if I could spend an hour a day as he uploaded the videos and learned the song by the time he got done. Granted, I didn't start until after he uploaded all 17 of them, but I wanted to test myself as if I was learning every day that he uploaded a video.
So, while I didn't learn how to play the song perfectly, really decently, I did learn how the song is supposed to go structurally. I did learn what it's supposed to sound like, and I learned where my fingers are supposed to go and what notes I'm supposed to play at what point of the song, just not accurately and not up to speed. So, that's a start. Only spending 17 hours to learn a complex song such as "Cluster Pluck", I feel pretty good about my progress. I've also learned a ton of chicken-picking licks that I've incorporated into my own playing.
So, I think the key to learning this song, and really any song, is to play it slow and precise and then build it up to speed. Consistently building up your muscle memory is going to really help you in the long run, especially when you build it up to the correct tempo. Well, there you have it, guys. No, I cannot learn how to play "Cluster Pluck" in 17 days, but it was a fun challenge nonetheless.
I'm making this next part short. We have a website, sustainableresidence.com. There you can find all sorts of guitar lessons, album and gear reviews, as well as what's the hottest new album coming out each week. I'm also on Instagram where I post new content for the website, pictures of me playing around the studio or videos of me playing guitar. I'm also on Twitter where anything is possible, from musical thoughts to random rants.
If you're interested in this challenge or learning "Cluster Pluck" in general, go check out Jim Lill's page. I'll link it right here with the card. So, guys, I hope you enjoyed this challenge. If you did, give me a thumbs up, hit the subscribe button and the bell. The bell is important so you know when the next challenge video drops. And until next time, let the music play.