What You Need to Know Before You Start

"Plush" is a beginner-friendly song that teaches you power chords, palm muting, and basic rhythm playing. The main riff uses only two chords — E5 and B5 — played as power chords on the lower strings. If you can already form a barre chord or know how to play the low E string cleanly, you can learn this song in a single practice session.

The song is tuned to standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), so you do not need to retune. The tempo sits around 100 beats per minute, which is slow enough to play accurately without rushing. Most of the song repeats the same riff, so once you nail the opening pattern, the rest follows the same shape.

Key Takeaways

  • The main riff uses E5 and B5 power chords played on the low strings with palm muting to create the signature heavy tone.
  • Power chords require only two fingers — your index and ring finger — placed on adjacent strings two frets apart.
  • Palm muting means resting the side of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge to dampen the sound and create a percussive attack.
  • The verse and chorus use the same riff repeated, so learning one eight-bar pattern covers most of the song structure.
  • Practice the chord changes between E5 and B5 slowly before adding speed or palm muting.

How to Form E5 and B5 Power Chords

A power chord uses only the root note and the fifth — two notes that sound heavy and open. To play E5, place your index finger on the 0th fret (open) of the low E string and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the A string directly below it. Strum only those two strings. That shape is E5.

To play B5, move that same two-finger shape up five frets. Your index finger lands on the 2nd fret of the low E string, and your ring finger lands on the 4th fret of the A string. Strum only those two strings again. The shape stays identical — you are just moving it up the neck. Practice switching between E5 and B5 by moving your fingers as a unit without lifting them off the strings.

If you find it hard to hit only two strings cleanly, mute the other strings by laying your index finger lightly across them without pressing down. This prevents accidental noise when you strum. Once you can switch between E5 and B5 without buzzing or dead notes, you are ready to add rhythm.

Playing the Main Riff with Palm Muting

The opening riff plays E5 for four beats, then B5 for four beats, then back to E5. Count "1-2-3-4" for each chord. On each beat, strike the strings with a downstroke. The key is palm muting — resting the fleshy side of your picking hand (the part of your palm closest to your pinky) lightly on the strings right where they cross the bridge pickup.

When your palm touches the strings, the notes become short and percussive instead of ringing out. Adjust how much of your palm touches the strings to control how muted the sound is. Too much pressure kills the note entirely; too little leaves it ringing. You want a tight, controlled "thunk" sound on each downstroke. Practice this on E5 alone for a full minute before moving to B5.

Once both chords sound tight and controlled, play the four-beat E5, then the four-beat B5, and repeat. This is the entire verse and chorus riff. The song structure repeats this pattern throughout, with the lead guitar playing a melody over top. Your job is to keep the rhythm steady and the palm muting consistent.

The Verse and Chorus Structure

The verse plays the E5-to-B5 riff four times (32 beats total). The chorus plays the same riff four times as well. There is no chord change between verse and chorus — the only difference is the vocal melody and the lead guitar line on top. This makes "Plush" ideal for learning because you do not have to memorize different sections.

The bridge (the section that breaks up the song around the 2:30 mark) also uses the same two chords but strips back the palm muting slightly, letting the notes ring a bit more. If you are learning the song for the first time, focus on the verse and chorus first. Once those feel solid, the bridge will feel natural because the chord shapes do not change.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The most common mistake is moving your fingers too slowly between E5 and B5. If you lift your fingers completely off the neck and place them one at a time, the transition will sound sloppy. Instead, move both fingers as a single unit — think of them as glued together. Lift them together, move them together, and land them together. This cuts the transition time in half.

The second mistake is pressing too hard on the strings. Power chords need only enough pressure to avoid buzzing. Pressing hard tires your hand and makes the transition slower. Use just enough pressure that the note rings cleanly, then relax. Your palm muting does the work of controlling the tone, not finger pressure.

The third mistake is inconsistent palm muting. If your palm moves around while you play, the tone will change from beat to beat. Find the exact spot on the bridge where the muting sounds best, then keep your palm in that spot for the entire riff. Mark it mentally or with a small piece of tape if it helps you remember.

Building Speed and Confidence

Start at 60 beats per minute — half the song's actual tempo. Play the E5-to-B5 pattern four times at this slow speed, focusing on clean chord changes and consistent palm muting. Once that feels automatic, increase the tempo by 10 beats per minute and repeat. Continue this process until you reach 100 beats per minute.

Use a metronome or a drum machine to keep time. Tap your foot on the beat to anchor your rhythm. If you rush or drag, the metronome will tell you when ready. Most guitarists rush when they get nervous, so a metronome is your best teacher. Spend at least five minutes per practice session playing along with the metronome at whatever speed feels comfortable.

Once you can play the riff cleanly at full speed, play along with the original Stone Temple Pilots recording. Hearing the lead guitar and vocals over your rhythm part will show you how your playing fits into the song. This is also where you will hear whether your timing is tight or loose compared to the original.

What to Practice Next

After you master the basic riff, learn the lead guitar melody that plays over the verse. This melody sits on the higher strings and uses single notes instead of chords. Learning it will deepen your understanding of how the song is built and give you options for playing it solo or with others.

You can also experiment with dynamics — playing some sections with heavier palm muting and others with less, to match the intensity of the original recording. The verse is tighter and more muted; the chorus opens up slightly. These small changes make the song sound more like the recording and teach you how to use palm muting as an expressive tool, not just a technique.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a specific type of guitar to play this song?

No. "Plush" works on any electric guitar tuned to standard tuning. A guitar with a thicker, heavier tone (like a Les Paul or SG) will sound closer to the original recording, but a Stratocaster or any other electric guitar will work. Acoustic guitars can play the chords, but they will not produce the tight, muted tone that defines the song.

What if I cannot switch between E5 and B5 smoothly?

Slow down. Practice the switch at 40 beats per minute for five minutes each day. Focus only on the chord change — do not worry about palm muting yet. Once the change feels automatic, add palm muting back in. Smooth transitions come from repetition, not speed. Most players need three to five days of daily practice to make this change feel natural.

Should I use a pick or my fingers?

Use a pick. A medium-gauge pick (0.73 mm to 0.96 mm) gives you the control and attack needed for palm muting. Fingers can work, but a pick produces the crisp, percussive sound that the song requires. Hold the pick at a slight angle so the edge (not the flat side) strikes the strings.

How long does it take to learn this song?

If you already know how to play power chords and have basic rhythm skills, you can learn the main riff in one to two hours. If you are new to power chords, expect three to five days of practice before it sounds tight. The song is straightforward enough that speed comes quickly once you understand the shapes.

Can I play this song without palm muting?

Technically yes, but it will not sound like "Plush." The palm muting is what gives the song its signature heavy, percussive tone. Without it, the riff sounds thin and open. Learning palm muting is worth the effort because it is a foundational technique used in hundreds of rock and metal songs.