Skip to content
Learn this song on Guitar

Curl Of The Burl

Mastodon

00:00
Intro
Verse 1
Chorus 1
Verse 2
Chorus 2
Bridge
Chorus 3
Outro
Intro
Start0:00.00
End0:17.42
Adjust song map start in this video. Move Intro to the first beat to align the song sections.
Intro
Verse 1
Chorus 1
Verse 2
Chorus 2
Bridge
Chorus 3
Outro

Turn this YouTube video into a Song Map — loop it, slow it down, practice for free.

This song is built around a hypnotic, heavily distorted riff that locks into a driving eighth-note groove, making it an ideal loop for ingraining tight down-picking technique and riff consistency. The main guitar part features a relatively simple but punchy two-string figure that rewards attention to tone, palm muting control, and the subtle rhythmic pocket that gives the riff its swagger.

How it works

Ready to play in seconds.

Pick a song from YouTube. JamBench maps its sections for you. Then jump straight to the part you want to work on. Try the live app below.

1Pick a song from YouTube
2JamBench delivers your Song Map
3Loop. Slow down. Learn.
Why this map

Learn Curl Of The Burl

Metal — Curl Of The Burl by Mastodon is mapped into sections so you can loop what falls apart and slow it down. Dial in Dynamics and Muting. The map includes Intro, Verse 1, Chorus 1, Verse 2, Chorus 2, Bridge, and more. Sign up free to keep the map, track your confidence, and come back tomorrow.

Read the full story

Few heavy songs land with the immediate, radio-friendly punch that this one does. It is one of Mastodon's most accessible tracks, yet it carries enough grit and craft to reward serious study. That combination makes it a reliable entry point into progressive metal without sacrificing any of the band's signature heaviness.

The track comes from Mastodon's 2011 album The Hunter, produced by Mike Elizondo. It was released as a single and became one of the band's most-streamed recordings. The arrangement is tight and purposeful, stripping away some of the labyrinthine complexity of earlier Mastodon records in favor of a song that hits hard and stays in the ear.

The feel is a driving eighth-note groove anchored by a central riff that is deceptively simple on the surface but depends entirely on precise articulation and pocket to land correctly. The harmonic language is rooted in heavy rock, with a chord movement that feels natural yet a little dark. The song builds and releases in a satisfying arc, with a chorus that opens up dynamically against the density of the verses.

When approaching this track, focus first on locking into the riff's rhythmic placement before worrying about tone or speed. The groove between the instruments is the whole game here. Practice the transitions between the verse and chorus sections slowly, listening for how the dynamic shift is created by subtraction and addition of texture rather than just volume. Attention to muting and note decay will separate a flat run-through from a convincing one.

  • Artist: Mastodon, formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000
  • Album: The Hunter, released October 2011
  • Label: Reprise Records
  • Feel: driving eighth-note groove in 4/4 with a hook-centered, verse-chorus structure
  • Production: produced by Mike Elizondo, a notable departure toward a more direct, accessible sound for the band
  • Chart note: The Hunter debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200

Ready to learn?

Keep the map.

Sign up free. Loop the hard parts, slow them down, and pick up tomorrow.

More songs to learn

© 2026 jambench.com. All rights reserved.

Practice solo. Get ready for gigs and jams.