Ideas For A Breakdown Section

Breakdown Section Overview

Cool. So let's look at this breakdown section where...

We've broken out of that sort of regular tempo, even though the time is still going on behind everything.

Dramatic Dynamics

If you're playing in a band situation, dynamically, this is where it comes, drop right down. You know, it's quite a dramatic effect.

• Maybe instruments would drop out,
• Maybe the guitar would drop out, leaving the piano more exposed.
• Everyone would be basically playing less and more quietly, enabling you to really be expressive with it.

Left Hand Technique

So what I've done here is:

• The left hand is kind of dropping out.
• It's not playing that kind of regular thing; it's just outlining the harmony.

Right Hand Exploration

The right hand is doing some stuff which is:

• Yeah, pretty out of time for the most part,
• But it does outline those main chord changes.

You get that balance of safety (knowing where you are) and being on the edge, not necessarily lost, but kind of out on the edge.

Suddenly, you get taken back by what you might consider a musical signpost.

Embrace Expression

Don't be afraid to just make some noise:

• Play some notes with your hand or
• Hey, with your foot if you want to do a Jerry Lee Lewis!

Make some noise, let your inhibitions go, and just go for it.

"The piano technically is a percussion instrument, so why not treat it like one?"

Dynamic Contrast

Use dynamics here. Play some phrases that have real contrasting dynamics in them.

Here's that flat five diminished thing; we've been dramatic here.

• Now, that's a very typical blues lick.
• It's a nice little nod to the style.

Blues Scale Exploration

So, for this breakdown section:

• Be dramatic
• Explore contrast in dynamics
• Get angry with it

Balance anger with prettiness as well.

I've gone down right to the bottom of the piano here, but why not do something at the top in the breakdown?

Use the Instrument's Range

• Don't be scared of using all of it.
• Maybe use the extremes of the instrument.

Something like this... then something like that. Mix it up; I'm sure you can try all kinds of different things.

Additional Licks and Ideas

There was one other little lick I used in the breakdown, which is really useful. It kind of stems from that riff we looked at earlier, the thing that Johnny Johnson uses, going down in sixths.

You can really use that effectively:

• That kind of thing
• Or do the other way, like this.

Another thing I was using a lot in the breakdown section was the flat five:

• Try something like this.
• Just use that flat five; it's a real expressive note.

That bit I did at the end was inspired by a great Memphis Slim song, Mother Earth.

"If you haven't checked out Mother Earth by Memphis Slim, check it out. There are loads of different versions, some slower, some faster, but it's a beautiful tune."

Left Hand Melodies

Also, don't be afraid to use your left hand to play a few more melodic things.

For example:

• Something like this.

Just adding a little melodic thing in your left hand can take the music somewhere else.

Conclusion

I think we've covered loads of ideas for a breakdown section and some other riffs and ideas that you can use in different contexts.

So, yeah, I think it's time we had a look at something else.