Writing a br00tal breakdown

[jarrhead]

Just had to put that in the title.

Anyways, I'm in a Hardcore / Metal / Progressive band and of course there's always a breakdown.

I've noticed most breakdowns are one note played in an odd rhythm at a low pitch with some awesome double pedal and bass picking.

What are your ideas for writing a breakdown? I try to throw in a few octave notes and the rest are just cool sounding with all the instruments powerhousing.

We just might blow our ears out.

Anyways that's all.

[AleemRadunzel]

root root root rororororooot - bend tritone

fin

[jarrhead]

Originally Posted by AleemRadunzel

root root root rororororooot - bend tritone

fin

I never quite understood what a tritone was. Isnt that the midpoint between the root and the octave?

[SpamBot]

Yep, same as a flat fifth.

[jarrhead]

Flat fifth. I'll remember that this rehearsal

I got what he meant when he did root like that.


Da..da..da..dadadadadaaaaaaaa....wheeewww.

[AleemRadunzel]

its the 5th flat one note

pour example

g 8
d 7
a 6
e 5


its down a string +1 fret

=) its pretty much teh metalz thangsz

[jarrhead]

So it's the 5th moved down a string and up one fret?

obviously up three if I use a drop tuning?

[AleemRadunzel]

the root yeah sorry badly phrased

drop d

g-8
d-7
a-6
d-7

then bend 1 of the octaves pairs , its the metalcore way

[jarrhead]

octave PAIRS? You mean the higher octave or strike them both and bend?

I always hear the higher octave bent.

[NKBassman]

Breakdowns are all about the rythmn.

Just pedal on the lowest note possible, let the notes ring, no palm muting, get the guitars to play only one string (no power chords) and pick it hard to get a good twang, and half- or quarter-time drums for a low chuggy breakdown, or solid double kick at double time for a thrashy power breakdown.

Forget about flat fifth bends or whatever else... just keep it simple and brutal.

From there, just pick an interesting rythmn and throw in some death metal hair whips if you've got the hair...

[jarrhead]

Originally Posted by NKBassman

Breakdowns are all about the rythmn.

Just pedal on the lowest note possible, let the notes ring, no palm muting, get the guitars to play only one string (no power chords) and pick it hard to get a good twang, and half- or quarter-time drums for a low chuggy breakdown, or solid double kick at double time for a thrashy power breakdown.

Forget about flat fifth bends or whatever else... just keep it simple and brutal.

From there, just pick an interesting rythmn and throw in some death metal hair whips if you've got the hair...

We're sort of in between the hardcore and KSE Disturbed Slipknot deal, so our breakdowns would be something like Get Psycho intro.. With the bang in it. I think the tritones would fit perfect.

[AleemRadunzel]

The higher 2 notes.. i know what the gentleman above me is saying but bent tritones is metalcore..

loads of slides from 12 to open

strumming a power chord on the 5th frett (if in drop d) while doing the opens

c

[NKBassman]

Haha yeah. Obviously I'm just speaking from what works for me, and even that is just a basic guideline.

Most important is to play what sounds good! IMO though, keeping it simple with a little flair every other bar or something is where it's at.

[AleemRadunzel]

keeping it simple with a little flair every other bar or something is where it's at.

that is the best advice youll get from here

That and bending notes ect

little flairs you wont get far to move in metalcore captain

[NKBassman]

Go HERE and listen to the breakdown after the guitar solo in the first song... I helped write that one.

[jarrhead]

Well now I know your name. :P

Just some criticism around 2:00 into the first song the screaming is too scratchy and strained. No idea how to really fix that unless you tried gutter rolls?

[jarrhead]

Originally Posted by NKBassman

Haha yeah. Obviously I'm just speaking from what works for me, and even that is just a basic guideline.

Most important is to play what sounds good! IMO though, keeping it simple with a little flair every other bar or something is where it's at.

Yeah that's how we do it, I just needed ideas on the flair and what root notes give a best sound, cause drop D with a DA open power chord is awesome but drop C kills it, you know?

[amroach]

Epic breakdown = half-time in 5/4

[anthowl]

incase anyones still wondering,
a tritone interval is six semitones up or down from the note you are playing.
if you play an open sting and then the 6th fret, thats a tritone interval.

breakdowns.. jarring timing. dotted notes and tripplets.

dischords and chromaticies. tritones.

leave space.

[jarrhead]

Originally Posted by anthowl

incase anyones still wondering,
a tritone interval is six semitones up or down from the note you are playing.
if you play an open sting and then the 6th fret, thats a tritone interval.

breakdowns.. jarring timing. dotted notes and tripplets.

dischords and chromaticies. tritones.

leave space.

THIS is the best breakdown advice i've ever heard.

Just add to listen to a few breakdowns by BTBAM or August Burns Red or something.