Breezeblocks

by Alt J • Lesson #4 • Nov 12, 2013

Editor’s Notes

Here’s a guitar lesson teaching an acoustic version of Breezeblocks by Alt-J. I’ll teach you the chord shapes and the order to play them, for both the verse and the chorus. You even get to hear me try to sing like the Alt-J guy! Live and learn, right? Good luck with things, and hope you find this helpful!

Free Video Lesson

Looking for a Print-Friendly Guide?

This is one of my few lessons that doesn't have a printable song sheet / PDF available. If you'd like to request I make one, let me know by clicking the button below! If there's enough demand I'll bump it toward the top of the list.

Click to Request

Chords w/ lyrics

(capo 5th fret)

VERSE
    C                      Em
    ...She may contain the urge to run away
                 Am
    But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
    C                     Em
    ...Cetirizine, your fever's gripped me again
          Am
    Never kisses, all you ever send are fullstops (la la la la!)

    C              Em
    ...Do you know where the wilds things go
         Am
    They go along to take your honey (la la la la!)
    C                                   Em
    ...Break down, now weep... build up breakfast now let's eat
                Am
    My love, my love... love... love... (la la la la!)

CHORUS
        F                        C
        ...Muscle to muscle, and toe to toe
        Em                             Am           G/B
        ...The fear has gripped me but... here I go
        F                    C
        ...My heart sinks as I jump up
        Em                          Am      G/B
        ...Your hand grips hand, as my eyes shut

        C     Em    Am       C  
        Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ah ahh...
        C     Em    Am       C (let ring)
        Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ah ahh, ahh

    Do you know where the wilds things go
    They go along to take your honey (la la la la!)
    Break down, now sleep... build up breakfast now let's eat
    My love, my love... love... love... (la la la la!)

    She bruises coughs, she splutters pistol shots
    But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks (la la la la!)
    She's morphine, queen of my vaccine
    My love, my love... love... love... (la la la la!)

        Muscle to muscle, and toe to toe
        The fear has gripped me but... here I go
        My heart sinks as I jump up
        Your hand grips hand, as my eyes shut

        Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ah ahh...
        Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ah ahh...

        Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ah ahh...
        Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh, ah ahh, ahh

    (quieter)
    She may contain the urge to run away
    But hold her down with soggy clothes and breezeblocks
    Germolene, disinfect the scene
    My love, my love... love... love...

BRIDGE
            (let chords ring)
            Dm               C                   Am
            Please don't go... I love you so, my lovely

            (on Am, begin this instrumental break)

            Am ... C ... C ... F . C . x1

            Am
            Please don't go, please don't go
              C                               F  C
            I love you so, I love you so----

            Please don't go, please don't go
            I love you so, I love you so (please break my heart)

            Please don't go, please don't go
            I love you so, I love you so----

            Please don't go, please don't go
            I love you so, I love you so (please break my heart)

OUTRO
                C                Em
                Please don't go... I'll eat you whole
                Am
                ...I love you so... I love you so, I love you so

                (repeat as desired)

Notes and tabs

Capo 5th Fret, Standard Tuning

The chords I show here are for playing this song in standard tuning, with a capo on the 5th fret. This will let you play along with the album version, if should so choose. Note, there are other lessons online for playing this song in double-drop-D tuning. If you’re interested in that approach, look elsewhere – I believe this is how alt-J plays it, but I’m more concerned with covering a basic / beginner approach (which I show here).

Guitar Chords Used

Here’s how to play the guitar chords used in this song. I’m focused on the open-position basic version of these chords. If you want to get more advanced, go for it – but these work just fine.

e-|---0----0-----0-----1----------------
B-|---1----0-----1-----3-----1----0-----
G-|---0----0-----2-----2-----2----0-----
D-|---2----2-----2-----0-----3----0-----
A-|---3----2-----0-----------3----2-----
E-|--------0----------------------------
      C    Em    Am    Dm    F   G/B

Chord progressions

VERSE
"She may contain the urge to run away..."
| C . . . | Em . . . | Am . . . | Am . . . |

CHORUS
"Muscle to muscle, and toe to toe..."
| F . . . | C . . . | Em . . . | Am . G/B . |

"Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh...."
| C . . . | Em . . . | Am . . . | C . . . |

BRIDGE
"Please don't go, I love you so, my lovely..."
| Dm . . . | C . . . |

"Please don't go, please don't go, I love you so..."
| Am . . . | C . . . | C . . . | F . C . |

OUTRO
"Please don't go, I'll eat you whole..."
| C . . . | Em . . . | Am . . . | Am . . . |

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Gain instant access to my library of 233 print-friendly cheat sheets! Also includes my extended video lessons, jam tracks, courses, and more.

Join Song Notes Premium

Have questions? Watch video tour »

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Most of the lessons on my website are 100% free. If you have the means, please show your support with a tip jar contribution. I put many hours into every lesson — but it only takes you a minute to make a donation. You have my thanks!

Donate

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Key Master

See and hear the notes, chords, scales used in each of the most common keys.

View

Blank Tabs

Free PDF templates to download, print, and write out your own guitar tabs!

View

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!


Recent Lessons

  • July 24, 2024

    Must-Know Strumming Patterns in 6/8 Time

    Learn how to strum any song in 6/8 time! Here's a collection of 8 must-know strumming patterns in that time signature, from beginning to advanced.

  • July 13, 2024

    "Wondering Why" by Red Clay Strays

    Let's learn how to play this easy-going, Southern-Rock hit! Plenty of strumming & rhythm tips, including a capo'd acoustic version if you want to avoid barre chords.

  • July 8, 2024

    Viewing Notes in a Certain Area of the Fretboard

    In my FretMonster web tool, you can now adjust the visible range of frets where notes appear. Great for less distraction while practicing. Check out this video tour!

  • June 21, 2024

    "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits

    A mega-lesson for this classic song! Learn a strummed version, how to incorporate the melody notes, and two ways to play it fingerstyle.

  • June 14, 2024

    "Have a Little Faith In Me" by John Hiatt

    Learn how to play Hiatt's 1987 classic! Just like his live performances, I'll teach it using capo 5 and the Key of C chord family.

  • June 6, 2023

    "And It's Still Alright" by Nathaniel Rateliff

    Learn Nathaniel Rateliff's amazingly powerful song from 2020! I include a few different strumming & riff options to make sure you're covered.

  • June 1, 2024

    Introduction to Reggae Strumming & Rhythm

    Let's dive into playing reggae on the guitar! I'll walk you through the basics, from off-beat accents to muted strums — with a few fun song exercises included.

  • May 20, 2024

    What Types of Play-Along Covers are Most Helpful?

    Most of my song lessons feature backing tracks or play-along covers — and I'd love your feedback about which aspect of these is most helpful!

  • May 10, 2024

    "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell

    Let's dive into Glen Campbell's all-time classic from 1968, originally written by Jimmy Webb. I teach this with capo 5th fret, using easier-to-manage Key of C chords.

  • May 1, 2024

    Tour of My New "KeyMaster" Web Tool

    My new interactive web tool lets you see and hear the notes, chords, and common progressions in all of the most common keys. Super helpful!

  • April 24, 2024

    13 Must-Know Riffs with Droning Strings

    A handy roundup of all the songs I've taught that use droning strings... with a quick breakdown of each riff!

  • April 18, 2024

    "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens

    Learn how to play Cat Stevens' 1971 classic! I include campfire-friendly chords and strumming, and a step-by-step breakdown of the intro fingerstyle riff.

Browse All Recent Lessons →

Browse All My Lessons

By lesson type

By technique

By musical genre

By decade

By musical key

By popular artist


← back to homepage