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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
Print-friendly Song Sheet
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... it's always great to hear which lessons have the most interest.
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 . . . |
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