Difference between a breakdown and a bridge?

[gspuppy2005063]

Please explain.

[cshadows2887]

I'm not enough of a music major to give a definition that won't get ripped apart, but here's my best shot. A bridge is a part of a song (usually more than halfway through) that isn't the verse or the chorus. In standard song structres, it will often link a the second to last and last choruses. An example, the "You can run into my arms..." part of Rihanna's "Umbrella" (to use a ubiquitous example) is a bridge.

A breakdown is usually a really heavy, sometimes considerably slower segment of (usually) metal/heavy rock songs. A lot of times it's used as a bridge. So a breakdown is frequently a bridge, but not all bridges are breakdowns.

[Jaimehere]

I'm not enough of a music major to give a definition that won't get ripped apart, but here's my best shot. A bridge is a part of a song (usually more than halfway through) that isn't the verse or the chorus. In standard song structres, it will often link a the second to last and last choruses. An example, the "You can run into my arms..." part of Rihanna's "Umbrella" (to use a ubiquitous example) is a bridge.

A breakdown is usually a really heavy, sometimes considerably slower segment of (usually) metal/heavy rock songs. A lot of times it's used as a bridge. So a breakdown is frequently a bridge, but not all bridges are breakdowns.

yes, also many songs have breakdowns as their intros and outros to a song

[rettigrocker]

cshadows2887 got it right enough.

breakdowns are like DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN DUN
over and over again. sometimes with screaming. sometimes not. scene kids occasionally will hardcore dance during breakdowns, unless that fad ended already..

sad if it has... it might be lame, but it's better then everyone standing there with their arms crossed looking pissed.

[gspuppy2005063]

okay that's what i thought. thanks =]

[gspuppy2005063]

also, just to specify, is a breakdown mainly musical? while a bridge would be lyrical? or does it not really matter?

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG

x

[Echo Park]

from what I understand the difference is the feel of it. For instance, Blink 182's What's My Age Again has a bridge or as some may call it, an interlude. Drop Dead Gorgeous is littered with Breakdowns where you suppose to break stuff and rock out.

[cshadows2887]

I don't think you can say that definitvely. Some breakdowns have lyrics, some bridges are musical.

[jay_klinkhammer]

I would argue that Breakdown isn't a musical term and a bridge is?

[rettigrocker]

what wasn't answered in the first response??

scissorlips got it right.

Breakdown = CHUG CHUG CHUG. always. if it doesn't sound like that, it's not a breakdown.

Bridge = anything thats not the verse or chorus. If a band has particularly unconventional song structures, they might not have bridges (or maybe they have multiple bridges)

either way, bridges are just song parts that bridge between other song parts.

Break downs are CHUG CHUG CHUG

[KingJohn_654]

i love how everybody has to use words like "chug" and "dun" to describe breakdowns.

[rettigrocker]

i love how everybody has to use words like "chug" and "dun" to describe breakdowns.

haha, what else are they?

[KingJohn_654]

haha, what else are they?

i wasn't criticizing them. i just thought it was funny. you're from lawrence? thats where the dude in my avatar lives.

[Yellowcard2006]

I think it's possible to have a breakdown that doesn't CHUG CHUG CHUG. Breakdowns aren't always hardcore.

[rettigrocker]

@ kingjohn: I didn't think you were criticizing. And yeah, I'm from Lawrence. I actually like it a lot. If you've gotta be in the midwest and you can't be in chicago, you'd better be in Lawrence. I can't really see the guy in your avatar. whats his name, does he still live here?

@Yellowcard: what? I disagree. If it's not in a hardcore song and it's not going chug chug chug, I doubt most people would call it a breakdown

[KingJohn_654]

of course he still lives there. he's John Nolan. he moved there pretty recently.

[rettigrocker]

don't know him

[Andy Young]

Listen to the band Emmure. About 2/3 of the way through every song is a breakdown.

[rettigrocker]

Listen to the band Emmure. About 2/3 of the way through every song is a breakdown.

haha my gut reaction is to not ever listen to them.

but now i kind of want to

[Andy Young]

haha my gut reaction is to not ever listen to them.

but now i kind of want to

Oh I definitely don't condone listening to them, they're pretty awful.

Just a perfect example of breakdowns.

[rettigrocker]

A Day to Remember's Homesick is too.

[asthenia*]

I think it's possible to have a breakdown that doesn't CHUG CHUG CHUG. Breakdowns aren't always hardcore.

agreed. i consider stuff with just drums or just bass or just drums and bass breakdowns, especially if the rhythm/time changes. an example off the top of my head is in relient k's be my escape. some people may consider it a bridge but the rhythm changes and it just has a breakdown feel i think.

[KingJohn_654]

of course he still lives there. he's John Nolan. he moved there pretty recently.

he wrote most of the lyrics and was guitar and backing vocals for Taking Back Sunday's first (and best) album, Tell All Your Friends.
He is the main songwriter for Straylight Run.
and he put out a fantastic solo album this year.

[KingJohn_654]

agreed. i consider stuff with just drums or just bass or just drums and bass breakdowns, especially if the rhythm/time changes. an example off the top of my head is in relient k's be my escape. some people may consider it a bridge but the rhythm changes and it just has a breakdown feel i think.

should i go back? should i go back? should i?!

[rettigrocker]

1. You should. 2. Straylight run is awesome

[KingJohn_654]

i was saying that cause the dude's name was asthenia. i thought i was being funny. oh well. Straylight Run = my favorite band.

[rettigrocker]

oh, from blinks latest?

[rettigrocker]

in the simplest way to put it a "hardcore breakdown" (as other genres have breaks), generally is when the bass kick drum is hit at the same time, and only when guitar strokes, except for a fill. and also sometimes the cymbal usually slows to 1/2 time, and the snare is 1/2 time of the cymbal (for every two cymbal hits there is a snare). for heavier breakdowns the entire band slows down.
its easier to recognize the mechanics behind this if you've played an instrument and have a sense of how measures work, but thats the idea.

it doesnt always have to be palm muted and a have the chugging sound, although thats the typical kind you hear in metalcore bands. the main mechanic is the kick drum and guitars being in sync. thats how it began.

some bands also incorporate the "two step" part of a song, which usually uses the hi hat, instead of the crash/ride/china cymbal,which is hit on every quarter note, and the snare ever other note.

a quick example of both of these is A Day To Remember - Fast Forward to 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAjB59zoODs
breakdown is at 1:04
two step starts at 1:20

everything you said is 100% wrong

[KingJohn_654]

oh, from blinks latest?

uhh..their self-titled.

[rettigrocker]

yeah.

do they have anything other than a greatest hits after that?

[KingJohn_654]

nope. they iz a bunch of slackerrrzzzzzz.

/annoying

[Andrew33]

Haha, personally I think breakdown and bridge have nothing to do with each other. They have some overlap, but usually (at least in my music) they are quite different. Most of the "hardcore" or "metalcore" music I listen to doesn't follow the ABABCB pattern of most radio music, so the breakdown isn't at any specific part- it exists just where it does.

Now, on the definition of a breakdown, there really can't be a single definition that describes everything a breakdown can be. I think there is a breakdown in 'Say This Sooner' by The Almost. I think August Burns Red and Between The Buried and Me do breakdowns better than anyone; the 2/4 sig gets old after a while, and it's nice to see a band with enough talent to be different. A good example of a great breakdown that follows no rules: "You Deserve Nothing and I Hope You Get Less" by Blessthefall. Most or all of Born Of Osiris's breakdowns follow no basis of rules, but than you get A Day To Remember and The Devil Wears Prada and Agraceful- don't get me wrong, I love those bands, and I love most of the breakdowns they make, but they take less.. eh I don't want to say talent, but less creativity... to create. Add in electronics and you have a whole different story.

And yes, bridges usually are more lyrical, while breakdowns are more about the rhythm, even though there is overlap. Breakdowns are more for the crowds at concerts- if you like that kind of music, and have ever been to a heavy concert, than you know how much crazier the crowd goes at breakdowns.

Sorry for the tl;dr haha

[ZachMadeMeOdd]

bridge = build up part of any song, comes in many forms, you need to know how to really play a guitar to make them.

breakdown = screamo band meal ticket to a record deal as of 2006

[cshadows2887]

bridge = build up part of any song, comes in many forms, you need to know how to really play a guitar to make them.


Not necessarily true. A lot of bridges bring it down a bit from a big chorus. And guitar is not a necessary componant.

A lot of bridges are the way you describe but you're generalizing.

[miketheauthor]

Listen to the band Emmure. About 2/3 of the way through every song is a breakdown.
emmure is so terrible haha

[inVINCEable1008]

Listen to the band Emmure. About 2/3 of the way through every song is a breakdown.
Why would you tell people to do that? There must be a better way to explain a breakdown.

[rettigrocker]

haha how?
feel free to correct it, but those are the basic mechanics of it instrumentally.
its a little more complex than your "chug chug chug" answer..i was saying what it is, not just what it sounds like

ha, I was also 100% not serious