Breaks and the Blues

JZ-Phoenix

Blues Newbie
I'm enjoying the Blues Guitar Unleashed 2.0 course, but need some help understanding the "Breaks" in the Tore Down rhythm section (Lesson 6) and I the purpose of the "breaks" in blues in general. In the tore down rhythm (example 6.1) the first break is 4 bars long and appears to take the place of the 1st 4 bars (in this case C7), so we drop right into the next two bars which are F7 and continue playing. However, the second set of "breaks" is 8 bars long and yet seems to take the place of the same 1st 4 bars again. Can these breaks be any length desired? What is their purpose. Do they always take the place of the 1st 4 bars, or can they occur elsewhere.
 

Paleo

Student Of The Blues
The following is only my own interpretation.

The "break" gives the "illusion" that the rhythm has "stopped", even though there are usually "hits" on the first beat of each measure.

Usually during a vocal or an instrumental "riff".

It provides a "break" from the "monotony" of the form, building up anticipation.

Usually over the I chord for 4 bars or extended over a "Long I" of 8 bars. (Or both in the same song.:sneaky:)

May occur at the very beginning of the song or within the song at the beginning of a "chorus".

(You might also want to do an internet search for "stop-time".)


Some examples:

Allman Bros

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezPZxfS1jys

Muddy Waters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_l6A7krjrQ

Beach Boys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPRonG87eKw

And, of course, E.C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRcUufCKwOo
 
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