Fast & Easy Breakdown Guitar Lesson To Sound Just Like The Record (Tom Petty)

If you’re looking for a fun and groovy song to play without having to learn a ton of chords…then this post might just have exactly what you are looking for.

Below is an iconic song that has been played at countless parties, and cover gigs. It only uses 3 chords. It’s so simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Today I’m going to take you through the history of this song, and also how to recreate the iconic electric guitar stylings of Mike Campbell that have rocked the radio airwaves for decades now.

So buckle up, and let’s get cruising with this “Breakdown” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Breakdown?

"Breakdown" is a classic song written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was first released as the band's debut single in 1976 and featured on their self-titled album. The song quickly became one of their signature tracks and helped to establish their reputation as a powerful rock and roll band.

"Breakdown" was inspired by Petty's love of the music of the 1960s and the British Invasion bands. The track was recorded at the Shelter Studios in Hollywood, California. The plodding groove and melody, combined with Petty's vocal delivery, make it a fun song to jam. The production is a blend of rock and blues influences, which was a hallmark of the band's sound.

"Breakdown" became a top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since been featured in numerous films and TV shows, etching its place in rock history. 

Let’s next take a look at the…

Breakdown Guitar Chords

If you want to play “Breakdown” on guitar you’ll only need to know 3 chords A5, G5, and Fmaj7/C. Two of these chords share the same shape. They can be played as a moveable power chord. A power chord on guitar typically consists of just two or three notes: the root note and the fifth interval, sometimes with an octave of the root added. For this example, I’ll be using two-note power chords. 

Let’s take a look at a few ways these chords can be played. 

A5 is played in the 5th position and uses just 2 strings, the 6th string and the 5th string like this:

Use your fretting hand to mute all the other strings that aren’t being played. Then simply shift this chord down to the 3rd position to play the G5 chord like this:

Finally, we have the last chord you’ll need Fmaj7/C and that is played from the 5th string down like so:

So no bar chords. Just these 3 simple shapes and a mighty groove are all you’ll need to get jamming this song just like the record.

Is Breakdown hard to play on guitar?

The basic chord progression to “Breakdown” is not very complex. It’s a good beginner song because you don’t need to know a lot of chords. However, if you want to nail all the solos and riffs that is going to take a slightly more advanced level. Keep that in mind as you practice this song.

What is the tuning Breakdown in?

The tuning for "Breakdown" by Tom Petty is standard tuning. Mike Campbell and Tom Petty both performed the song live in standard tuning as well as on the original recording.

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings: 

• E (6th string, lowest pitch)
• A (5th string)
• D (4th string)
• G (3rd string)
• B (2nd string)
• E (1st string, highest pitch)

Breakdown Strumming Pattern

The main underlying groove for “Breakdown” is an 8th-note rock feel with a light swing. Strumming 8th notes on guitar means dividing each beat of a 4/4 time signature into 2 parts.

To properly strum 8th notes, you need to understand how to count them within each measure. In a 4/4 time signature, each measure has four beats. When subdividing each beat into 8th notes, each beat is divided into two equal parts. This gives us a total of eight 8th notes per measure.

To count 8th notes, you typically use the following syllables:

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Here’s how it breaks down:

1: The downbeat (first 8th note)

&: The second 8th note (also known as the "and")

When counting out loud, it sounds like: 

“One and, Two and, Three and, Four and” 

When strumming 8th notes, your hand should move in a consistent up-and-down motion. Here’s a basic pattern to get you started:

• Downstroke on the count of “1”
• Upstroke on the count of “&”
• Downstroke on the count of “2”
• Upstroke on the count of “&”

This continuous motion helps keep the timing steady and even.

Those are the rudiments of 8th-note rhythms. But it’s important to note that in “Breakdown” these 8th notes are played with a light swing feel.

In a light swing feel, the timing of the 8th notes is slightly uneven, giving a "long-short" rhythm instead of the even "straight" feel.

A good main strumming pattern you could use is playing on the downbeat and then the “and” of two like this:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

D           D

I play both of these strums as downstrums. This will create more of a driving rock feel.

Want to master the fretboard faster? Grab my free fretboard guide here right now:

This rhythm can be used throughout except when we have the big tied whole notes on the Fmaj7/C chord. For this rhythm just strum the Fmaj7/C chord and let it ring for 8 beats.

Fmaj7/C 

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 

D 

Then return back to the main groove. 

At this point, you may be wondering…

What key is Breakdown in?

“Breakdown” as recorded by Tom Petty is in the key of A minor. All the chords fit the diatonic scale of A natural minor. The power chords A5 and G5 are just smaller versions of their parent chords, which in context are Am and G. 

The A natural minor scale is built with the notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Let's look at how these chords relate to each other within the context of the A natural minor scale.

Am (i chord)

Chord Structure: A, C, E

Function: This is the tonic chord (i) in the key of A minor. It establishes the tonal center and is the home base for the key.

G (VII chord)

Chord Structure: G, B, D

Function: This is the major chord built on the 7th scale degree (♭VII) in the key of A minor. 

Fmaj7/C (VI chord)

Chord Structure: F, A, C, E (with C in the bass)

Function: This chord is built on the 6th scale degree (VI) in the key of A minor. The Fmaj7 chord adds a jazzy or lush quality to the song. It’s used strategically throughout. 

The progression Am - G - Fmaj7/C is common in many minor key songs. It uses the tonic (Am), the major chord on the seventh (G), and the major chord on the sixth degree (Fmaj7/C).

This creates a descending bass line (A - G - F), which is pleasing to the ear.

Now that you have the chords and rhythm down let’s talk about the…

Breakdown Guitar Solo Lesson

The primary scale Mike Campbell uses to solo in “Breakdown” is the A minor pentatonic scale. This scale is used a ton in rock and roll, pop, and blues as well. The A minor pentatonic scale using the following five notes:

• A
• C
• D
• E
• G 

This scale can be built by removing the 2nd and 6th notes from the A natural minor scale (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). 

The A minor pentatonic scale can be played in various positions on the guitar fretboard.  

Here’s a common way to play it in the 5th position: 

Conclusion

To wrap it up, “Breakdown” by Tom Petty is a timeless classic. It shows how powerful simplicity can really be. With just three chords and a straightforward groove. This jam has something to offer guitarists at all levels. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs way faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide here right now:  

Jon MacLennan