Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick bass line - How to play - normal and slowed down

Here's how to play the classic bass part by Norman Watt Roy from "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads. My playing is a bit sloppy here, but it will give you an idea of how it's played. I included the bassline at normal speed and at slow speed. It is a tricky bassline to master, but fun to play. The bass is a Lakland DJ4 plugged straight into the computer.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Norman
• Watt
• Roy
• Blockheads
• Bassline
• Lakland
• DJ4

[MobiusRoom]

thanks for teaching me how to play that!!much appreciated....(altho im ashamed to say im playing it with a pick!!....sounds too aggressive....wheras you got that bubbling nicely)....

[animotionman]

@MobiusRoom Wow, if you can play this bassline with a pick, I'm very impressed! I find picking very hard...:-)

[orchid81080]

your lakland sounds mean man, is that one of the US made ones, the duck dunn or somethin?

[animotionman]

@orchid81080 Thanks. It is a Lakland Darryl Jones, Skyline model. One of the best models they made IMHO.

[Geomaxify]

I am a struggleing bass learner but selected this bass line as it sounds great. Really useful to see how it's meant to be played. Awsome fluidity to your play. Any other pratice bass lines /tunes you suggest to help my play?

[animotionman]

@Geomaxify

Thanks. Try "The chicken" by Jaco Pastorius. It's a great tune for learning about timing and playing in the groove.

[jesssargentx]

my dad made a deal with me that if i learn this bassline, he'll buy me a fender jazz bass. as a thirteen year old with no money, that is an offer i cannot refuse.

it's bloody hard! so thanks for this, helps a lot!

[derrymadness]

one of the best bass lines on the planet. great job man

[morrisman64]

great job!!!

[FaunKeH]

@animotionman i dont think bass should ever be played with a pick :P same for me though, smooth on the two fingers, not so great with a pick. its the reason i switched from guitar to bass

[Dente18]

What a great job you've done, bloke.

It is helpful, indeed.

[nickbaldeagle01]

This is the best bassline to any song ever.

[cc014m5507]

spot on !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[EoinLfc09]

@jesssargentx my dad did a similar deal with me when i was 12, with Led Zeppelin's 'Ramble On'. Have to say, I've loved my jazz bass ever since ;)

[jonnd272]

Thanks a lot man!!! Haha <3

[Ystadcop]

Wow, great stuff. I remember a gig years ago when the singer (can't remember for the life of me which band it was) was introducing the other players - finally he turned to the bassman and said "And jackin' off on the rumblehammer is..........."

Sums up bass playing doesn't it?