Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' was a number one hit for Ian Dury & The Blockheads back in 1978. This piece is well-known amongst bass players thanks to Norman Watt-Roy's fantastic sixteenth note-based fingerstyle groove. The inspiration for this line came from the band witnessing Weather Report live at the Hammersmith Odeon, with Jaco Pastorius on bass. Blown away by Jaco's incredible playing, Norman later wrote the complex line that forms the backbone of this song.
I recorded this recreation of the bassline using a 1966 Fender Jazz Bass, strung with stainless steel Rotosound strings. All controls on the bass were turned up full, and I recorded through a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.
A full video tuition course for this song is available to video course subscribers at Bassline Publishing. You can check out the course below:
basslinepublishing.com/video-section/ian-dury-the-blockheads-hit-me-with-your-rhythm-stick
You can SUBSCRIBE to my video courses here: basslinepublishing.com/video-course-choice
Don't forget to like the video and subscribe so that you see more great bass content from me in the future!
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Follow Bassline Publishing:
Facebook: facebook.com/BasslinePublishing
Instagram: instagram.com/stuartclaytonbass
X: twitter.com/BasslinePublish
'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' was a number one hit for Ian Dury & The Blockheads back in 1978. This piece is well-known amongst bass players thanks to Norman Watt-Roy's fantastic sixteenth note-based fingerstyle groove. The inspiration for this line came from the band witnessing Weather Report live at the Hammersmith Odeon, with Jaco Pastorius on bass. Blown away by Jaco's incredible playing, Norman later wrote the complex line that forms the backbone of this song.
I recorded this recreation of the bassline using a 1966 Fender Jazz Bass, strung with stainless steel Rotosound strings. All controls on the bass were turned up full, and I recorded through a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI.
A full video tuition course for this song is available to video course subscribers at Bassline Publishing. You can check out the course below:
basslinepublishing.com/video-section/ian-dury-the-blockheads-hit-me-with-your-rhythm-stick
You can SUBSCRIBE to my video courses here: basslinepublishing.com/video-course-choice
Don't forget to like the video and subscribe so that you see more great bass content from me in the future!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Bassline Publishing:
Facebook: facebook.com/BasslinePublishing
Instagram: instagram.com/stuartclaytonbass
X: twitter.com/BasslinePublish
