The Word - Bass Line Video

"The Word" from Rubber Soul (1965) is one of McCartney's funkiest bass lines. It shows the influence of Motown bassist James Jamerson and Stax bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn. It has melodic passages in a couple of places, primarily at the end of each verse under the lyrics "It's so fine/It's sunshine," but this groove is most notable for its repetition of a one-measure pattern that gets transposed from D to G. It also has some really fun and tricky fills.


I am playing a 1985 Rickenbacker 4003 through a SansAmp VT Bass Deluxe. My bass is strung with LaBella flatwound strings. 


Music and lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

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