What Makes The 'Pump It Up' Bass So Damn Cool? - The Funky Punk Of Bruce Thomas 

I'm happy to see a bass channel covering Bruce Thomas's fantastic bass chops. That guy has been one of my all time favorite bass players for decades and it's good to see someone giving him some props. Those Attractions albums are riddled front to back with killer bass. Bruce Thomas is criminally underrated. Cheers man!

I bought This Years Model on the day it came out in 1979 and love it to this day. I learnt this bass line a few years ago for a New Wave band i was playing in. I think I understand it a bit better now. Thanks Mark!

Killer tone on that P bass

Bruce Thomas's basslines are my favorites !

Great vid Mark! I’ve always loved Bruce Thomas’s bass on ‘I don’t want to go to Chelsea’ too

I came for the bass line and stayed for the theory. Wow, another fantastic lesson Mark. This has always been one cool bass riff, but what I loved was your explanation of why it works and how it is build around the 7 chords. And, it made sense to me! I must be learning something watching your videos over the past 4 years. Thanks for sharing and for explaining the why.

Super cool bass line! Never really thought about the why its so cool before this!

Mark Smith, the real professor of bass and master in explaining everything music, bass! Great video as always, thank you!

I learned about this song by Elvis Costello through the version by Exodus, the thrash metal band, and the bass line captivated me.

Excellent lesson Mike. Really enjoy all the theory. Another great lesson to work on. Thanks. I am learning a lot from your lessons.😊

Love this song, and thanks for the tutorial. It made me put roundwounds back on my Guild...

Super cool lesson.

Bruce Thomas = The Truth

One of the best bass lines ever..... OFTEN imatated for a good reason

To unlock full mode, perform and ' M' step pattern on the pad .

More like this!

Oh, I hope you do "Lip Service" too!

As you went through the B7 arpeggio theory, a similarity of a Beatles song came to mind? My first thoughtI as I listened back wasn't it, but it finally occurred to me as being somewhat similar to a measure in the song, "Birthday" right around 1:48 into the song?

I tried learning What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding? a couple of months ago... That song kicked my ass, -- but Pump It Up seems doable. Thanks!

Great example.

This track and "Chelsea" by Bruce are fantastic. Chelsea (I don't wanna go to) is a deceptively simple line - till you listen and realise it's all over the place. Beautiful - Check it out. PLEASE!!

Goon Squad!

You should do 'Rumble of the diesel" by claypool!

do you have the Music/tab for this thanks?

I just wonder if Elvis can still dance like the 80's video of this tune.

It's a fabulous, iconic bass line. Bruce Thomas was and still is my all time hero. His bass playing carried the Attractions

Lesson Material Here: bit.ly/4cidReo

Marc, you've found another great example of a killer bass line. And thanks again for answering my question when I asked you a quick question. I did a quick search and I found this another Express Yourself - Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd. Street Rhythm Band. I knew it a long time ago but now I listen to it in a different way. This song also came back into my life. Really Groovy.

I played that song for years in a band, but I played it way higher on the neck... I like the sound of it down lower. Great lesson

Such a groovy song

Great lesson on a great song!

Such a great, memorable bassline!

"Five Gears in Reverse" is another great Bruce Thomas mixolydian bassline. Really fun one to play.

The link to the lesson material is not working Mark

Brilliant Lesson , Bruce Thomas played some great bass lines

Great Stuff, lovely tone 👍

Thank you! The analysis is really helpful!!!

Thanks a lot, I love the Elvis Costello basslines 🙂

Love this bass line!!! Can't wait!!!

💙👊😎

Link to lesson material not working Mark. Great bass line and lesson.

Never heard it.

Not the "greatest bass line" as the thumbnail states. This is subjective but I don't even think its a "good" bass line.