CJ Ramone | Playing Bass in the Ramones | Fender

#punkinspired
Bassist CJ Ramone, who played with the Ramones from 1989 to 1996, at first suffered some physical challenges when it came to trying to play live with the legendary punk band.
Watch to learn how he worked his way through the challenges, and get some tips on how YOU can play bass Ramones style.
CJ is also seen in this clip playing the new Dee Dee Ramone Precision Bass, which you can order here: bit.ly/DeeDeeRamone-Bass-Punk4
Visit the Fender blog for more on CJ ... bit.ly/PlayingBassRamones-YT2
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Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is the world’s foremost manufacturer of guitars, basses, amplifiers and related equipment. With an illustrious history dating back to 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock ‘n’ roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues, and many others.
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CJ Ramone | Playing Bass in the Ramones | Fender
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[@devilmate969]

being 6'3" skinny and lengthy arms, lowering the bass works perfectly for me.

[@afrocoolio25]

6'4" and skinny. Same for me. I have to play low to play for any amount of time.

[@jakeberry9532]

Why is every Bassist also 6'3"? Is it like a secret thing that all bassists are that tall?

[@skinnywizardofironmeadow4430]

jake berry i play bass i’m 5,5 lol

[@SprunkCovers]

@@jakeberry9532 And I'm a 5'2'' bassist, if feel like a punk smurf lmao

[@seflw9666]

@@skinnywizardofironmeadow4430 lol im 5'4 just started bass too

[@41bmc]

CJ seems like a cool guy

[@cesarcrash]

He seems to be. An Marky seems to be a douchebag.

[@The619orton]

he is, try talking with him in his facebook page

[@cesarcrash]

The619orton Never, I have no Facebook...

[@mttmarazzi1452]

well.. I tried and get blocked haha but I still respect him as a musician

[@Thejeditusken2]

I sent a message to him a couple months ago, never heard back since I sent it lol

[@BuzzsawMoviesLtd]

Gotta love CJ.

[@ChuckHipolitho]

yes

[@larsetom1]

As someone who is about to cover "I Wanna Be Sedated", this is really helpful! I always thought the the low-slung guitar/bass was just a style thing, to look cool. But it's totally functional, a necessity even if you don't want to hurt your body.

[@solidconnection9579]

CJ is so purist and sympathetic. He is still the guy from the neighbourhood. Last time I wrote with him on facebook, and we recognized, that my daughter Almila and he are born on the same day, even they are different aged, but... so I love this man, god bless him

[@animaljustice7774]

October 8. Same as Johnny. I only know because it’s the same birthday I have LOL

[@leahflower9924]

I wanna challenge him to play some rancid songs lol matt Freeman

[@jwhiteout]

I met CJ just 3 weeks ago. What a nice guy.

[@semifallen]

Not a bassist but I still want that bass.

[@fetuswarrior6056]

Same

[@user-wc6pw8oh6v]

Bassist here, go learn drums

[@thorazine8402]

Ah yes, the Fender P Bass. Dee Dee and CJ's favorite. Heavy and thick, the official bass of punk rock and the Ramones--maybe even because of Dee Dee.

[@harrysilverwater6419]

I’m not a yankee but I want that cap!

[@gnrncrue]

In their video RAW, the Ramones describe how CJ brought a youthful fun vibe to the band...and you can see how it was so.

[@gregfowler957]

Only the ramones can play like the ramones because they were unique and the best

[@pointblank5126]

Was literally trying to learn a Ramones song doing down picking like I'd always read about and was having a lot of trouble with the speed. KZbin put this in the suggested videos and wow, CJ is right, as soon as I dropped the strap it become exponentially less painful haha

[@leahflower9924]

Try to play rejected by rancid lol

[@godfatherNYC]

SO psyched that I got one of these Dee Dee basses. I saw the Ramones play like 8 or 9 times when I was teenager and Dee Dee was still in the band. I was in awe of him, and the Ramones. Still my favorite band! I'm really liking this bass. I do wish they would have made it in the USA, the Mexican ones are decent but I sold my American Standard for some ca$h and to get one of these and it's definitely nice, just slightly lower quality than the USA model. Pretty sweet that it's limited to 1,000 units, although I also kind of wish they'd sell a million of 'em... Dee Dee would have been so humble but so damn proud of this recognition.

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

You are so lucky. I was too young to experience them live. By 1996 I was finally allowed to go to concerts and I heard that they broke up I was crushed

[@thorazine8402]

@@raymondsolisjr.1262 Sorry you missed out, buddy. Their late 70s-early 80s shows were skull crushing. Prolly saw them 8 or so times too. The best show for me by far was in Long Beach, CA with D.I., Bad Religion, and the Ramones. 35 years later, and I've finally recovered :-P

[@BearistaBear]

Great tutorial on downstroking. All Ramones guitarists should study this video.

[@huwman]

Just started learning bass last few weeks so I can play The Ramones. It's much harder than it looks to get the speed. Trouble I'm finding is that when I drop it that low, the pick action just scrapes across the strings and it's hard to get the left hand in position to play the notes. So major adjustments. Getting there though. Fucking great fun. My neighbours love me!!

[@JKryanX]

dont drop your strap down low, any actual bass player would never do that.

[@huwman]

A yearand a bit later and I've moved on a lot. Started with The Ramones, moved onto AC/DC, Lizzy, Deep Purple etc. I'm now bassist in a metal band, coming up with my own bass lines and using different styles, pleck and finger picking. Very cool, I'm obsessed with bass and only wish I'd started playing it years ago. Cheers!

[@JKryanX]

just make sure you have good physics and mechanics or you will pay for it years down the road, if you want to be able to play your bass when you're an old man, dont lower your strap to your knees

[@huwman]

Found my comfortable position now. I don't just play Ramones anymore, so moved the bass up. A lot has happened this year. Finally got to grips with the instrument and different rock styles. Now in an original metal band called King Boss. Just booked our first gigs in. All good and thanks for your comment.

[@JKryanX]

huwman good luck to you. Research real bass players. Not guys that just chug with a pick. This guys is spitting lies and I hope kids don't take what he says seriously.

[@cesarcrash]

I see lots of bands doing Ramones covers using only down strokes and they still not sound like the Ramones. Power chords is another big reason.

[@alvagoldbook2]

Everyone says that the Ramones used power chords, but really, they used barre chords. A similar approach is used with many other punk guitarists. You end up not strumming the high E string all that often, but every other string should be played. If you listen closely to say Stephen Egerton of the Descendents, he'll clug a lot using only 2 strings, and then to make the chord sound like a climax through the measure, he'll slowly add more of the top strings with each down stroke.

[@cesarcrash]

***** Yup, people thik it's easy to play Ramones. It's simple music, but it's hard as hell.

[@J8D2]

I was shocked when I saw a picture of johnny playing an E shape barre chord. I still dont understand how he got barre chords to voice properly through a dimed marshall jmp though.

[@alvagoldbook2]

***** It's simple. He played on a single coil. Single coils are less compressed than humbuckers. The strings will fight each other on which note rings through. The lower strings always win, especially when they're strummed first. Technique wise it's simple. You play barre chords, but you don't fully pick them. On one stroke you might play more strings then on another stroke, but this is to add to your dynamics. This is how I Wanna Be Sedated was played. When playing the E or A barre chord up and down the neck, the high E string is almost never played. The B string is only played to enphasize things when it needs to be done.

[@cesarcrash]

On the other hand, he seemed to always play the lower E.

[@soulCracka1]

Hey Ho! Let's Go!

[@rickmerchant1835]

Cj ramone is a top Bloke and a great bass player.

[@weredesperate7138]

“It was down to my knees bassically” Hahaha that was pun

[@imannonymous7707]

you know what you can replace the drummers and the bass players ....but tommy and dee dee cannot be...they were the heart n soul of a concept somebody else called punk rock....in the end its still rocknroll to me

[@animaljustice7774]

From what I read on Wikipedia CJ had to replace Dee Dee because Dee Dee was leaving the band.

[@miguelorozco4445]

Yes and no, in the ramones... The guitarist and the vocalist were the irreplaceable. CJ did an amazing job as the replacement of Dee dee, same with Tommy.Richie and Marky were good replacements.

[@billkingston4402]

Have arthritis, used to play bass a lot, gigs, studio's etc, play 6 string acoustic guitar now, love it, have my own style now, CJ served with the marines, shame all the original Ramones are dead, hope CJ still gigs, hey ho must go

[@animaljustice7774]

Yep true

[@jackierobinson5766]

I love Cj a really nice guy and a great bass player,

[@michaelwilson9450]

Seems like a decent guy! He managed to avoid all the bitterness the other Ramones wallowed in.

[@mtp4430]

Great tip. It actually does work effectively. I wish I knew that back when I was in bands playing Ramones covers. I'd always get cramps in my arms but just figured that Dee Dee wore his bass that low because it looked cool. And maybe he did, but it certainly does facilitate downpicking and that speed.

[@VictoriaSmithBassist]

Brilliant!

[@Johnny-lr5jt]

Hooray for C.J.!

[@Huegelmann]

Hope i'm gonna see him live one day and have the chance to drink a beer with him. He seems to be a cool guy!

[@ekdecay6371]

A living Legend

[@tornmask7]

playing the fast down stroke method on a bass guitar is a killer!

[@IvanBarrientos-lv4es]

CJ you earned to be part of the Ramones pal...!!!

[@YuliPortillo]

I love him

[@alvagoldbook2]

I used to be a guitarist in a punk band, and we played pretty fast like the Ramones. It was always a challenge to keep up your chops and endurance. The best way to do it, for me was to play along to the first Ramones record. The length of your strap is key, and it's all in the wrist, just like CJ says. After I got good at the first record, I played along to It's Alive and after I got good at that I played along to Loco Live. Each performance is a little bit faster than the last. You will work up one hell of a sweat playing to those records. I used to have to do weight lifting just to keep my arm from ceasing up. And I have cut my fingers open many times, and bled over many a cheap guitar. BTW, nothing kills strings faster than blood. They sound dead after that, lol

[@danieleocello39]

Alva Goldbook This is hardcore, dude.

[@alvagoldbook2]

This is how you know your strap is at the right length. Fully extend your strumming arm so it's at rest. Your elbow should only be slightly bent and it should be completely relaxed. Hold your pick in an up position, ready to play a down stroke. The tip of your pick should be at your A string on your guitar. This way you can play all your power chords easily, and only bend your elbow slightly to play the chords on the low E. When you play down strokes, they should be even 16th notes, playing at the same speed as the hi-hat. When you change from one chord to the next, you skip one down stroke so it doesn't sound too messy. If you watch Johnny Ramone's picking hand closely, especially in vids from the late 70's/early 80's, you'll see that this is exactly how he does it. It's also important to arch the guitar up so you have more control with your fretting hand. Your pick should be hitting the strings right where the end of the fretboard meets the neck pickup (if your guitar has one). I did this so much that my pick attack sanded down the corner at the end of my fretboard. You should also use heavy picks. The Ramones used wide triangle picks because of you used the slim triangles that's more popular, you'd lose your grip and drop them playing proper Ramones punk style. These are the kind I have always used, 1.0mm gauge, comes in blue. www.jimdunlop.com/product/Tortex%C2%AE-Triangle

[@danieleocello39]

Alva Goldbook Well, didn't know that, man! I'm planning to lower my bass strap aswell, since i can't really give it that aggressive punch sound :D

[@anumpreto]

Totally agree! I also used to play the bass in a ramones-based band, and CJ just revealed the secret of how to play decent punk rock!

[@mountaverage2706]

Beginner here. My problem with lowering the strap is 1) my left hand will be at an odd angle, and especially 2) I can't see what strings my right hand is picking. Now, I know it takes practice to just "feel" what your right hand is doing, but do you have any specific advice?

[@GoldStandardGames]

Flea said the same right thing! Thanks for this video! Ramones forever!

[@DavideDondiMusic]

Cool! Someone should write a book about the differences in style, tone, music in general between the various heights bass players wear their basses, from CJ Ramone on his knee to Mark King on his chin :)

[@FallenOnez93]

Krist from Nirvana also used to play his bass hanging low.

[@TheBlackbelair]

Same holds true for the guitar.

[@arthurmartins3655]

I went to his band's concert yesterday, and it was amazing! There were about 200 people, yes 200!!! The distance between me and him was abou 3 metres! Afterwards, I spoke with him and we took some pics! The best part was when they played my favorite song, My brain is hanging upside down! CJ rules!!!!!

[@wickedlee664]

Arthur Martins bonzo??

[@jimmytgoose476]

I was in a space rock band . We had a successful audition for a slot in a local festival then had a huge row and broke up . Two years later i get a call ... "....hasn't turned up and we have a gig coming up . Can you do it ?" "Yeeaah....ok ..." Rehearsal day . "You just put more effort into that one song than (your replacement ) put into the whole set ! " What was i doing ? Downstrokes . All the time . And my strap was long . CJ kicks ass .

[@MarkCDuffy]

How nice!

[@ronaldsassano1813]

Awesome tip, thanks

[@rafaelgradilla5102]

Damn, that solved my problems. I just started at 50 (again) and I'm having this problem. I thought it was only age lol.

[@paulopinguelo77]

Great CJ

[@phildefer6639]

R.I.P DeeDee...

[@donovanpsicodelico6916]

great video

[@NDWoj]

My head immediately began to bob up and down @ 2:50. "Dad...wtf are you doing" came shouting from the next room!

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

Interesting, straightforward guy, good interview. Heh, to be with the best you gotta be the best

[@salazarslite7180]

wow i didn't knew that before. i am playing guitar and able to play every song like johnny on almost every live record i ever heared, but not bass.

[@nealamesbury1480]

Thx !

[@tinynuggins1029]

Good story man. Information I never knew I wanted to know but now i know it I want to tell everyone this story.

[@nickcarrato6099]

Fucking Awsome!!! What a truly lucky guy to play bass for the best band ever!!!!!! CJ ROCKS!!!!!!

[@jebmo601]

I love the guitur its so fun to play.... but I miss Dee Dee

[@denverlowlifevlogs8432]

That's a bass, not a guitar

[@tarulogonzales9374]

Saludos desde argenrina cj capo crack👏👏👏👏👏

[@TheBrunoRK]

Blitzkrieg Bop 💥💥💥

[@thegoddamnbatman3078]

Cool video.

[@daviddavis3155]

CJ!

[@AR1xRUSHY]

Fender is going Punk Hell F****** YES!

[@gussstavo]

Wooow calm down lady

[@seanmcdonald4436]

@@gussstavo your comment made me laugh pretty hard . And for longer than usual.

[@texasturner2313]

Its funny to hear him talk about learning to down pick and only using the wrist. I played that way exclusively for the first 10 years. I didn't set out to play that that way just felt natural to me. Today I double pick because my music tastes gave changed over the years.

[@Cruiseangel72]

I saw the Ramones 1978 in Asbury park new jersey. So who is this guy?

[@diegoambrosio9903]

3:12 ...as simple as that... ...my ass! As musical as that, as stylish as that, as rockish as that, as full of attitude as that, as timeless as that, as endearing as that, as "voice of generations" as that, as punk as that, as full of intention as that, as expressive as that, as artistic as that, as alive as that, as rhythmic as that... nearly endless...

[@Ross58]

dee dee in earlier clips had his bass way low, but later it looks he is carrying it a bit higher .... I can’t play bass like that but I certainly respect people who can .... Ramones ... an awesome legacy !!

[@lilgarbage3796]

BlueP dee dee had his bass higher early in their career and then he lowered it and then later in their career he raised it again

[@PanekPL]

If you watch videos of Dee Dee, you'll see he did use upstrokes sometimes.

[@whirlwindjml]

All is well c.j. is here

[@chancewatkins5071]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing; Jesus Christ Bless! :)

[@orangie8426]

Aww gees I could have told you that.. It doesn't just look really cool having the bass all the way down... They did that for a reason as soon as this guy started saying he couldn't play the way they did I knew right away the first thing out of my mouth was Drop That Bass as low as you can I knew that from years and years ago also the other trick was to loosen the bass strings to give it that really bouncy kind of punk sound

[@mharclerode]

Bingo--- whenever I play pick 95% of the motion is in my wrist- I can't understand how some people are moving there whole arm or forearm...

[@KACHANGOSMALECHORES]

Lets go CJ !!!!!! last chance yo Dance!!!

[@odairjesus1756]

Hey ho let's go!

[@theramones1983]

como le pego la vejez a CJ,aun asi un gran bajista.

[@myriampro4973]

Parece sano, y eso basta. Los años no pasan en vano. Después de los 50 algo pasa en nuestras caras. 🤣

[@miguelorozco4445]

@@myriampro4973 Le pegó mejor a Richie

[@opposeglobalism4188]

Long live the Ramones.

[@Ariztid]

and here I thought that it was their style.

[@gcarrizo64]

Lastima q no está subtitulado

[@KACHANGOSMALECHORES]

CJ veni a tocar con Kachangos a Trelew o Playa Unión Argentina!!

[@guillermosanchez8843]

Grandpa Ramone.

[@loghanepps2117]

At the current time this video has 420 subscribers. Weed + guitar = Funtime

[@waltermedina2506]

Alguien sabe donde esta subtitulado en castellano?

[@peterzebot9863]

At first I was like-- What is Alex Lifeson doing holding a bass guitar?? oO

[@rickneal4967]

We're running out of Ramones. :(

[@juliocesardossantos6976]

Iiiii my old man, cjjj is very, is very old man.

[@mtp4430]

Great tip. It actually does work effectively. I wish I knew that back when I was in bands playing Ramones covers. I'd always get cramps in my arm. And I just assumed that Dee Dee wore his bass that low because it looked cool. And maybe he did, but it certainly does facilitate downpicking at that speed.

[@allghilliedup21]

Ramones are influential to punk, no doubt. Not my cup of tea, but I respect their legacies and what they achieved. Just a fucking shame they had to resort to drugs and shit to deal with all that fame and power and money and the dark side of being in a band.

[@mountaverage2706]

Like pretty much every single famous rock band up until the 90s did though...

[@qw128386]

Only one member resorted to drugs though

[@ambroseburnside5764]

+Quinn Walls Joey and Marky where both alcoholics.

[@Thejeditusken2]

And Dee Dee was a Heroin addict

[@vampireofmisery7381]

that is true he quit for a while then went back doing it

[@peterpumpkineaterrr]

How did i know it was gonna start off with guy playing blitzkrieg bop ....

[@J_Z666]

im fan of dee dee

[@suacuibass1976]

Donos da fender me dê uma baixo de presente um jass bass por favor semelhante a esse que cj toca, 😊😊

[@Mr.M1STER]

It must have been tough learning all those songs. Danger of falling asleep.

[@jimmytgoose476]

Your point is ?

[@THECLARENCES]

Very interesting & cool! Thanks! xoxo The Clarences (robert, erin & leslie)

[@toma.4808]

I dont down stroke the ramones songs i play and theres no real serious sound/technical diffrences from not down picking

[@impalaman9707]

Having to learn how to downpick when you've always plucked, to me, is sort of like learning how to drive a car with an automatic transmission when you're used to having a clutch and driving stick. Yeah, it should be easier, but you're not used to it!

[@tammiealmany4691]

😎✌

[@williamrolls8075]

Hello Tammie

[@westernsellers9148]

Merry Christmas i dont want to fight tonight 😂❤

[@openg30]

Holy shit bro... You look exactly like your dad now.

[@jairomartinez-ortiz2553]

IMO Ramones are the best songs to play with for beginners.

[@Metal_Horror]

DeeDee downpicked most of the time but he did alternate pick the same riffs here and there. Possibly to rest, who knows. You can see it in live videos. Johnny on the other hand, I don't think I've seen him play an upstroke.

[@ameralicedeoliveirasousa9875]

Vou fala umas das das que pode ser certeza ramones minha banda preferida estou falando na celular de outra pessoa porque o meu quebrou sou homem e curto um punk em fim ramones pra mim no palco podia ser quatro mas pra mim eu falo que ramones mesmo e só três Joey Johnny Mark os outros até São ramones mas pra mim é esse

[@phineasbenamori333]

He has the strenght to endure...

[@srmuffin4210]

dee dee 4ever

[@musicisbrilliant]

KZbin, wheres the love button??

[@ozmarichardson6524]

It wasnt lowering the strap, it was developing wrist stamina that helped. Strumming and picking is all in the wrist kiddos! Don't waste your energy flailing your arms around! Also wearing your bass low actually makes it harder but it looks cooler. This guy's not gonna dismiss the mystique of the Ramones though, that's his claim to fame!

[@gurg4130]

It's not impossible to play fast with a pick without wearing the bass low if your instrument is well designed! ;)

[@dusdincorleone]

Raging Noorp it’s about your arms and muscles cramping. Design has nothing to do with that

[@jay8819]

"three chords per career" award

[@thorazine8402]

@@imannonymous7707 Yup. A lot of people can do it for 2-3 minutes, but you ain't Dee Dee or CJ until you can to do it for two hours straight with 5 second breaks in between songs--night after night after night. Good luck with that.

[@hammies.]

@@thorazine8402 true. I heard they played 250 nights a year

[@Tomahertz]

Cone McCaslin has entered the chat

[@sidvicious4760]

And people keep saying playing downstrokes endlessly is easy

[@pedrorocha2378]

Hey Fender. Did you already think about to help a very poor guy from Brazil to earn his first bass?? If someday you realize it is possible, make me know.

[@adamhitze2180]

TAKE IT CEEEEE JAAAAAY! 13341234🎶🎶🎶