Original practice exercise by Basnote
Country Two-Feel Bass Line
An original 116 BPM bass exercise in G major: read the TAB, check the chords bar by bar, and download it as MIDI.
- Key
- G major
- Tempo
- 116 BPM
- Feel
- On the beat
- Style
- Country
- Length
- 4 bars, 4/4
An original exercise written for Basnote’s Riff Lab: a stylised practice pattern in the spirit of the genre, not a transcription of any recording.
About this bass line
What it trains. The classic two-feel: root on beat one, fifth on beat three, and a short pickup into the next chord, at 116 BPM over G – C – G – D. It trains clean note endings and hearing where the changes land.
How to practise it. Play the half notes with a steady right hand and let each root ring for exactly two beats before the fifth enters. Add the pickup last, aiming it a half step below the next root.
A common mistake. Clipping the held notes short, which makes the groove hop instead of walk. Hold each one for its full value.
Bass TAB (standard 4-string, E A D G)
Country two-feel · As written
Key G · 116 BPM · Tuning EADG
h hammer-on · / slide · > accent · (x) ghost note
G
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |------------------------7-----------------------|
D |>5----------------------------------------------|
A |------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------7-----|
C
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |------------------------------------------------|
D |------------------------5-----------2-----4-----|
A |------------------------------------------------|
E |>8----------------------------------------------|
G
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |------------------------7-----------------------|
D |>5----------------------------------------------|
A |------------------------------------------4-----|
E |------------------------------------------------|
D
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |------------------------------------------------|
D |------------------------7-----------4-----4-----|
A |>5----------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------|One bar per block, one column per sixteenth note, counted 1 e & a. Frets show one playable fingering that Basnote picks for a compact hand position; the same pitches can be played elsewhere on the neck. The line sits in Riff Lab’s register, which for some keys is an octave higher than a bassist would usually play it; drop it an octave if it feels high. On a narrow screen the TAB scrolls sideways.
Chords and bass notes, bar by bar
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Bass notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | I |
|
| 2 | C | IV |
|
| 3 | G | I |
|
| 4 | D | V |
|
Each note shows its name, where it falls in the bar (1 e & a counting) and its role in the chord.
Download the MIDI
Each file is a Standard MIDI file (format 1) with these tracks: bass, guitar riff, guitar comping, piano and drums. The six variations rework the bass line and its backing; key and tempo stay the same.
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As writtenDownload basnote-country-two-feel-as-written-g-116bpm.mid
The reference riff exactly as designed for the style.
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FoundationDownload basnote-country-two-feel-foundation-g-116bpm.mid
Off-beats removed and roots on the strong beats: the learnable skeleton.
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PocketDownload basnote-country-two-feel-pocket-g-116bpm.mid
Ghost notes and a pickup into every chord change, aiming at the groove sweet spot.
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DrivenDownload basnote-country-two-feel-driven-g-116bpm.mid
Doubled subdivision for a busier, past-the-peak version to practise against.
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Half-timeDownload basnote-country-two-feel-half-time-g-116bpm.mid
Stretched to a half-time feel with long low notes holding the pulse.
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Octave liftDownload basnote-country-two-feel-octave-lift-g-116bpm.mid
The back half jumps an octave, turning the riff into a melodic line.