Original practice exercise by Basnote
Neo-Soul Bass Line Behind the Beat
An original 82 BPM bass exercise in D Dorian: read the TAB, check the chords bar by bar, and download it as MIDI.
- Key
- D Dorian
- Tempo
- 82 BPM
- Feel
- Laid-back
- Style
- Soul & R&B
- 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. This line trains playing sparse and late. At 82 BPM in D Dorian over Dm7 – G7 – Dm7 – Cmaj7, the bass uses long roots and puts a ghost note and a hammer-on in every bar, to the seventh in some and to the third in others, and the MIDI file places it slightly behind the drums.
How to practise it. Listen to the kick first and place each bass note just after it. Record yourself against a click, check that you sit behind by the same small amount every time, and leave the rests alone.
A common mistake. Dragging so far behind that the line sounds like an error. Aim for relaxed, not late.
Bass TAB (standard 4-string, E A D G)
Neo-soul behind the beat · As written
Key D · 82 BPM · Tuning EADG
h hammer-on · / slide · > accent · (x) ghost note
Dm7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |----------------------------------------------------7-----------|
D |------------------------h10-----7-----------------------/4------|
A |----------------------------------------------------------------|
E |>10---------(10)------------------------------------------------|
G7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |--------------------------------------------10------------------|
D |>5------------------h9--12--------------------------------------|
A |----------------------------------------(10)--------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------------------/9--|
Dm7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |----------------------------------------------------7-----------|
D |------------------------h10-----7-------------------------------|
A |----------------------------------------------------------------|
E |>10---------(10)----------------------------------------/7------|
Cmaj7
1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
G |----------------------------------------------------------------|
D |--------------------------------------------9-------------------|
A |------------------------10--------------------------------------|
E |>8------------------h12-----------------(8)-----------------/9--|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 | Dm7 | i7 |
|
| 2 | G7 | IV7 |
|
| 3 | Dm7 | i7 |
|
| 4 | Cmaj7 | ♭VIImaj7 |
|
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 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-neo-soul-behind-as-written-d-82bpm.mid
The reference riff exactly as designed for the style.
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FoundationDownload basnote-neo-soul-behind-foundation-d-82bpm.mid
Off-beats removed and roots on the strong beats: the learnable skeleton.
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PocketDownload basnote-neo-soul-behind-pocket-d-82bpm.mid
Ghost notes and a pickup into every chord change, aiming at the groove sweet spot.
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DrivenDownload basnote-neo-soul-behind-driven-d-82bpm.mid
Doubled subdivision for a busier, past-the-peak version to practise against.
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Half-timeDownload basnote-neo-soul-behind-half-time-d-82bpm.mid
Stretched to a half-time feel with long low notes holding the pulse.
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Octave liftDownload basnote-neo-soul-behind-octave-lift-d-82bpm.mid
The back half jumps an octave, turning the riff into a melodic line.