Try This Funky Dorian Bass Line (Inspired at a London Music Store)

Walking into a music store is like stepping into a musician’s version of Disneyland. You’re suddenly a kid again—wide-eyed and overwhelmed by walls of basses, stacks of amps, and racks of gear. You’re already doing mental math: How much can I spend? Do I need anything? (Of course I do.) And yet, you’re bracing for the very real possibility that you might walk out empty-handed.

But once you muster the courage to try out a bass, there’s always the question: What should you play? You probably want to avoid the usual slap riffs, botched attempts at Seven Nation Army, or some overly chaotic, unlistenable jam session. Instead, you want something cool, tasteful, and groovy.

That’s where this line comes in.

Funk Bass Groove Lesson: Try This Dorian-Mode Line in Dm7

This funky groove was commissioned for the Yamaha store on Tottenham Court Road in London. At the time, I was in an electro-progressive duo called Low Heaven with a talented young drummer. We visited the store together, and I pulled a four-string Yamaha BB series bass with semi-flatwound strings off the wall. The groove you hear in this lesson came out of that moment—an improvised Dm7 line that stuck.

How to Use Double Stops in Funk Bass Grooves

The groove combines funk rhythms with double stops, which is a great way to add harmonic depth and texture to your playing. It’s a simple but effective concept: you’re playing two notes at once, creating a richer, fuller sound.

Try experimenting with your own variations once you get the feel of this line. The foundational harmony is D minor 7, and the tonal material is drawn from the D Dorian mode:

D Dorian Scale: D – E – F – G – A – B – C

Bass Technique Recap: Dorian Groove, Double Stops, and Funk Feel

• Style: Funk with double stops for added depth
• Scale: D Dorian (D, E, F, G, A, B, C)
• Chord: Dm7
• Technique Tip: Blend rhythm with harmony using double stops
• Inspiration: Written on the spot at the Yamaha store in London