Ghost Notes

[randomhero243]

anyone have and tips how do to these. i can sometimes pull them off but its very hard to do. how do you learn to perfect these.

[oops]

Hey.

Ghost notes are pretty sweet, they seem to make a groove flow better, even when you can't hear them.

The way I got into playing ghost's was listening to the Chili Pepper's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. If you can get a copy of that, listen to it, in particular tracks like 'If You Have To Ask'.

Just work on playing grooves and play everything with your left hand at a low volume (think 1" off the head) even the 2 and 4 back beat. You'll work into it and become a natural in no time.

[gusty]

practise really slow with the stick only coming about 1" off the head...if you dont get them right when they're slow then they'll sound really sloppy when you try to play them fast. try singles, doubles or any other rudiment you want at a low volume/stick height.

[h3r3tic]

anyone have and tips how do to these. i can sometimes pull them off but its very hard to do. how do you learn to perfect these.

Practice slowly!!
Practice with single strokes between your hats and snare but ghost the snare beats. The key is keep the stick that hits the snare (in my case, my left hand) at a very low position lets say about one inch from the center of the snare...
After mastering that then try to come with your own variations with accents... that will make it much more musical! ;)

[Wavelength]

To get started, let's build a simple 16th note groove. Play 16th notes on the hi-hat, then move the left hand on the snare drum. Play the left hand notes as softly as possible. On 2 and 4, move your right hand from the hats to the snare to play loud backbeats, but be sure to keep the left hand going softly. Add the bass drum on 1 and 3, and once you gain more confidence, work on different bass drum variations based on 8th and 16th notes.

Next, do the same thing, but diddle (double) the left hand strokes.

After you've mastered these basic patterns, try playing a "regular" backbeat groove (8ths on the hihat with the right hand, backbeat with the left hand) and add some ghost notes between the hi-hat strokes. Use both singles and doubles, and make sure you're playing them softly and in time!

Working on rudiments, Stick Control etc. is also very beneficial.

[Toza]

"Don't worry 'bout those ghost notes..they ain't nothing but rebound" - Pretty Purdie

[Bernhard]

Bernard Purdie: I ..plain to you

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/bernardpurdie16ghostnotes.html

Just love it....

Bernhard

[caddywumpus]

Bernard Purdie: I ..plain to you

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/bernardpurdie16ghostnotes.html

Just love it....

Bernhard

Man, I love it when Purdie 'splains it how he does. He's so entertaining to watch!

My advice: practice your rudiments at 1" stick heights, take it slow and really absorb the feel of the quiet dynamic. Add accented notes at about 9" heights to work the contrast. Try adding some heights in between for greater dynamic control. Pretty soon, you won't just be playing ghost notes, but you'll gain "dynamic independence" as well. It makes for much more interesting playing, for you and for the audience...

[zambizzi]

anyone have and tips how do to these. i can sometimes pull them off but its very hard to do. how do you learn to perfect these.

I'm addicted to ghost notes. I have to consciously take them *out* of a groove when it's overkill...I've gotten so hooked on them.

I think of them as an inter-dependency to my other limbs. Just let them happen...don't *try* so hard. A great exercise is simply grooving with a paradiddle. Use a paradiddle between the hats (or ride) and only accent the 2 and 4 on the snare...staying aware that all other notes should be as quiet and low to the head as possible. Start out by playing *all* notes as softly as possible, no accents. When you get comfy...start the accents on 2 and 4 on the snare. Don't use the kick at first, if you find this hard to do. Add it in later once you've got the accents down.

Hopefully that wasn't *complete* nonsense.

[larryace]

Very good advice here. You really need to "feel' them. If you can feel them but can't play them, then it's just a matter of practicing your hand technique. That's preferable to the person who can't feel them.

[randomhero243]

thanks! i love how helpful this forum can be

[m1ck]

Very good advice here. You really need to "feel' them. If you can feel them but can't play them, then it's just a matter of practicing your hand technique. That's preferable to the person who can't feel them.

Yeah, you need to FEEL them. I play ghost notes on the snare mostly by accident but they work well when they come through. It's one of those things - like Zen enlightenment - that will elude you if you focus on them and try too hard.

[wy yung]

Bernard Purdie: I ..plain to you

http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/bernardpurdie16ghostnotes.html

Just love it....

Bernhard

:-)

I just love Bernard Purdie! Thanks for that.

[DrummerDavid]

Kill your real notes....






OK...that was bad..sorry.