Ghost notes are embellishments which can be played on either hand. They are basically muted notes which don’t sound out clearly. In this sense they have no melodic value. Their true value is that they enhance the rhythm of the drums, particularly the hi-hats.

Right hand

Ghost notes are notated as an x on whatever string is being played. This video would then be notated as:

A slight modification of the rest-stroke technique will produce right hand ghost notes as follows:

• Position both fingers on whatever string is to be played.

• Use one finger (usually the index) to play the string whilst leaving the other finger on the string.

• This muffled note is the ghost note which always comes before the real note.

• The other finger which remained on the string (already in position) then plays the real note.

Left hand

Ghost notes can be produced with the left hand by holding the string lightly so that it doesn't produce a clear note. The left hand can be anywhere on the neck so long as the string isn't pushed down onto the neck. The musical reasons for producing a ghost note with the left are the same as for the right hand, i.e. to enhance the rhythm. Notice that in this video I actually wasn't holding the strings firmly enough with my left hand which produced some natural harmonics instead. Towards the end of the video when I slapped the notes they were fully muted.

Left hand ghost notes are very handy when slapping as you only have one thumb on your right hand and so you can’t use an extra alternating thumb to mute notes like you can with fingerstyle techniques! Ghost notes are a very effective way of sitting even closer with the drums as they invariably fall on another part of the drum kit such as the hi-hats. The bass then complements the whole kit and not just the snare and bass drum.

The next example has Latin influences due to the drumming pattern. The ghost notes are produced by relaxing the left hand over the 3rd fret on the A and E strings.