Ghost Notes

[Chickencha]

Originally Posted by Nick Kay

The same reason why an open G and a G on the A sound completely different. Same pitch, different harmonic emphasis. You'll even notice a difference in character between dead notes closer to the nut vs. ones closer to the bridge.

So if I read an x on the G line, it means, roughly, "mute the strings with your fretting hand over the G." Would that be right?

[schnigges]

Muted grooves for bass by josquin des pres
impressive how it changed my playing

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by Chickencha

Okay, here's another question that's hopefully on topic enough. When you see a note notated with an 'x' (whether it's a dead note or a ghost note), why can the x appear on different lines? (For example, if you look at cowsgomoo's link, you'll see that in measure 93 there's an x on the G line, and then in measure 102 there's an x on the A line.)

What's the difference, if any? Is it an indication of what string to play the dead note on, or what? Because according to the explanation I see here, dead notes have no pitch.

it's not an exact science... I usually notate dead notes on the staff where the pitch would be if they were fretted properly...

sometimes you DO get a sense of the pitch, because often dead notes bounce a bit on the fret/(fingerboard on a fretless) and kinda make a percussive 'choked' sort of pitch

[daffy]

All the books and sheets I have seen show the 'x' on the note corresponding to the open string on which you would play the dead note. I've never seen a dead note symbol on any other note except an open string note, but I guess that doesn't mean it can't be.

While technically a dead note has no pitch, it does have a tone, and it also has a 'best' string to be played on in the context of the rest of the music. Often dead notes are used to get from one position to another, or one string to another and so indicating the 'x' on the note for the open string gives you an idea of how the phrase is meant to be played.

[Chickencha]

Originally Posted by daffy

All the books and sheets I have seen show the 'x' on the note corresponding to the open string on which you would play the dead note. I've never seen a dead note symbol on any other note except an open string note, but I guess that doesn't mean it can't be.

Just to throw a wrench in things here, I'd like to again reference cowgomoo's link (http://www.bassnotation.com/scott-th...allures-88.php) and point out that in bar 21 there's a dead note on a high A. (The A an octave above the A string, that is.) But I agree that usually you see dead notes on lines that correspond to open strings.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by daffy

All the books and sheets I have seen show the 'x' on the note corresponding to the open string on which you would play the dead note. I've never seen a dead note symbol on any other note except an open string note, but I guess that doesn't mean it can't be.

Look at measure 8 of the second example cowgomoo posted (the Jaco tune).

[cowsgomoo]

you have to remember that my stuff isn't the final word on dead note notation.. I just chose to put the dead note on the 'pitch it would be if not deadened' as a way of indicating approximately where your hands should be...

don't take my stuff as the final word on the subject.. I just think it's the best way to show it

[daffy]

Originally Posted by Febs

Look at measure 8 of the second example cowgomoo posted (the Jaco tune).

Ok, so now I HAVE seen one example of a dead note written on some other note!

I can die a happy man having completed the set!!

Seriously for me this is the one exception that proves the rule, and cowsgomoo said it himself - this is his approach and it works for him. He's explained what he means by it and that that's the main thing.

[SteveC]

TOP and Rocco. That's how I learned/developed my ghosting.