Do any of you use Ghost Notes much?

[richfirstbass]

Early on, I used ghost notes consciously and unconsciously. Now, it's something I try to avoid unless it's a similar to a funk tune whereby the ghost note is a specific part of the bass line. I don't use it to time keep. The fact that I was doing it was pointed out to me (unconscious..) by an instructor who is a Berklee graduate who studied under Charlie Haden and Ray Brown.

When I play in a band, silence is as important as generating sound, whether articulated notes or ghost notes. The ghost notes become distracting and in some cases risk being rude (stepping on someone else's part). Imagine if the guitarist in the band played ghost notes everywhere possible to keep time. Yuck! I think it's the same way for bass playing, drumming, etc. Respecting (and enjoying) the musical space between the instruments and themselves and between the instruments and the vocals makes for a much more dynamic and interesting piece of music; and still funky as hell!

When I wanted to change the way I was playing, I found it difficult not to use the ghost notes, because it had became a second nature habit. But it the effort paid off and I know that I'm a better bass player and musician for it.

 

[Chef FourString]

Yes. A lot of the time.

 

[basscooker]

Yep, but the way that I do it is different than what I have seen most do. I usually see people mute with their fretting hand and pluck with their plucking hand. I hold the note with my fretting hand and do the muting and plucking with my plucking hand. It is almost like an open handed slap with my plucking hand. Kinda strange, but it work well for me and sounds good.

lowsound

that's sorta mine. i will kinda whack all 4 strings while i've got them muted with my left hand. this sounds great in unison with the kick drum.

 

[JoZac21]

It seems strange to me that the OP would even consider asking the question unless new to the whole concept as the technique is so fundamental to the instrument. DB players had been doing it long before Leo cut up some planks. Maybe if coming solely from a metal background. But yes, people do use ghost notes, even when they think they don't.

There are varying extents to which bass players, depending on style/genre/etc., use ghost notes... Yes - almost all bass players use ghost notes, but the amount you use them can have a series affect on your overall style...

As I stated above, I am extremely liberal with ghost notes - to the extent that guitar players, singers, etc. have noted that during rehearsals and whatnot in which there is no drummer, they still feel like there is one there...

Every bass player i have ever heard uses ghost notes... but there is a significant difference between using them on a rare occasion and using them as a feature of your playing...

I think that my extensive use of ghost notes is an important part of my style, and is often what separates me from other bass players...

While I certainly will slap when necessary, and I'll even use a pick when it's called for - ghost notes are an enormous and important part of my style, and I think the OP has solid ground on which to ask this question, since so many bass players don't use ghost notes to the extent that players like myself do.