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Ghost Notes?

Discussion in 'Technique [BG]' started by Verbannter, Nov 21, 2005.

  1. Nov 21, 2005 #1
    Verbannter

    Verbannter

    Nov 15, 2005
    Seething flames of Hatred.
    Right now my technique with ghost notes... is about... well.. as shamed to say it, is non existant. Any tips on how to properly perform a ghost note? And how, if they are, are they related to harmonics?

    Also if you could besides actually teaching me how to perform a ghost note, any tabs, songs, or exercises that I should look for to practice this technique?

    Thanks! :bassist:
     
  2. Nov 21, 2005 #2
    brianrost

    brianrost Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2000
    Boston, Taxachusetts
    A ghost note is just a muted note.

    Play any note on the fingerboard. Now lift your fretting finger just enough so that when you pluck the string you get a dead sounding "thud".

    If your fretting finger lies on the strings where a harmonic exists you can get the familiar "chime" instead of a deadened note.
     
  3. Nov 21, 2005 #3
    bill_banwell

    bill_banwell

    Oct 19, 2002
    England
    How to get a ghostnote out of a bass is hard to explain i guess, just play any note, and halfway through lift of so you get the note but its also muted/dead..

    check out some Tower of power, Rocco prestia is the king of ghost noting!

    Check out these songs.

    Tower of power - funk the dumb stuff
    Soul with a capital S
    What is hip

    :)
     
  4. Nov 21, 2005 #4
    Verbannter

    Verbannter

    Nov 15, 2005
    Seething flames of Hatred.
    Oh wow, that's simple enough, I do that quite commonly actually; I was just familiar with the term muting and this is just basically slightly extended.

    Hehe, Forgive my noobness :)

    For the sake of practice however, let's get some more song recomendations. I'd recomend some songs right now in particular if I was actually home, my server had sound, or my workstation wasn't fried. But in the mean time check out alot of Primus's songs, Les Claypool quite regularly performs Ghost notes and slap techniques. He uses a 6 string however, but a fair share of his work can be done using a basic 4 string. If you're into a kind of interesting mix between funk and rock definetly check him out =). And for metal fanatics, this will require a 6 string bass however, Check out some of John Myung's work from Dream Theatre. He doesn't implement much (None that I have seen) slap however, more to do with tapping and occasionally implements ghost notes

    =( No sound = No guitar pro / Music Archive :bawl: :bawl:
     
  5. Nov 22, 2005 #5
    str8_bourbon

    str8_bourbon

    Apr 6, 2005
    Taipei, Taiwan
    "Roundabout" by Yes, if you like prog rock. The main bass riff is basically a gallop employing dead notes.
     
  6. Nov 22, 2005 #6
    Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

    Alvaro Martín Gómez A. TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player

    Nov 10, 2000
    Bucaramanga, Colombia, South A
    Hey Verbannter!

    If you're really serious about improving your muted notes technique, I highly recommend you to get this book. A great workout, IMO.
     
  7. Nov 22, 2005 #7
    wulf

    wulf

    Apr 11, 2002
    Oxford, UK
    There's a difference between relaxing your fingers shortly after playing a note (cutting it off and producing a punchy staccato feel) and relaxing your fingers before you play the string (producing a quiet sound of indeterminate pitch - a "ghost note"). Often the two techniques are used together - by adding both space (staccato notes) and a halfway stop between space and note (ghost notes), it can create the illusion of a lot more going on adding interest to a funky line.

    Wulf
     
  8. Nov 22, 2005 #8
    nysbob

    nysbob

    Sep 14, 2003
    Cincinnati OH
    The whole concept of a "ghost" note frightens me... :eek:
     
  9. Nov 22, 2005 #9
    Verbannter

    Verbannter

    Nov 15, 2005
    Seething flames of Hatred.
    Poor thing :)

    And as Always Alvaro ;) You're incredibly helpful. I'll try to get that ASAP.
     
  10. Nov 22, 2005 #10
    Figjam

    Figjam

    Aug 5, 2003
    Boston, MA
    Slapping ghost noites...
    Aeroplane by rhcp
     
  11. Nov 25, 2005 #11
    Growler

    Growler

    Sep 26, 2004
    Audioslave "Like a Stone"