Ghost Notes

Lesson 5/30 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Funk Bass
Ghost Notes

Ghost Notes

Ghost notes are notes achieved by muting a string with your left hand while playing it. They have no distinguishable pitch, and are represented with an X. To mute the string, lightly place your left hand fingers on it without pressing down. Be careful not to produce any ringing sound (harmonics or a hammer-on note).

For ease of playing, mute the string in the same area of the fretboard as you are playing the other (fretted) notes.

It can be seen that each ghost note corresponds with one particular string.

This example uses the slap technique on the open E string only and ghost notes. Check your sound to ensure there is a clear distinction between your normal notes and ghost notes.

This example uses the same rhythm concept alternating between normal notes and ghost notes. This time a four-bar progression is used.

This example is also played entirely on the E string, but no ghost notes are used.

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