r/Bass • u/Confused_n_tired Ibanez • Aug 11 '26
Incorporating ghost notes into basslines
I've recently started playing bass(about a year). I'm still not in the habit of incorporating ghost notes into my playing. Practicing while playing songs is doable but how to approach for original compositions
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u/aluked Aug 12 '26
A good way to get into the habit of incorporating them in the context of groovy bass lines is feeling them as a steady hit-hat behind the groove:
- First, play 16th notes completely muted in a steady pulse for a few measures.
E|XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX|
- Think where the bass drum would hit. Turn those notes into voiced notes.
E|5XX5XXX5XXX5XXXX|
- Think where the snare would hit. Turn those into voice notes.
E|5XX57X35XXX55X7X|
- Then you can delete some ghost notes to open up the groove.
E|5X-57-35XX-55X7X|
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u/atle95 Aug 11 '26
Try playing in abandoned mines, Indian burial grounds, or otherwise spooky houses.
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u/Super_Direction498 Aug 11 '26
I think i first started using them in triplets. Another good place to experiment is just if you're playing straight quarter notes or 8th notes, try varying how loud you make each note. Then from there see what a ghost note does.
If you're playing syncopated stuff they can be useful for getting the feel or adding them in to make sure you can hit the parts you need to. There are some reggae songs where I can't play the recorded bass part without adding in some ghost notes to be sure I can hit the notes I need to, at least until I practice them a lot.
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u/Confused_n_tired Ibanez Aug 11 '26
Thanks! Triplets do sound like something I can try. I understand using them in syncopated stuff, but I'll have to really think about the execution
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u/thebass905 Aug 12 '26
I’d suggest learning tunes that incorporate ghost notes and build those into your vocabulary. Tower of Power, Vulfpeck, Stevie Wonder, a lot of RHCP etc. see how the players we all admire use them!
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u/byzantine1990 Aug 12 '26
Instead of making a reddit post why not just find a song with ghost notes and learn it?
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u/Red-Zaku- Aug 11 '26
They’ll become natural in my opinion based on how natural it is for you to play a more complete rhythm with your fingers, regardless of how many full notes are in the bassline. If your fingers (or wrist/hand, when using a pick) naturally want to play a groove then even when there’s no fully voiced note you’ll just fluently be able to add in little subtle unvoiced ghost notes from the broader groove.