Because our purpose is to help music therapists (like you!) FEEL like the leaders they ARE, we want to bestow some powerful “drumming language” on you today…. courtesy of our instructor Dave Holland.
Dave, what is a ghost note? In drumming, a ghost note is played at very low volume. In musical notation, ghost notes are indicated in parenthesis surrounding the note. According to The Drummer’s Bible: How to Play Every Drum Style from Afro-Cuban to Zydeco, the purpose of a ghost note is to “…be heard under the main sound of the groove.” This produces a subtle 16th-note feel around a strong back beat or certain accents.
Ghost notes enable the player SYNCOPATE rhythms in order to provide a very cool groove.
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I also urge you to check out Dave’s course, World Rhythm 101, here!
Be well, feel good, and make MUSIC!
Kat Fulton, MM, MT-BC
Founder, MusicTherapyEd.com