What are ghost notes?

Subject: What are ghost notes?
From: Marion
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:37 AM

Hello all.

I bought a music book (Eric Clapton Unplugged) and a lot of the notes in it are in brackets, both in the standard notation and in the tablature. The book's legend says that brackets mean ghost notes, but doesn't explain.

What are ghost notes?

Marion

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: IanC
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:42 AM

Marion

It's a note played softer than the main note.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:54 AM

Just so...here's a little more from www.tabcheck.com:

The best description of a ghost note, is a note that is felt but not heard. You will play the note softer, and without emphasis. The note is usually in-between 2 parentheses. In addition, notes in parentheses could mean optional notes. For instance, if a particular riff is repeated, but sometimes the guitar player throws in some additional notes, those additional notes may be in parentheses. Do keep in mind the use of parentheses for bent notes as well.

The example below could mean either a ghost note or an optional note. There is no way of telling without a recording. And really in this context, do either and it will sound fine.

E--------------------
B--------------3-----
G--------------2-----
D--------------0-----
A---3--(0)--3--------
E--------------------

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: Marion
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 10:51 PM

Thank you.

Marion

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: Blackcatter
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 01:39 AM

Gee and I thought it had something to do with my business of Ghost Tours . . .

pax yall

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 12:24 PM

I thought that they were the ones like I play that scare the living death out of people :0 JohnB

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 02:56 PM

I thought it was spirit writing or Ouija Board ramblings. If the phone doesn't ring here soon, I will go completely insane! Slow day at the office.

Subject: RE: What are ghost notes?
From: Amos
Date: 24 Mar 01 - 12:16 AM

Those are the notes that are just above your singing range but still in the song that has been haunting you for days....