By brown9165 (166.107.73.220) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:20 pm:

Can someone explain to me what a ghost note is
I've seen the term used quite a bit to describe
notes that Jamerson played. Can someone give
an example of what a ghost note is.

By Casper 1 sheet (151.197.37.171) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 05:38 pm:

I believe that the "ghost notes" you refer to are
passing tones sometimes not associated with the key of the song but in context , they somehow work and add the character to the uniqueness of his style.

By fayette (152.163.188.68) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

thank you casper i wonder about that too.

By brown9165 (166.107.73.220) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 06:27 pm:

Thank Casper can you thing of a song that I might
be able to pick it out. Greatly appreciated.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 10:39 pm:

BROWN9: BOB BABBITT TALKED ABOUT JUST THIS ON HIS THREAD IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION I ASKED ABOUT A PARTICULAR BASS LICK ON THE "HEATWAVE" CUT ON THE SITSOM SOUNDTRACK!!!...YOU CAN CHECK OUT HIS THREAD AND A RECENT LONG POSTING HE DID!!!...BASICALLY...IF YOU LISTEN TO THE THIRD BAR INTO THE HORN SOLO...YOU WILL HEAR BABBITT HIT A SERIES OF TRIPLETS...THE FIRST NOTE ON THE DOWNBEAT...I THINK A B-FLAT...IS BARELY AUDIBLE...SORT OF A GHOST NOTE!!!...THAT LICK IS REPEATED TWICE MORE...AND AS BABBITT POINTED OUT...THAT NOTE IS MYSTERIOUSLY LOST...EVEN IN THE NEXT TWO LICKS...ALTHOUGH I HEAR IT BETTER ON THE SECOND TAKE!!!...BOB THINKS THAT IT MIGHT BE THE GHOST OF JAMES JAMERSON!!!...STU

By brown9165 (67.25.107.145) on Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 10:46 pm:

Thanks Stubass I will listen to it in the morning
when I get my run in that when I seem to hear
things the best. What Fantastic Bass Players
that have taken music to the next level.

By john c (32.102.126.14) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:02 am:

A ghost note can refer to a note with no discernable pitch which is usually attained by muting either with the plucking hand or fretting hand. Rocco Prestia uses the fretting hand to mute while Jamerson probably used his plucking hand in addition to the foam mute on his Precision. It ends up being a percussive note(s)and can add much to the groove if done right.

In a recent Bass Player article, I think it was James Jr. who used the term for the open string notes his Dad used to play which became a signature part of his style.

By john c (32.102.126.14) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 01:06 am:

p.s.

That open string definition is I think what Casper is referring to. But the term is more generally used for the deadened/pitchless percussive note definition.

By brown9165 (166.107.72.3) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 05:41 pm:

Stubass: Hey stubass this morning when I ran I
listened to the heatwave version of standing in
the shadows. I understand what you and john c
were saying. It's incredible to think that a
musician can make that happen through a certain
way of playing purposely or accidentially. I pulled out my standing in the shadows of motown book with the cd of the tribute to james jamerson just to listen to the different bass players, and it was incredible to listen with a more discerning ear to the tones of the different bass players I was blown away by their playing what a exciting discovery to find these musicial giants. It's exciting in todays music world to find these gems from the past that are out there and still to be discover. Ghost Notes heard never seen but are still being discovered. Ghost Busters!

By STUBASS (205.188.209.38) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 09:14 pm:

HEY BROWN9: IF BABBITT HADN'T MENTIONED IT...I MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT IT...BUT HE BROKE DOWN THE LICK AND TOLD US WHAT WAS *SUPPOSED* TO HAVE BEEN THERE!!!...THEN...I HEARD IT HAPPENING...EVEN THOUGH IT DID NOT STAND OUT AUDIBLY!!!...THATS FUN!!!...GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE!!!...STU

By Patrick (68.21.33.88) on Thursday, March 06, 2003 - 10:06 pm:

The great drummer Rod Morgenstein has discussed ghost notes within his drumming in an interview. It was pretty interesting to read what he had to say!

By Bob Olhsson (12.77.95.52) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 08:53 am:

A foam mute on Jamerson's bass? I sure don't remember that, I even remember being surprised that there wasn't one! Anybody else? (it has been 30 years after all...)

By john c (12.2.233.107) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 10:14 am:

Bob,

The old Precisions had a foam mute you could use to dampen the strings. Most players didn't use it, but I've often read the Jamerson did use it.

In the SITSOM book, some of the contributing bassists used pieces of foam to put under the strings to get Jamersons sound.

I've never played a Precision with the mute feature, but I had a Fender Jaguar guitar that had it. All you did was push a plate on a lever to engage the mute and it was not a very noticeable device. Jamerson always kept his bridge cover on, which is where I assume the foam mute was located.

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

Fender P-Bass Foam Mute - As long as the chrome bell cover is attached, the mute is "on". You have to get a screwdriver to take off the mute.

Bob Babbitt's bass & most Fender P-Basses are played with the mute/chrome cover removed, but he slips a sponge underneath the strings to cut the sustain when needed.

Rickenbacker 4001 Bass (McCartney & Chris Squire) has a mute which can be lowered/raised with thumb screws, but it's nearly impossible to do as the screws are too small to grip.

-Steve

By john c (12.2.233.107) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 03:37 pm:

Steve,

Thanks for the bass player info. I didn't know about the mute being in the bell or about the 4001. I had a 70's 4003, but it didn't have the mute.

By Steve LItos (209.100.86.4) on Friday, March 07, 2003 - 03:59 pm:

John,
I believe that the standard bridge on the 4001/4003 has a mute. The device for the mute should have been there...maybe the foam was missing. I think I had my bass for about 3 years before I ever tried using it.
-Steve

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:06 am:

I think I heard a couple of ghost notes on 'Midnight Stroll' by The Revels! Any commens Mr. Jackson? I also heard a few on a single by R. Dean Taylor, but I cannot remember the title. Also on 'Spirit in the Sky','Monster Mash', a track by The Specials I forget, 'Thriller' too!

By Paulie3 shoes (152.163.188.68) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:22 am:

how bout dat tune i dont stand a ghost of a chance, capice??%^&* an dat tune vision of luv by dat broad mariah whazzername, capice$%^&*)

By Carl Dixon London (195.153.219.170) on Sunday, March 09, 2003 - 11:37 am:

What about 'Dance Macabre' by that French gentle man, or 'The Witch', by The Rattles. Ray Parker Jnr plays a few on his big film theme hit of the eighties. 'Devil gate drive' by Suzie Quatro, 'Suzanne beware of the devil'/Dandy Livingstone (I presume, and then some!).