Groove Killer? Learn Ghost Notes and Save Your Bass Lines

What Are Ghost Notes for the Bass Player?

In this quick lesson, we explore ghost notes — the rhythmic nuances that breathe life into your bass lines. I’ll break down both two-stroke ghost and three-stroke ghost note patterns, and show you how to use them to add texture, groove, and feel to your playing. These subtle, percussive strokes are often the secret sauce behind the world’s funkiest, most expressive bass grooves. Whether you’re into funk, R&B, soul, rock, or jazz, learning ghost notes is a game-changer.