ghost note
A very quiet, barely audible note played to add rhythmic texture and feel without melodic prominence.
In Depth
Ghost notes are felt more than heard. Drummers play ghost notes on the snare drum between main beats, creating a subtle rhythmic undercurrent that adds groove and swing. Bassists use ghost notes as percussive dead notes between melodic notes. Ghost notes are the secret ingredient that separates mechanical playing from music that feels alive and funky. They are difficult to transcribe because their exact timing and volume depend on feel rather than precision.
James Brown's drummer Clyde Stubblefield's ghost note patterns on Funky Drummer created the most sampled drum groove in history, proving that the quietest notes can have the biggest impact.