 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gabrielle
Date: 2002-10-07 04:30
hi, I was just wondering, does anyone know how to play a ghost note? I've tried looking it up but all i found was this definition: "An indenfinite pitch, not atually played but rather felt or implied at the correct rhythmic moment." What does this mean exactly? Thanks for all your help.
Gabrielle
P.S. For those of you who don't know what a ghost not looks like, it's a note in brackets
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2002-10-07 06:51
It's hard to explain... It like, imagine a popular tune, play it, but not the last note. The person listening will be waiting for that note because they know it's coming, but don't actually hear it. Therefore, it is implied. You don't actually physically PLAY the ghost note. The listeniner feels that it is there. Imagine a clarinettist who moves a lot when they play. Imagine it without sound - the notes they are playing, we can only imagine.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-10-07 15:05
They are like ghosts--you think you see/hear them, but really, you don't. The technique is to actually finger the note and make all the usual breath and articulating efforts to play it, but don't. The result is that it is "there", but not. As stated above, it's hard to cyberexplain. Ghost notes are like David Coppefields disappearing elehants--you think they are not there, but they really are. You just can't see/hear them. You really have to see/hear ghosties (or not) to fuly understand. If you listen to some of the great jazz sax players--Stan Getz, for one--you will hear this effect often used. A good recording of Sammy Nestico's QUEEN BEE is also recommended.
For starter's, just play the notes indicated as "ghost" tones as softly as you can--and then, softer and softer and softer.......with practice you DO have a ghost of a chance.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2002-10-08 13:49
Are you saying that they are notes that are played by blowing through the horn without making the reed vibrate? Or are you saying that you don't blow at all and any sound is made through the closing of the keys/fingers on the instrument?
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-10-08 15:59
Must admit I've never seen or heard of them and don't know if it's a joke or not. How about "wolf tones"
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Author: Ken
Date: 2002-10-09 20:48
This is an area we can have some fun with. I was always taught a true "ghost note" is STILL a legitimate note where a sound, utterance or audible indication of such must occur...to play or do nothing would be "a rest" which a ghost note is definitely not. In appearance and function it is observed as, contains a metered value, counted and even defines pitch in the very same way as a "played/sung" note. The only distinction is a ghost note is identified by an "x" but still in standard notation (whole/half/quarter etc. and/or stemmed). William has a traditional interpretation and is perfectly acceptable particularly in jazz.
Where we part ways is I believe it can also include "invention"; slapping/popping of keys, reed flicking, stop tonguing, hanging over from the previous pitch, leading into the next pitch, a squeak, fingering the note and blowing "hot air", a grunt or even pseudo vocalization. I've also seen/negotiated ghost notes with slurs, housetops and staccatos over them...they are NOT rests where nothing comes out of the horn. v/r KEN
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