I Ain’t Afraid of no Ghost

Book Pages

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  p.1 — Ghost Strokes at the End

  A ghost stroke is a light tap on the drum head, subtly blending into the groove. Widely used in professional drumming, ghost strokes enrich rhythms by adding depth and texture without altering the beat’s foundation.

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  p.2 — Ghost Strokes on 2 and 4

  Placing ghost strokes on both the ‘ah’ of beat 2 and the ‘ah’ of beat 4 establishes a rhythmic texture that enhances the groove—engaging for both the player and the listener.

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  p.3 — Adding an “e”

  In the previous pages, every ghost stroke landed on the ‘ah.’ Now, take the groove further by shifting the ghost stroke to the ‘e,’ adding even more nuance and rhythmic complexity.

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  p.4 — “E” on 1 and 3

  Incorporating multiple ghost strokes weaves a subtle sixteenth-note feel into the groove, adding depth and rhythmic texture.

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  p.5 — Echoing the Snare

  A staple in chart-topping hits, placing a ghost stroke just after the backbeat adds subtle groove and sophistication. This page focuses on mastering the technique by placing a ghost stroke on the ‘e’ of beat 4.

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  p.6 — Ghosting the 2 and 4

  Professional drummers often reinforce both backbeats (beats ‘2’ and ‘4’) with ghost strokes, creating a subtle, rhythmic ‘echo’ that enhances groove and depth.

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  p.7 — Pre-gaming the Backbeat

  An unconventional technique, placing a ghost stroke just before the backbeats creates a subtle ‘rushed’ feel, adding urgency and dynamic texture to the groove.

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  p.8 — Syncopated Bass

  Up until now, all bass drum strokes have landed on eighth notes. In today’s chart-topping hits, syncopated bass drum patterns are common. Practice this modern approach by placing bass drum strokes on the ‘ah’ and ‘e’ for added groove and complexity.

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  p.9 — Syncopated Bass with Repeating Ghosts (1)

  Combining ghost strokes on the ‘ah’ after both backbeats with syncopated bass drum patterns enhances the groove, creating a rich, textured sound.

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  p.10 — Syncopated Bass with Repeating Ghosts (2)

  Enhance your grooves by incorporating ghost strokes on both the ‘e’ and ‘ah,’ crafting a fluid sixteenth-note feel that adds depth and musicality.

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  p.11 — More “E’s” and “AH’s”

  A staple in rock and pop hits, this ghost-stroke pattern infuses the groove with a funky, driving energy.

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  p.12 — Echoing the Backbeat with More Advanced Rhythms

  These grooves blend the ‘echoing the backbeat’ technique with syncopated funky rock bass drum patterns, creating a dynamic and infectious rhythm.

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  p.13 — Pre-gaming with Advanced Rhythms

  On page 7, you practiced ‘pre-gaming’ the backbeat to create a subtle ‘rushed’ feel. Now, take it further by applying this technique alongside advanced bass drum patterns for a more dynamic groove.

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  p.14 — Combining Echoing and Pre-gaming

  Blending the pre-gaming and echoing techniques on the backbeats creates a dynamic push-and-pull feel, adding depth and complexity to the groove’s texture.

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  p.15 — Push and Pull Technique along with “Es” and “AHs”

  Amplify the ‘push and pull’ feel from the pre-gaming and echoing techniques by strategically placing additional ghost strokes on the ‘e’ and ‘ah,’ further enriching the groove’s texture.

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  p.16 — Cradling the Backbeat

  A widely used technique in rock and pop drumming is placing ghost strokes both before and after the backbeat, effectively ‘cradling’ beats 2 and 4. This approach enhances the groove, making it sound fuller, more dynamic and rhythmic.

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  p.17 — Cradling the Backbeat Combined with More Ghosts

  Enhancing the ‘cradling the backbeat’ technique with additional ghost strokes deepens the groove, creating a funky, driving sixteenth-note feel.

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  p.18 — Leading the Backbeat

  Many drumming greats utilize the ‘leading the backbeat’ technique, where multiple ghost strokes precede the backbeat. This creates the illusion of one rhythm layered over another, seamlessly blending into a cohesive groove.

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  p.19 — Embellishing with Double Ghost Strokes

  Similar to the grooves on page 17, these patterns feature two consecutive ghost strokes. However, these grooves take it a step further by incorporating double ghost strokes beyond the backbeat, adding even more depth and complexity to the rhythm.

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  p.20 — Getting Funky with Advanced Ghost Patterns

  These advanced grooves, rich with ghost strokes, challenge your coordination, technique, and skills. Mastering them means you’ve truly mastered ghost strokes in a practical, real-world drumming context. You can proclaim, “I Ain’t Afraid of No Ghost!” Congratulations!