Re: [Harp-L] Ghost notes on harp

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

In jazz, a ghost note usually refers to a note more implied (and perceived) than actually played. Ghost notes occur (or seem to occur) as part of a sequence of single notes. A player can create the impression of a note by fingering it or otherwise making some audible noise instead of actually playing a note. You hear the articulation where a note would go, but you don't actually hear the pitch of the note. The listener may perceive a pitch that seems to fit logically in the sequence of the audible notes around it, but they're really hearing more of a rhythmic placeholder.

Jazz is the main style in which people actually talk about ghost notes, thoguh you can hear them in other styles of music if you lsiten for them.

Ghost notes in this terminology are not generated by other notes sounding at the same time as described by John Potts. The standard terms for those notes are difference tones and summation tones. While I'm not acquainted with them being called ghost notes, I can see why you might use the term. Like the ghost notes I'm talking about, they aren't being played. They are generated in the ear of the listener as a mathematical result of two notes that sound simultaneously. The sum of the two frequencies produces a higher note (the summation tone) while the difference between them (one minus the other) produces a lower tone (the difference tone).

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Sat, 1/10/09, venkyr@xxxxxxx <venkyr@xxxxxxx> wrote:
From: venkyr@xxxxxxx <venkyr@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Ghost notes on harp
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009, 8:30 PM

  Dear list,
  What are "Ghost" notes? Can they be played as such
  or are these a result of involuntary muscle action?
  Do they add any value to the music being played? Do
  they fit with the blues or jazz style of music?
   
  Hissing is not a technique on harp. Right?

www.myspace.com/harpdad
_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l