How To Play Dead Notes On The Bass
Hey there, bass players!
When it comes to bass technique, dead notes are one of the most fundamental concepts related to our playing. Also known as “ghost notes,” they are used as an element of percussion rather than pitch when you’re playing a bass line. Dead notes add rhythm to our playing and can dramatically impact the overall feel of a bass groove. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, your ability to control dead notes will significantly impact your overall sound as a bassist.
What Is A Dead Note On Bass?
A dead note prioritizes percussion over pitch. The pitch of the dead note—whether you’re playing an A or a Bb—is less important than the rhythm it provides. Therefore, when dead notes are written on a staff, they typically show up as an “x” to signify that they don’t quite carry a particular pitch. Dead notes can be played on any string and can also be played alongside hammer-ons and pull-offs to add a funkier element to any groove.
Why Are Dead Notes Hard?
Dead notes are challenging for a few reasons:
Dead Notes are hard to hear. Since they don’t carry a particular pitch, they can be difficult to hear as a “note.” They also tend to happen quickly and may fly under the radar. They can be extremely subtle and you might not even notice that they’re happening within a bass line.
Dead Notes are often masked by other instruments. We might not notice the dead notes if the rhythm guitar is playing something funky or if they coincide with what the drummer is doing. Are we hearing a dead note on the bass or a kick drum hit? Is the bass playing this rhythm or is it coming from the guitar? Plenty of these questions may arise, especially when we listen to older recordings.
Dead Notes are hard to play. While they may come easily to some, most players have difficulty with this technique. They can create unwanted harmonics, take up too much space, or simply not feel right when played within the groove. This is the opposite of what’s supposed to happen. If it doesn’t come naturally, bass players tend to push this concept off, thinking “oh, I can’t get the dead notes, I won’t worry about it.” While that might be a shortcut at first, it will definitely come back to haunt you.
How To Play A Dead Note
The simplest way to play a dead note is to prepare for the note you’re about to play. Let’s say you’re going to play a G on the 3rd fret of your E string. Put your finger in position but rest it on the string before pushing the string down to the fretboard. As you’re resting on the string, that finger will technically be muting the string. Use your plucking hand to strike this string and you should get a dull, muted, non-pitched attack. Voila–a dead note! Then, press your finger down so that the string sits on the fretboard and you will have your pitched note, the G.
Why Don’t My Dead Notes Sound Good?
The most common complaint is that players create noise, a ringing note, or an unwanted harmonic when attempting to play a dead note. This happens because:
Your finger is on top of the fret, rather than just behind the fret. The act of resting your finger on the fret will create a harmonic when your plucking hand strikes the string and the note will have a higher-pitched ring to it. This is especially likely on the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th frets because those locations are best suited for harmonics. The fix? Make sure your finger is behind the fret!
You aren’t using the right amount of pressure–either too much or too little. Too much pressure and you’ll play a note or a harmonic. Too little pressure and you won’t mute the string enough. It may take some time to figure out exactly how much pressure you need to apply to create the dead note.
Your timing is off. Dead notes are extremely short and shouldn’t have time to ring out at all. Remember, it’s a muted note that will decay immediately. When people try too hard to play a dead note, they often give it too much attention, aka, too much time. If you hang on the dead note for too long, you’re giving it more attention than it deserves. Play the dead note, then play the pitched note.
Adding Dead Notes To Funk, Soul And Motown Bass Lines
Dead notes are particularly common within soul and Motown bass lines because they add that rhythmic je nais se quoi. James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, Duck Dunn, David Hood, and tons of other bass players were known for adding dead notes into their finger-style parts.
As music evolved, dead notes took on an even greater role with funk music and slap bass. Slapping and popping are particularly rhythmic, so the more the merrier in terms of rhythmic complexity. Adding dead notes that are slapped, particularly in the form of muted-open string attacks, will bring about your best Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, or Louis Johnson bass lines.
To learn more about these players and their use of dead notes, check out my book, Bass Players To Know: Learning From The Greats. You can grab an autographed copy from my website store or find it on Amazon!
Adding Dead Notes To Blues and Jazz Walking Bass Lines
Believe it or not, dead notes are extremely common in blues and jazz walking bass lines. Whether you’re playing a shuffle feel or walking quarter notes, the dead notes will add a “skipping” sound and provide some forward momentum. Dead notes are also widely used as an upright bass technique, so players from Willie Dixon to Ray Brown to Ron Carter take advantage of this technique.
Adding Dead Notes To Your Own Bass Lines
Now that you’ve had some practice integrating dead notes, try adding them to your own bass lines. I like to give myself a “groove prompt” and just a few pitched notes to work with. Figuring out how and where to place dead notes can take your groove from being simple to being funky and complex!
For more information on dead notes or to grab TAB/Notation for some of the exercises in the videos, please check out my Patreon page.