This excerpt is taken from the complete article that appears in the October 2016 issue, which is available here.

Rock ‘N’ Jazz Clinic

Groove Construction

Part 6: Ghost Notes Using an Intertwined Approach

by Jost Nickel

In this month’s lesson we’ll continue working with ghost notes by incorporating them into grooves using an intertwined approach. When using this method, the ghost-note phrasing is interlocked with the bass drum pattern. Let’s introduce the four-step approach. We’ll start with a hand pattern using 8th notes on the hi-hat and snare drum accents on beats 2 and 4.

For the complete lesson with transcriptions, check out the October 2016 issue, which is available here.