Lo-Fi Ghost Notes: Keep the Backbeat Clear
A ghost note is a quiet supporting hit, not an extra accent. This 82 BPM lo-fi exercise keeps the snare on beats 2 and 4 and places softer rim hits between them. Compare the complete pattern with a version that removes those rim hits.
Press Play to listen. Use Reset to restore the starting pattern. The chart and MIDI links below also work without the player.
Snare backbeats and quiet rim hits are different layers
The preset name is Ghost-Note Snare Pocket, but its soft supporting hits use the Rim track. The Snare track itself has two strong backbeats on steps 5 and 13. That distinction matters when rebuilding the pattern: adding loud snares on every quiet-hit position changes the groove.
Rim hits sit on steps 4, 8, 12 and 16, immediately before each numbered beat. Their MIDI velocities are about 28, 33, 30 and 25, versus 119 and 127 for the snare backbeats. Velocity is a performance value, not a promise of the same loudness on every drum instrument.
Read the complete pattern
| Drum / count | 1 | e | & | a | 2 | e | & | a | 3 | e | & | a | 4 | e | & | a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | 119 | · | · | · | · | 84 | · | · | 107 | · | · | 91 | · | · | 81 | · |
| Snare | · | · | · | · | 119 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 127 | · | · | · |
| Hat Closed | 58 | · | 43 | · | 56 | · | 41 | · | 61 | · | 43 | · | 58 | · | 43 | · |
| Hat Open | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 48 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 53 |
| Clap | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 71 | · | · | · |
| Rim | · | · | · | 28 | · | · | · | 33 | · | · | · | 30 | · | · | · | 25 |
| Shaker | · | 23 | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 25 | · | · | · | 25 | · | · |
Listen for what disappears
- Press Play, then use the Rim (R) track’s Mute button to remove the four quiet hits. Leave the other tracks unchanged.
- Unmute Rim. Listen to the approach into the next beat rather than waiting for a bigger snare sound. The rim adds motion around the backbeat.
- If the rim takes over, lower its track volume. If you cannot notice its absence, raise it briefly to learn the pattern, then bring it back under the backbeat.
The downloadable “without rim” version makes the same comparison in your own drum instrument. Match your instrument and track level between versions; only the rim notes have been removed.
Turn the idea into your own ghost-snare part
The downloadable snare-ghost variation moves the four quiet rim notes from MIDI note 37 to snare note 38, keeping their low velocities and timing. Import it to hear six snare hits: two strong backbeats and four quieter support notes. The original player above still uses the separate Rim track.
Start with a short snare and no extra reverb. Some kits barely change loudness with velocity, while others select a different sample. Adjust the quiet hits by ear until the main backbeats stay obvious.
Timing to preserve
The preset uses 16% swing plus small offsets. At 82 BPM the global swing adds about 14.6 ms to alternating 16th steps; rim hits receive another 4–5 ms. Setting the player’s Swing to zero retains the individual offsets. Import the MIDI to reproduce the full timing.
When to leave the extra hits out
A busy vocal, rhythmic sample or bass part may already fill these gaps. Compare in the song, not only with the drums soloed. If the backbeat becomes harder to follow, remove or soften the support notes.
Choose the next pattern
All 10 lo-fi MIDI patterns · Compare even timing with programmed feel