How To Improve Your Ghost Notes

[@navid8276]

“The internet is teaching us that we can just watch a video and somehow be better. This instrument does not work that way” Words of absolute truth right there. 🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@derrickblakely2626]

What Mike Johnston said makes a lot of sense. No instrument works that way. I watch KZbin videos on trying to learn songs on the keyboard and I struggle trying to get my fingers to play the right chords, and struggle trying listen what chords are playing. It’s not as easy as some may think. I get so frustrated, that I just stop. It’s very difficult when you are a self taught musician. It definitely takes work and it’s a very long process.

[@RobShaffer]

Thank you for mentioning that it took you 4 times to film that. Your honesty shows us that it takes work for you too. Love it.

[@mikeslessons]

It takes a TON of work. I learned this years ago, and it took me a whole lot more than 4 tries, LOL.

[@peterwhite3953]

Hard! But very cool. 2024 practice sorted. Thanks Mike and happy new year

[@jamespollard1842]

I love when musicians are truthful. They love to share the secret. Practice what you love and you'll love what you do. Getting better all the time. We need more musicians.

[@heypapi6969]

The initial focus on a single limb is SO important for learning, at least to me - surprisingly don't see many people dividing it into limbs when they're teaching.

[@rosslmccallum]

Happy new year!

[@chrisheather3391]

the editing and timing on this whole thing is gorgeous

[@mikeslessons]

Awe Chris... you just made my day brother!

[@IraSiegel]

The best instructor on KZbin.

[@Cichlids23]

Thanks so much Mike.....Im old now and trying to learn the drums and I'm just sooooo down on myself... I think about practicing sometimes and it just seems like a fruitless journey!! I should just start with one small groove at a time and be more patient, thanks for the Great advice!!!

[@WannabDrummer]

well said, I'm RIGHT THERE!!!

[@JanPatrickLucas]

Best of the Season to you Mike. I've got away from drums for a long time, and recently creeping back, so this was perfect timing. I absolutely adore how sweet your drums, playing and recordings always sound. Most of all, you are genuinely one heck of a nice/ positive human being. That takes more discipline than drumming and I admire you for it.

[@helmutfetz4083]

THX for beeing honest about the Time-Consuming Process of getting any better on the Instruments!👍 Happy New Year🍀🕺😎

[@DrumTipTuesday]

"The journey is the best part of this whole thing" - Mike Johnston 6:29

[@NguyenThang-yc9py]

The "Be patient with yourself" hits hard Mike. It's currently happening with me, and I have to accept that things will continue to get improved gradually, day by day. I'm left handed (and also left foot main too xD), so the real issue is the other limbs will not work that well. My right foot still sucks a lot, it lacks strength, durability and speed compared to the left foot, but I can see the improvement if I have practice at least 15 20 mins a day, even if it's only 1 or 2 bpm.

[@nicktin]

Awesome exercise

[@Nachi_Keta]

I was attending a live coaching at a drum clinic in Germany with Mike some time ago, and I can say for me he is hands down the best online drum educator by far. Not only his skills on the kit but his ability to transfer his knowledge in such an efficient, easy to understand, authentic and entertaining way are what makes him stand out so much. Great work!

[@mikeslessons]

Being called "efficient" by a German is one of the highest compliments of my career :) Thanks for all the kind words brother

[@andreamontali5764]

I am an Italian living in Germany. I can fully understand what you mean 😊​@@mikeslessons

[@thomasnappo6309]

Well done mike...Happy new year 😊

[@rjvsmb]

Love the Casper notes.

[@ddrumcorner4682]

Yea Mike, personally, 2024 is the year of back to basics for me.. i REALLY enjoy digging deep into the fundamentals! My hope is that drummers really learn to embrace the process for the next year. Of all the lessons ive learnt as a drummer, an educator- even as a man, this stands out: BIG CHANGES come from small ideas, in small increments over time; lay one brick, not walls; improve by 1%. Thank you for always presenting this truth. Keep sowing and watering those seeds! cheers

[@bpooboi]

Been playing for 24 years. Never thought I'd say this. But my skill level is that of someone playing for maybe 8. Please practice. Keep vigilant. It's the only way to play

[@skinfiddler]

This is a keeper

[@mikeslessons]

Awe man, that makes me really happy. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@vicdillon6278]

Happy New Year Mike!

[@tricky48]

This was exactly what I needed to see as I am really focusing on both ghost notes and left handed independence lately... cheers!

[@InSyncDrums]

Not a kit right now.. But I KNOW this will be tough! Keen to get it!

[@matheussilva-gv6mh]

Man I am a new Brazilian drummer and I playing for 5 or 6 years and I appreciate your way to explain, thank you, and now, I started a teaching people and the knowledge comes from many sources and you is one them,❤ ( sorry for my written errors)

[@miker5233]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year's brother

[@ScantlessBeatz]

This is one of my weaknesses Just learning drums, Im a beast on a drum machine but working on making my own drum loops.

[@jasongreathouse1827]

Thanks Mike. After taking about 10 months off, I appreciate you dropping these videos. You rock man!

[@joc8]

Great lesson, Mike! This instrument requires constant practice, as you just said... I wish I could practice 4/5 hours a day, but my neighbours would probably run me out of town! And, yes, going into, or out of ghost notes from an accented note is tricky. Cheers, and Happy New Year.

[@tylermorgan261]

This is an awesome lesson! I’ve been working pretty hard on it the past few days. At first I struggled a lot with coordinating the second kick drum part, but today I worked some New Breed melodies in on my foot along with the ostinato from the exercise and it really helped me tighten it up!

[@rockytoprecordingreviews4167]

Great video Mike! And what a challenge too! Keeping the pattern varied while focusing on the ghost notes is a great way to find what weaknesses we might have on them too!

[@dansmusicuk1]

Great advice.

[@terrytk9398]

Excellent camera angles deftly edited into the narrative bringing the exercises to life. Drumming and film technique delivered from the inside in an an engaging, meaningful and practical fashion.

[@PalashBackup]

Yay! The happy hat is back. We need this. This is what beginners are missing. And your dynamics game is on whole another level. Thanks Mike. And a Happy New Year.

[@tobiaslagerberg8962]

Nice video!

[@dieheiler8104]

Great lesson as always, thanks Mike👍 Reminds me of the Rosanna shuffle where I always skip the ghost note after the Backbeat. Good reminder to practice in the new year. All the best for 2024🎉

[@re__laxx8530]

You have such an amazing channel, and I’m so glad you’re here on the Internet to teach many people

[@user-ori-5]

Amazing lesson! I've been on it for two days and it's so fun and sounds great. I've seen a lot of drum videos and this is without a doubt one of the most interesting classes. it challenged my coordination and I enjoyed every moment. Thank you! you are a champion

[@babyyames]

Finally a video that gives you exercises to practice ghost notes🔥

[@chadjohnsonsr_thedrummer]

Great stuff, Mr. J! Much appreciated... Happy New Year!

[@SebastianKreinau]

Thanks for being so honest about now difficult this stuff was for you. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@drummermomcjs]

Nice exercise Mike.

[@orcapodmedia]

After all these years. Still inspiring us.

[@nixneato]

Happy new year Mike! This one is an amazing one. Quite impossible to nail it the first time around, it takes a minute. The one thing I'd add is when I play a ghost followed by an accent, I actually play the ghost lifting the stick. If you release your fingers ever so slightly, the stick will tip over forward and gently graze the head, and as a result you get a perfect ghost note and your arm is up and ready for the accent that follows. It takes a bit of calibration of course, but it's a life changer if you're into these. You mentioned the Purdie shuffle. If you want to play an off-beat snare accent, which is very common in that groove, while not breaking the ghost flow, you'll need to master the soft-hard thing.

[@arviuxxx]

Love it, Mike, happy New Year, have a good one ! ;)

[@chrisfreeman4957]

Great lesson as always Mike. Thank you and happy new year!

[@johnrobinson8323]

Happy New Year Mike! Thanks for sharing another awesome lesson with us ! 🥁❤

[@jzu907]

im a very heavy handed person so i definitely struggle with being quiet as it is but i would 100% with what you said in that going into or coming out of an accent with a ghost note is so difficult its evil. i really enjoyed your video and am gonna give it a shot! thanks mike

[@bladimircorrales7942]

Thank you so much. God bless you even more.

[@Alx-L]

Just subscribed! A masterclass in Ghost notes and a huge class in wise humility. Respect Mike and thanks! Solid practice

[@luisroberto3306]

Thank you soooo!!!! Much! Mike you’ve helped me grow as a drummer. ❤️ your content I consider you as my father of drumming! Your one beautiful human being.

[@grahammartin1461]

Thank you once again Mike for a great lesson. I'm off to work on it now! 😄

[@billhunting7776]

As you know, this is something that I really need some work on. Thank you

[@carlosalvarenga8435]

I’m glad I followed sometimes I forget I’m not someone else but I’m better than what I was. Thank you

[@dittos69]

It fell apart for me when I started opening the hi hat, that was challenging but I love a good challenge. I will definitely keep practicing this, love this stuff. Thank you for uploading.

[@renatocosta5601]

Excelent! Thanks for your help!!❤

[@CraigShawCraigShaw]

I remember learning ghosts notes years back. Good ghost notes are the difference between novice and intermediate drummers imo. Rosanna is the track I used to play on repeat, Jeff Porcaro was the master of ghost notes. I also enjoyed listening to Live's Secret Samadhi album. Chad Gracey's gratuitous ghosting in most songs was also fun to play along to. Cheers Mike

[@mixinkperranporth]

Great lesson, lot of things have clicked for me doing these exercises, although I’ve been trying to incorporate the shoulder tip seesaw hi hat rocking wrist action thing, I think it helps me keep things in place, great stuff thanks again 🍻👍

[@paulblahuta3860]

Love your work Mike!!

[@craigwilliams501]

Love the idea of running through right hand options with the consistent left hand pattern! Good stuff! I reinforce my ghost note skills on the pad with a paradiddle exercise (capital letters are accented, lowercase are very low): Rlrr Lrll rLrr lRll rlRr lrLl (this one works the accented into unaccented) rlrR lrlL (this one works the unaccented into accented) I do 4 repetitions of each, running them from one to the next without stopping, repeating the whole set ad nauseam. Cheers!

[@DrumGalaxy]

I noticed the additional mics, too! Fill us in.

[@lm8404]

I liked all three modes!😂 Loud, ghost, no ghost.. Good lesson though.. I’ve been wandering about these ghost notes.. I try, but I needs work..

[@mattnieri1202]

Clyde Stubblefield approves this exercise 👍😁

[@studio18a96]

So great Mike 👊

[@kevinsloan5570]

" Go practice ." OK , I'm going , I'm doing it .

[@mikeslessons]

LOL! Sorry for being so bossy 🍵🙏🏻🍵🙏🏻

[@kevinsloan5570]

@@mikeslessons Mike , you're not bossy at all , and I luv when you say it . And I'll bet that I'm not the only one . And who knows when you say that , that someone really needs to hear that and it inspires them . I'm going to go and practice now ! LOL !!

[@EJCAudio]

"Super secret advanced tip": Playing slow is HARD.

[@D3ltus]

4:18 "there's a shadow just behind meeee..." xD great video man, thanks a ton, I started playing 2 months ago and resources like what you provide are a blessing. Have a good one!

[@FadjarMoeljarto]

Awesome, thathe lesson 🥁👍

[@AggressiveMonks5621]

Cool lesson, thanks. I watched this and then worked on it some more with my teacher, Alan Schechner. :-)

[@luigifestante6469]

Hi Mike my son 13 and I are trying hard to go into this exercise but we were able to do just the quarter and eighth the other one are still to difficult but we divided the exercise and we will try hard to perform the other one to.

[@ignacioperezdelcastillo3182]

Gracias,Feliz Año

[@monidelvalle11]

Bro, I love all of your videos, but this one… DARN!!! Sooo Good!!! By the way, things fell apart surprisingly soon LOL! Thank you for the exercises!!

[@bladimircorrales7942]

Practice,practice=excellence.

[@Kilativvvv]

Спасибо большое! Очень полезный урок!

[@peterworley4361]

I’m the world’s worst learner when it comes to drums. I try something, can’t and never try again. I will try this though. Great video.

[@johngrobson4899]

Awesome 👏💎👏🥁🔥🥁

[@edgardomarrero8694]

Very good video

[@Noteven0]

What if you blast beat the ghost notes alternating between even and odd counts, while randomly switching between 12/8 5/8 & 7/8 time, at 170 BPM! Just use your minds ear to visualize it, man… that would be a grunchy kroove, Mike!

[@trashstack]

Any updates on the practice pad you're cooking up👀

[@theysdrummer]

Will try it tmrw. What kind of click metronome are you using? All the best 🥁

[@stevendunton5520]

Totally off topic, but do your VF NE1 sticks come in multiple sizes? I’m only asking cuz they are my go-to stick and just bought another pair on Amazon and they were much thicker, like 5B, than any other pair I’ve ever bought? Cheers bro! Steve @ Gretsch

[@mikeslessons]

If they were ANY different in any way than what you have purchased from a store or an online store like Sweetwater, then they are fake. The sticks may have slightly different wights (as do all sticks from all companies) because the weight is due to the water content in the dowl before the stick is made, but the size/shape will always be exact!

[@dylpykldrums]

Can you make another video and show us how to get that UNGODLY Matt Garstka ghost notes. (or Thomas Haake). Im having issues coming up with practices for.. uh, advanced ghost notes, I guess I would call it. Great video sir!

[@believeinittobe4873]

Let's hear about the mics you've added! I see the "crotch" mic, and maybe tom mics now? Curious minds want to know!

[@PirateNightsuN]

nice hat!

[@mr.s.7081]

My drum teacher told me that ghost notes is what makes your drums come alive, and I believe he was right - which is also one of several reasons I can't stand blast beats.

[@ОлегВолков-о6м]

С наступающим Новым Годом!

[@basicgrooveelements2681]

Okay, I love to get in to this as I love to listen to you potcast (Mike&Eddy) too and I'm fascinated by teaching drums :Are you using a bit of Moeller whip to go from ghost to accent? Your underarm seems to rising during the ghost before the accent, right? Thank you HJ

[@TerdFerguson]

Enjoyed the video Mike! Posting for the algo!

[@F.A.A-im7vx]

I find that when I practice ghost notes with my left hand on the snare, my right hand wants to play the high hat like a ghost note also

[@F.A.A-im7vx]

I like how you said to take one beat at a time for a couple days.

[@remitufo1206]

what s that crashes ' name pls

[@PezrulezHaakon]

Couldn't do the first two, but example 3 and 4 went ok with most ghost notes about right. Then the rest of the exemples went down the drain. I'm nowhere near that independence Would take me too long to learn .

[@Topjunkie-r4s]

You want to improve your ghost notes? Listen to ANYTHING DAVID GARIBALDI