Please tell me what the x means? I keep running across it.
Jim
Please tell me what the x means? I keep running across it.
Jim
Jim -
The X is a ghost note. It means that you’re plucking the string with your right hand to create a rhythmic sound, but the left hand is not fretting a note - the Left Hand is laying lightly on the strings so that no true tone is produced. It makes a cool thud-like sound.
I couldn’t find a Josh lesson that was focused on this specifically, but I did find this:
Gio had described this matter in a wonderful way. This X had been confused me for years, since I had tried to understand bass and related notes that came across. Thx Gio you had helped 2 guys in here! Wonderful
Ha! The dreaded “X”! I will always and forever associate those Xs with Jaco Pastorius’ bass line in Come On, Come Over. I worked on that one for a good long while with my teacher. Oh, the ghost notes!! They were everywhere…
Would the X in tab be the same as parentheses around a note in sheet music?
Did some digging around, and it appears that parentheses around notes in sheet music could indicate several things, but they usually mean ghost notes . . .
HTH, Joe
Yessir! It’s also contextual, but I’d bet that 9/10 times you can use that rule.
There’s no 100% standardized rule on this. Personally, when writing music I do it like this:
Or in other words - parentheses means it still matters where you play it, X means it doesn’t really so much.
Again, that’s just how I do it, not a universal rule.
Thanks Josh! Your way makes sense, but I guess if I’m looking at a song I know I can listen for the sound, if it’s a song I don’t know I suppose trial and error would be in order to try and figure it out.