Theory
Yesterday you laid E9 over the right-hand motor. Today you apply Week 2's ghost notes to this real chord. Now the contrast gets far richer.
Last week the real note was one small stab; today it's E9, a full chord. A clear "ta" where you press E9 to ring, and a ghost "chick" where you ease the pressure to choke it. From the same E9 spot, only the pressure goes on and off. The chord rings brightly, then suddenly chokes, then rings again — that contrast is the true texture of funk guitar.
Here the left hand takes on two jobs: one is "the hand that holds the chord accurately," the other "the hand that manages the pressure." Doing both at once is confusing at first. Especially if the chord shape collapses when you release, the next real note turns messy. So the trick is to keep the shape and only ease the pressure. Don't lift the fingers off the strings; just release and re-apply the pressing force.
At first, minding both the chord and the ghosts will feel overwhelming. Of course. Today, one E9 ring and one ghost — even just that clear contrast is enough. Once it sits in your hand, your E9 stops being just a chord and becomes a "breathing" groove. This breath of the chord ringing and choking is the decisive hair's breadth that separates a flat accompaniment from a truly "funky" one.
See it
The contrast of E9's real note (blue) and ghost (colorless). From the same spot, only pressure on/off — keeping the shape.
Example 1 — E9 + ghost mix (1 bar). E9 real note on the head of beats 1 and 3, E9 on the '&' of 2 and 4, ghosts elsewhere. The chord rings, then chucks.
▶ BPM 68. Press only on the real-note spots, ease the rest to "chuck." Listen to the chord/ghost contrast, 4×.
Example 2 — E9 ghost groove (2 bars). A drum-like version with real notes mixed in more densely. Chord and chuck alternate fast.
▶ BPM 68. Once easy, shift the real-note spots to vary it. The point is the shape never collapsing.
Today's practice
0–10 min · Warm-up BPM 60–70. Holding E9, alternate "ta (press)" and "chick (ease)" to warm up pressure on/off. Keep the shape.
10–20 min · Brain training (today's target = shape + pressure) Holding the E9 shape, without lifting the fingers, repeatedly release and re-apply the pressing force. Check the chord rings and chokes.
20–40 min · Real groove (Examples 1·2 / BPM 68) Repeat Example 1 (E9 + ghost) 4× at BPM 68 → then Example 2 (ghost groove). The key is the chord/chuck contrast and keeping the shape.
40–50 min · Record & reflect (recommended) Record and check: does E9 ring clearly / are ghosts pitchless "chucks" / did the chord shape hold?
Done when: keeping the E9 shape, you can make the contrast of chord (ta) and ghost (chick) with pressure on/off alone.
- Shape collapses on release. Ease only the pressure; lifting the fingers messes the next chord. Keep the fingertips on the strings.
- Ghost rings as a chord. Not relaxed enough. The "chuck" must have no pitch.
- Real note is vague. Re-apply force firmly. A half-hearted press won't let the chord live.
- Right hand stops. Even with a busy left hand, the right-hand motor keeps going.