Theory
Today you tuck last week's ghost ("chka") into the 16th grid. Fill the empty cells of the root-only line with ghosts and the root goes "boom," then "chka-chka" backs it up, and the groove gets far stickier. Yesterday's room, this time filled with sound — and pitchless percussive sound at that.
The layout is simple. Put the root on the first cell of each beat and lay ghosts on the rest. The ghost is that pitchless "chka" you make by resting the left hand lightly — remember? Keep the root clear and the ghost a touch softer, and the bounce rolls smoothly. Add swing-16 to delay the back cell and the stickiness doubles.
Once it's comfortable, add a drop of the 5th. Slip E's 5th, B (3rd string, 2nd fret), between the beats and the line starts to sing. Wedge one 5th between root and ghost and color returns to a flat groove. Think of it as a trailer for tomorrow's finished groove.
Learn two lines at BPM 70. A bounce that rolls on root and ghost alone, and a bounce with a touch of the 5th on top. When the boom-chka settles into swing-16 and the 5th adds color, today is a win. The fingering is the same on 4- or 5-string.
See it
Today's visuals are two. First learn the bounce that rolls on root and ghost alone, then move to a bounce with a drop of the 5th on top. Each example comes in a 4- and a 5-string version.
First, the root + ghost bounce. Put the open E root on the first cell of each beat and lay ghosts ("chka") on the other three.
▶ BPM 70, swing-16. After the boom (root), three chkas. Ghosts a touch softer, back cell a touch late. On a 5-string rest the low B.
▶ 5-string. Same notes and spots as the 4-string. Cover the low B with the thumb.
Now the bounce with a drop of the 5th on top. Slip the 5th, B (3rd string, 2nd fret), into the second-beat spot to add color to the line.
▶ BPM 70, swing-16. A drop of the 5th B between boom and chka. Keep the ghosts sticky while adding color. On a 5-string keep muting the low B.
▶ 5-string. Same notes and spots as the 4-string. Cover the low B with the thumb.
Today's practice
0–10 min · Warm-up Lightly review last week's ghost "chka" alternating with the open E root and loosen up. Check the dry "chka" comes out.
10–20 min · Brain training Retrace slowly whether the root on the first cell and the ghosts on the rest land in place. Check that boom and chka sit evenly across the four 16th cells.
20–40 min · Real play Alternate the root + ghost bounce and the bounce with the 5th at BPM 70. Learn it on the 4-string, then confirm on the 5-string.
40–50 min · Record Record the bounce with the 5th and listen back. Check the ghosts make the stickiness and the 5th adds color.
Done when: you can weave root and ghost into the 16th grid with a drop of the 5th to make a swing-16 bounce groove, and confirm it on both 4- and 5-string.
- Chka covering the boom. If the ghost is bigger than the root, the bounce gets heavy. Keep the chka a touch softer.
- Ghost ringing. Rest the left hand too gently and a "hmmm" hum leaks out. Rest just enough to kill the string.
- Pressing the 5th too hard. The 5th is a drop of color. As big as the root, it makes the line heavy.
- Neglecting low B (5-string). Cover the unused low B with the thumb through the whole bar.