Ghost notes are notes played softly and unobtrusively to support the main beats and the melody. They are common on drums and bass, adding fine movement that never comes too far forward.
The basic idea
The point is not to make them inaudible but to make them weak in contrast with the main notes. They keep the strong beats prominent while filling the gaps in the rhythm.
How to use it when playing and programming
Keep the snare on beats 2 and 4 strong and add small notes in between. Lower the velocity and the note length and check whether the groove changes.
How it differs from related terms
A ghost note is a note played deliberately softly, while a rest is time in which no note sounds.
A few of them add a lot of feel, so start with an amount that does not disturb the main rhythm.
