Darrell, Obviously there are certain parts we'll play where there's no need for ghost notes. It's just too straight forward, and you would never consider ghosting a 16th note between them. For instance when you do a right - right. like muff - tone, or bass - tone with the same hand. In this case, it's difficult to screw up the timing. But, when you're playing a fairly complex part that is sided. So, on one side of clave it'll play something that's different than the other side. like the Salidor/Tumba part in Guaguanco or Guarapangueo. Now, it sure helps to have some ghost notes to keep you in the right place. Also, when left and right handing are switching where they are in relation to the downbeat.
Here's a real-life example of where placing some ghost notes helped me in a rhythm. I was playing the Salidor on Guaguanco too squarly according to my teacher. He said, "you need to round it out. The rounded off nature of Quanguanco is felt and generated in the low tones of the Salidor." So, he demonstrated what he meant, and then I tried it to no avail. It wasn't until later, that I found that I could include a bass-touch system that is almost the 6/8 tumbao, and that enabled me to play the Salidor with the correct 6/8-like feel, and it was those ghost notes that got me there.
In reality, this happens over and over again with almost every rhythm. You'll find that you aren't quite getting a part to sound exactly right. Then, you go back to square one and place some ghost notes in with the right timing or feel, and then you're back where you need to be.
They can be the key to playing certain parts the way they need to be.
Another point is that in leads, solos, and support variations, you can find your way into pick-up notes, and special off-beat notes by playing a new "re-voicing" (Mike Spiro's favorite term) where you were playing a ghost note. So, if you learned without ghost notes, then you may find particular embellishments very difficult, where they may otherwise have been a simple re-voicing.
burke wrote:I'm honestly not sure why touches or ghost notes are even done in the first place. I think I've read they are a time keeping device but there are lots of rthymes that that have 8 or quarter note spaces we all play without the use of touches to tell us where we are.
Darrell