How to add a ghost note in Flat
Last updated September 17, 2026
A ghost note in Flat is a note played softly or muted, written with its notehead enclosed in brackets. Flat applies and removes the ghost notehead with a single tool, so a rhythmic filler note can be marked without changing its pitch, its duration, or its position in the bar.
Where is the ghost note tool?
The ghost note tool sits in the left panel, under the Notation tab, in the Pitch and Representation section, next to the other notehead tools such as the dead note. Its icon is a notehead drawn inside brackets, which is exactly what it writes.
| Feature | Where it is | Icon |
|---|---|---|
| Ghost note | Notation tab, Pitch and Representation |  |
What are ghost notes?
In music theory, a ghost note is a note that should be played softly or muted. It does not have a clear pitch and is mainly used for rhythm. In sheet music, a ghost note is written as an "X" or with its notehead enclosed in brackets, telling the musician to lightly touch or mute the string or key without producing a clear sound.
How do I add a ghost note?
Select the note you want to soften, then open the Notation tab in the left panel and click Ghost note under Pitch and Representation. Flat encloses the notehead in brackets. Applying the same tool once more turns the ghost note back into a regular note.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a ghost note and a dead note?
A ghost note is played softly or lightly muted and keeps a hint of pitch, written with its notehead in brackets. A dead note is fully damped and has no pitch at all, written as an "x" that replaces the notehead, or the fret number on a tablature.
How do I remove a ghost note?
Select it and apply the ghost note tool again. The control toggles, so the brackets disappear and the note returns to an ordinary notehead while keeping its pitch, its written value, and its place in the bar.
When should I write ghost notes?
Whenever a note is there for groove rather than for melody - the muted filler notes in a funk bass line, a brushed guitar chord, or the light strokes between accented beats of a drum part. Bracketing them tells the performer to keep them present but well below the notes around them.
Can I write ghost notes on any instrument?
Yes, the bracketed notehead can be applied to any note in Flat. It is most common on plucked strings and drums, where the technique it describes is standard, but the notation itself is not restricted to a particular instrument family.