Drums feel stiff? Add ghost notes

Ghost notes are very quiet snare hits between the big backbeats. They fill the spaces with a soft rhythm that makes the groove feel played rather than programmed. Keep them quiet: you should feel them more than hear them.

How to do it

1. Program your normal backbeat (snare on 2 and 4).
2. Add soft snare hits on some of the sixteenth notes around it, often just before or after the backbeat.
3. Set their velocity low, around 20 to 40.
4. Don't fill every gap. Two or three ghost notes per bar is plenty.
5. Add a little swing so they sit in the groove.

Why it works

Ghost notes are what real drummers play between the accents. They add movement without stealing attention from the main hits.