Ghosting bluffing and fluffing Beginners to AdvancedMaking mistakes is a part of life. When you try to execute something and it doesn’t come off you can’t let the whole thing fall apart. You have to quickly put it out of your mind and get back on the tracks.

Playing music is somewhat analogous to driving a car. You have to watch the road a certain distance in front of you. Not too close so that you are staring at the bonnet and not too far so you gaze out to the horizon. When playing music you have to have in your mind a bar or two in the future so as to prepare for what is coming up. You don’t think two minutes into the song or the very next note.

When a mistake is made it is very common for someone to loose place in the music. The mind will dwell on the past and cannot see forwards. The idea is to keep listening and find your place as soon as possible. The number one rule here is to keep time – to stay with the beat. Mute the stings on the guitar with the left hand and keep the rhythm going with the right. This is called “bluffing”, “fluffing” or “ghosting”.

The percussive sound of the guitar is still in the mix, this will mask the fact you have lost your place or forgotten a chord. Muting the strings with the left hand will ensure a chord will not sound - this will avoid any clangers .

All you have to do now is turn round to the other members of the band and smile as if you really meant it and job done.

At the end of the day it takes a trained ear and attention to detail for anyone to realize you have lost your place.