7.4.4 Ghost notes

Ghost notes for drums and percussion may be created using the \parenthesize command detailed in Parentheses. However, the default \drummode does not include the Parenthesis_engraver plugin which allows this. You must add the plugin explicitly in the context definition as detailed in Changing context properties on the fly.

     
     \new DrumStaff \with {
       \consists "Parenthesis_engraver"
     } <<
       \context DrumVoice  = "1"  { s1 *2 }
       \context DrumVoice  = "2" { s1 *2 }
       \drummode {
         <<
           {
             hh8[ hh] <hh sn> hh16
             < \parenthesize sn > hh < \parenthesize
             sn > hh8 <hh sn> hh
           } \\ {
             bd4 r4 bd8 bd r8 bd
           }
         >>
       }
     >>

Also note that you must add chords (< > brackets) around each \parenthesize statement.