Some people call it the “kick drum” and others call it the “bass drum.” Call me old school, but I like calling it the bass drum. Regardless of the name you use, how you use it is what’s important. Different styles of music call out for different approaches to this instrument.
For rock, funk, R&B, pop, fusion — pretty much any contemporary music, the bass drum is the foundation. (The base, if you will.) Lay down a solid foundation and then think about the snare drum, and then the hi-hat. The music will sound and feel right. Listen to as many recordings as possible to hear this for yourself.
For jazz, the bass drum is usually felt rather than heard. The ride cymbal and hi-hat are the more prominent voices for this music to feel good. The snare drum and bass drum will play a different role here. There are, of course, players who play differently and that’s great. Listen to it all and decide for yourself. The more modern players are quite often heavier with the bass drum and it still swings — in a different way, though.
The more I listen, the more I like the differences in approaches. Music is such a wide open endeavor that there’s something for everyone. That being said, try playing lighter on the bass drum when you swing — see how it feels. The music can start to float.
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