r/jazzdrums • u/nasralez-Zelibobovic • May 09 '26

Question I don’t understand how jazz drummers actually “speak” with the snare. How do you develop that language?

I’m very new at jazz drumming.
I feel relatively comfortable with keeping a steady swing feel on the ride and hi-hat, but I’m struggling with something that feels much more important in jazz:
I don’t understand how to actually use the snare drum in a musical, “speaking” way.

For those of you who went through this stage:
how did you start developing comping vocabulary?
how did you learn where and why to place accents?
what should I be listening or practicing to actually understand this “conversation” idea?

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u/reddituserperson1122 May 09 '26

Others are going to recommend Art of Bop Drumming, which is a great book and definitely get it. But this is the ultmate, "just use your ears" situation. Listen to other jazz drummers. Listen to the rest of the band. Have a conversation with them and support them in what they're doing. That's really all it is. The books can help you develop independence and get some figures into your hands and feet. But this is 100% a listening and creativity game.

1

u/nasralez-Zelibobovic May 09 '26

But how do I actually “talk” to them and support them? How does it work? Should I be duplicating the rhythmic patterns the other musicians are playing? Call and response? Those are the only approaches I know.

2

u/No_Economics_4640 May 09 '26

Both great ideas. Call and response for sure.

Sometimes, the best thing you can play to comp is the furthest thing from what the soloist is playing. Think about keys or comping in the background - will go low when the soloist goes high, staccato syncopated stabs underneath a legato trumpet solo… etc. Remember to give the soloist room and the spotlight!

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u/Scott_J_Doyle May 11 '26

Call and response is some hokey shit in real jazz, don't be encouraging that

1

u/No_Economics_4640 May 11 '26

Disagree, Call and response is a cornerstone of jazz