During concerts, why do some people clap on the bass drum and others clap on the!
Question:
During concerts, why do some people clap on the bass drum and others clap on the snare drum?
Is it generational, a music style thing, or what?
Answers:
As a drummer, I think the clap should go with the snare drum. A clap doesn't match the sound of the bass drum, so it doesn't make sense to me to clap with the bass drum.
If someone wants to do something with the bass drum, they should stomp their foot like many people do in Queen's "We Will Rock You".
Most people that I have watched, clap with the snare. I think the reason why some people clap with the bass drum, is that they are not musicians and don't really know what to do. It's not generational or the style of music, I have seen all kinds of people clapping both ways.
However, I do think there are exceptions. You could clap with the bass in a song that is in 3/4 time and has an emphasis on the first beat, even though the snare might be played on the third beat.
There may be other exceptions as well but they are rare.
Stick with the Snare : )