sidechaining

Is there a way to to sidechain say a ghost kick? I made an extra kick track muted it, then tried to send it to what I want sidechained. Am I doing it wrong?

You are → switch the send to pre fader | pull down the kick mixer fader

When you are muting it - no sound is coming to the send …

Why make a copy & mute it?
If you are using the kick as a sidechain input for a compressor just set the send to the comp sidechain input & turn the PreFade send on & adjust to taste.
What are you trying to do please?