How to Play Bodhran Drums
Skilled players of this humble frame drum can convey emotions ranging from mournful sobs to upbeat, joyous beats. Airs, the slow song-like melodies characteristic of Gaelic music, typically offer little room for experimentation on the bodhran; dance tunes such as reels and jigs provide ample opportunities for exploration on this instrument.
Size
The Bodhran is commonly referred to as an Irish thumper and consists of a frame drum with goatskin heads that is played either by hand or using a wooden beater known as a Cipin.
The Roosebeck 18 Inch Bodhran is an ideal introduction to this traditional Irish musical instrument, made of mulberry wood with goat skin head stretching evenly for maximum sound output and durability.
It features a shallow shell depth, making it easier for novice players to manage and control. In addition, this model comes equipped with a dampening ring which reduces overtones to enhance tone quality, plus an internal tuning mechanism for convenient use.
Material
Bodhrans are composed of wood and animal skins – usually goatskin (but not always) – that are combined together, and they’re highly vulnerable to atmospheric conditions like temperature and humidity. To help the drum maintain its shape and sound, it is a good idea to rub its backside with clear water prior to every use. This should keep things sounding their best!
The skin is stretched loosely over the wooden frame and attached using nails, staples or glue; any tension created from nailing may lead to cracking and tears in its fibers and fray if too tightly stretched over.
Electrical tape can help reduce edge-loading and dampen overtones of bodhran drums, as well as protect them from scratches or dents.
External Tunable
Bodhrans are frame drums with open sides that enable players to dampen the skin with their hand in order to adjust its pitch, from bassy low notes up to high pitched melodic melodies.
So it is not surprising to find bodhrans with external tuning systems becoming increasingly common, giving musicians greater options when performing live or recording.
O’Riada brought bodhran drums back into prominence during the 1950s thanks to Sean O’Riada. Since then, innovative players have expanded its use by adding rhythms from other genres, experimenting with frame depth and dimensions changes and employing different materials for skins.
Internal Tunable
Many makers of bodhrans now produce drums with an internal tuneable mechanism, featuring an inner hoop driven against the skin by screws which tighten or loosen its head to allow tuning of different sounds and avoid atmospheric conditions affecting tension of head tension. This revolutionized how they are created and played.
The Bodhran is a round wooden frame drum with a goat skin head tacked to one side that is struck with a beater or tipper stick. There are two primary playing techniques – top end style and bottom end style – though most players use both approaches simultaneously. Top end technique involves hitting specific regions on the Bodhran’s head when playing this way.
Tips for Beginners
Though learning the bodhran can be relatively straightforward, its modern playing style may present its own challenges. To get started playing like a pro it is best to listen to professional bodhran players and familiarise yourself with traditional Irish music as a base.
Not to forget is that although the bodhran is traditionally played sitting down, some may prefer standing up when playing it if their wrists have difficulty staying straight while playing.
If your wrist begins to hurt, try taking a break and performing stretching exercises to reduce strain. Or experiment with playing drum with the rimshot technique – adding new sounds to classic rhythms can add great variety!
