The bodhran has changed and evolved more in recent years than perhaps any other instrument in Irish traditional music, thanks to Sean O Riada and Peadar Mercier’s performances with Ceoltoiri Chualann and The Chieftains bands respectively.

A bodhran is a flat frame drum constructed from goatskin stretched over a wooden hoop frame and played using a short stick called a beater or cipin.

Origins

The bodhran is an Irish frame drum thought to have come over on trade routes from its native Middle Eastern and European homelands. Due to its similarity to tambourines – popular musical instruments used throughout these regions – its likely that the bodhran descends from something similar.

Bodhrans became widely recognized during the Irish traditional music resurgence of the 1960s, when Sean O Riada and The Chieftains popularized them. Since then, bodhran playing has undergone ongoing evolution.

Although its precise origins remain obscure, it is clear that bodhran has a rich and long history in Ireland. One of the earliest depictions of a bodhran dates back to around 1833 in a large oil painting called Snapp-Apple Night depicting a Halloween house party featuring an artist known only as Snapp and which features clearly visible depictions of this instrument – though these dates cannot be confirmed independently.

Techniques

Learning the bodhran can be done through various methods. One is taking online lessons; another way is watching videos of your favourite bodhran players and learning from them. Furthermore, practicing will help hone your existing skills as well as develop new ones over time.

The bodhran is often played as an accompaniment instrument, and to play it properly it should follow the melody. Instead of driving or dominating rhythmic progression, its best form lies in matching it and embellishing its beats.

Under the care of an accomplished player, the bodhran can express an array of feelings, from sharp tappings to melodious ringing beats – creating sobs, joy, or even military calls-to-arms.

Styles

There are various styles of playing the bodhran, both hand and stick styles being among them. Hand styles do not utilize a stick while stick styles utilise it for playing purposes.

These techniques enable bodhran players to produce an array of sounds, from urgent taps to melodious ringing beats, as well as emotive responses such as sorrowful wails or even an encouraging call-to-arms call.

The Bodhran has become an indispensable part of Irish traditional music and is also increasingly being utilized by musicians from other genres, including Middle Eastern percussionists. Due to its versatility, its acceptance has increased greatly – it makes a great choice for beginners looking for their first instrument!

Materials

Experts disagree about the exact origins of the bodhran, though some suspect its creation may have come via trade routes from continental Europe.

A bodhran consists of a wooden frame covered in mammal skin. The drumhead is attached using wood strips which cross at right angles across its frame. After two days of curing, water is added to make the skin more flexible before stretching it and drying in direct sunlight if possible.

After your skin has completely dried, you can attach it to the bodhran using nails, staples or glue for optimal results. We strongly suggest this approach because of its efficiency.

Appearance

Although drums, played either with sticks or hands, have been played in Ireland since ancient times, the bodhran didn’t become an essential musical instrument until its revival during the folk revival in Ireland in the 1950s and 60s thanks to Sean O Riada who brought it into mainstream Irish music.

The Bodhran’s popularity stemmed from its versatility; being played with either hand and being portable made it an attractive instrument to learn and master. Furthermore, tuning capabilities exist and many bodhrans feature jingles similar to tambourines for additional jingle action.

Now more than ever before, the bodhran has become one of Ireland’s signature instruments and widely played by musicians such as John Joe Kelly and Peadar Mercier.

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