The Bodhran is an incredible musical instrument, capable of creating everything from urgent beats to melodious, ringing beats with skill.

An arm drum is a single-skin frame drum designed to rest on one’s leg (usually left for right-handeders) and be played without drumsticks but using a special stick known as a beater.

Origins

Though bodhrans have been part of Irish life for generations, their modern popularity only truly flourished during the folk music revival in the 1960s due to Sean O Riada who added one to Ceoltoiri Chualann.

Today’s Bodhran is an extraordinarily versatile and complex instrument, though its origin may have stemmed from an earlier frame drum with attached jingles for winnowing grain seeds from their hard spikey covers.

Arguments have also suggested that the bodhran is based on ancient druidic drums, which may have travelled via popular trade routes to Ireland. This type of instrument resembles those commonly found in Cornwall known as Crowdy Crawns which act as winnowing drums.

Construction

A bodhran is a circular drum fitted with an attached skin made of goatskin or another animal material; other materials may also be used. There is an opening on one side that allows its drummer to hold it with one hand.

For optimal results, skin is immersed in a solution for two days before being stretched and left to dry naturally in sunlight for optimal bleaching effects. Once complete, it is glued onto its wooden frame – either nailing, stapleing or gluing are suitable methods; but glueing yields superior results.

Traditional Bodhrans often featured an ornamental cross on them; however, due to modern frame construction and glueing techniques this feature is no longer seen often; nevertheless it remains an appealing element in certain images depicting this instrument.

Tuning

There are various ways you can modify the sound of your bodhran. One method involves striking its rim with your hand for softer sound; this technique can be particularly helpful for playing reels and jigs.

Traditionally, bodhran was played using only one hand; nowadays however, more performers opt to use a stick known as a beater which typically made of wood and designed to fit a performer’s entire hand from thumb to knuckles.

To combat atmospheric conditions’ influence on tuning of a bodhran, some players wet the skin before playing. This quickly reduces pitch, though can become cumbersome during long sessions. Another method would be inserting corrugated cardboard strips between skin and rim to dampen its vibrations.

Techniques

The Bodhran has undergone remarkable development since its first appearance. Reintroduced to Irish music by Sean O Riada, it has since seen new heights of excellence achieved thanks to Peadar Mercier and other virtuosi like Johnny Ringo McDonagh and John Joe Kelly.

Bodhrans resemble traditional frame drums in appearance; however, what distinguishes their playing technique is using one hand to hold onto a stick (called a Tipper or Cipin) which dampens its skin to alter its sound – from low bassy sounds up to very high pitched ones.

Hold the cipin in your hand using both thumb and index fingers as if holding a pencil, then move your wrist up and down to strike at the goatskin head.

Styles

Today’s high quality bodhrans can sound fantastic from day one; workshops and online videos make learning them easy for beginners. But newcomers should avoid those featuring Celtic designs or Guinness logos on them; such instruments should remain in pubs or on walls rather than being part of musical performances.

The bodhran can be played both with one’s bare hand and using a stick known as a cipin, offering three distinct hand styles and five ways of using stick style.

One of the key breakthroughs in modern bodhran playing occurred during the 1970s, when Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh of De Dannan and Flook’s John Joe Kelly developed innovative styles. Their playing included influences far outside traditional Irish music and resulted in striking tonal differences.

Please follow and like us: