The Bodhran and Its Beater
The Bodhran is a circular drum constructed with goatskin membrane. This skin has been treated to produce high-quality sound. Furthermore, there are wood strips which crisscross at right angles forming handles on either end for easy handling. Finally, playing is accomplished using wooden beaters called tippers or cipins.
Some bodhran players opt to play using only thumb and knuckles instead of using a beater, producing a less loud but harder-to-hear sound onstage without an amp. This technique produces less volume; however, and may require amplified sound systems.
Soft tippers
Natural drumheads can be greatly affected by multiple factors. These may include factors like animal age at slaughtering, UV radiation from sunlight and its effect on skin aging processes, hand sweat, pH value of player skin and type of beater used, which all play an integral part. It would therefore not be accurate to assert that one tipper material will destroy another tipper’s skin – however the choice of material does have limited bearing on sound but can have great influence over comfort and feel.
Weighted beaters
Beaters are an essential component of drum sound. The material they’re made from affects their overall effect; for instance, plastic beaters will have less attack than wooden ones.
Weighted beaters can also be useful. These beaters feature metal weights at the tips, making it easier to compress yarn tightly without straining your wrist too much. Just be careful not to apply too much pressure; overdoing it could tire or harm it!
DW’s flagship replacement beater features an expansive striking area, interchangeable felt and wood strike surfaces, as well as removable brass weights to produce dynamic lows with tight articulation for fast patterns. Perfect for drummers who wish to personalize their sound!
Hot rod tippers
The Bodhran holds a special place in Irish Traditional Music. As one of our oldest and newest instruments, its current form makes it perfectly suitable to accompany Irish dance music.
As part of our manufacturing process, we can precisely tailor each detail and achieve a range of sound variations without limiting or restricting common playing styles and grips. This also enables us to produce beaters suitable for all playing styles without restrictions or constraints.
As soon as a bodhran is played, it becomes subject to various stresses. A player may tear the skin with their own hands or other players; environmental conditions like climate, dust and dirt, and UV radiation can damage it further causing its skin to become fragile and break down over time. Hand sweat and pressure behavior from players also have an impactful impact on breaking in of its surface; for this reason it’s crucial that players keep the drum clean!
