The Bodhran Drum Stick
The Bodhran is an Irish drum which can be played in various ways. Originally it was performed with just hands; today however, most often its played with a stick called a Cipin, Tipper or Beater.
Bodhrans come in various sizes and shape can significantly impact their sound. A bodhran is a simple frame drum covered by goat, calf or synthetic skin (sometimes even elephant skin!).
How to hold it
The Bodhran is one of Ireland’s oldest and most distinctive drums, widely recognized worldwide. Although the drum can be played by hand, most players use a tipper stick known as a Cipin to strike its goatskin head. Learning the Bodhran is relatively straightforward; however some maneuvers and hand movements do require practice to master.
The name bodhran consists of two Irish syllables, “bow” and “rawn”, pronounced with their English equivalents; with bow pronounced similarly to bow and rawn more like a yawn.
The Bodhran is also known as Kerry or pencil style drum due to the way its lower head can be played with a short stick held in one hand like a pencil. Players use different strokes on it in order to produce beats and rolls, which may also produce beats and rolls. Sometimes players mark the stick themselves so as to maximize its sound output from their drum.
The cipin
The cipin is used to hold the bodhran drum stick. There are several methods for holding it depending on your playing style: some players prefer holding it with their arm crook while others hold it more conventionally either at its center or top.
Holding the cipin will have an enormous effect on its sound. To create different beats and sounds, adjusting pressure underneath the skin is key for producing various sounds ranging from urgent tapping to melodious ringing beats.
Select the appropriate bodhran size. Your instrument must comfortably rest between your thighs and knees without feeling like too much weight is on them, so experimentation may be required in order to find your ideal size. Bodhran derives its name from Irish verb boir; its pronunciation resembles bow-rawn.
The beater
The bodhran, or Irish drum, experienced immense popularity during the Celtic folk music revival of the 1960s. Some researchers speculate that its roots may lie with tambourines; studies indicate similarities between tambourine, bodhran and tabor (Israeli drum).
Most bodhrans are constructed using goat skin, although other materials like calf, deer and greyhound hides may also be employed. Electrical tape may also be applied around the edge of the drum rim in order to reduce edge-loading while simultaneously dampening unwanted overtones.
As with other percussion instruments, the bodhran can be played either with bare hands or with a lathe-turned piece of wood called a beater (sometimes referred to as tipper), held in your left hand and struck by tapping with your right. Pressure applied can change the sound from urgent taps to melodious ringing beats conveying different emotions or moods; when played expertly by master musicians a bodhran can even convey sobs, laughter or military commands!
The frame
Bodhrans can be played using either one hand, but are most often performed using an instrument known as a “cipin”, also called a beater, that strikes with various techniques to accentuate beats. Cipins are usually constructed of wood and should match the length of each performer’s hand from outstretched thumb to outstretched baby finger.
Alternately, drummers may hold the frame in their left hand while striking it with their right knuckles to produce different tones that range from bass accents to high-pitched beats.
Another method for playing is by grasping the cipin with both palms of one hand and fingers on the other, similar to how pencils are held, like holding pencils. Striking must come from wrist rather than entire hand; this technique is known as single sticking and used when performing basic rhythms; more experienced bodhran players use both ends of their cipin to enhance beats further.
