Bodhran Tipper
No matter if you are just beginning or an experienced player, the bodhran tipper can have a profound effect on your playing experience. Finding one that complements both your hand and grip can be key.
The traditional approach for playing the bodhran involves hand playing. But contemporary Irish percussionists such as Peadar Mercier, Tommy Hayes and Planxty’s Johnny Ringo McDonagh have taken this frame drum to new levels of expression.
The Sound
Some musical instruments, like the flute or fiddle, require years of practice to master. By contrast, bodhran can be easily learned and played within moments – perfect for beginners looking to explore Irish music!
While bodhran can be played by hand, modern players typically prefer using a tipper (commonly referred to as a beater or stick or cipin). Picking out an ideal tipper will enable your drum to produce its best sound quality.
Our selection of bodhran beaters includes both standard drummer brushes, as well as more specialized styles such as hot rod and E-Notch models. Each beater is constructed from high quality woods for both hard and soft playing varieties; our most popular being the Snakewood SW 4 – an authentic double-ended tipper with 11mm ellipsoid ends tapering gently toward 7.5mm in the center.
The Grip
Some musical instruments can be difficult to pick up quickly from scratch, especially for beginners. But the bodhran is easy for even inexperienced musicians to pick up quickly, easing into intermediate level proficiency more smoothly than ever before.
A bodhran is a simple frame drum without small cymbals attached, played using a stick known as a beater or tipper, which creates different tones by being struck in different ways. Each shape and size beater produces its own sound when played against it.
If you are considering becoming a grip, take some time to familiarize yourself with American Cinematographer Magazine online edition and the book by retired key grip Michael Uva titled The Grip Book. Watch filmmaking tutorials or read industry magazines as additional ways of learning the profession; ensure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout your workday and have a healthy breakfast before heading out onto set!
The Skin
The Bodhran is a round frame drum featuring a goat skin head fastened to one side and played using either a beater or stick. While traditionally associated with Irish traditional music, its popularity has spread throughout Celtic music – particularly Scotland, Cape Breton and Nova Scotia/Newfoundland regions.
Bodhrans come equipped with different heads crafted from various animal species. There can be significant variance in terms of abrasion resistance, break-in behavior and sound quality between different skin types; generally thinner skins are recommended for beginner players while thicker ones offer greater performance for more experienced ones.
McNeela Instruments highly endorses Hedwitschak Bodhrans for both quality and value. Each professional-grade instrument is handcrafted in Germany from local wood sources and high-grade goat skins from Western Europe; their CoreLine Bodhrans feature simple yet elegant designs with exceptional craftsmanship that have become favorites of professional players worldwide. McNeela Instruments recommends Hedwitschak’s Bodhrans.
The Beater
While the bodhran can be played by hand, most players prefer using a beater known as a tipper or stick for better sound production. Finding an ideal tipper depends heavily on your chosen style of music – so take time in finding what suits you!
Hard beaters produce a powerful and loud tone and are widely preferred among players. Some bodhran beaters feature weights built-in that help make swinging easier for hands while easing pressure off wrists.
Brush tippers produce a gentler sound that’s ideal for beginner Irish repertoire learners. Hybrid beaters that feature both hard and brush tipper features can provide strength and sound simultaneously; MEINL’s The Brush 2 beater is one such hybrid beater.
