How to Play Bodhran
Learn the art of playing bodhran from its fundamentals of beat to playing rolls and triplets, plus stick usage, hand playing styles and session do’s and don’ts.
Listening and imitating great bodhran players are crucial when learning bodhran playing techniques.
How to Play
Typically speaking, the bodhran is an easy instrument to pick up. It consists of a frame drum with one open side and is covered by a goatskin drum head – ideal for any culture around the globe and played using various techniques.
The bodhran is played with both hands using a stick called a tipper (or beater). While holding its wooden rim tightly against your left hand, grip the tipper like you would hold a pencil in your right hand and start playing!
Predict the tunes you intend to play and memorize them; this will enable you to match and embellish their natural rhythm. Furthermore, listening to professional bodhran players and trying to emulate their playing will also prove immensely beneficial in your learning process.
Tuning
A bodhran is a frame drum with an inlayed goatskin head that is played with hand drumsticks or sticks known as cipins or ‘tippers”. There are various styles of playing the bodhran; mastering all hand and finger movements will take practice.
If a bodhran is out of tune, its sound can produce an unbearable tone that must be adjusted by adding pressure to its interior skin. One way of doing this is placing one’s palm over the center of its skin while using leverage provided by placing your heel against a cross beam as leverage.
Experienced bodhran players do not add oil or grease to their skins and a high quality skin should only require minimal upkeep – such as applying small amounts of water by hand (not via spray bottle) and massaging it in. This prevents it from drying out too quickly and coming loose from its attachment points too quickly.
Rhythm
Under the direction of an accomplished player, a simple frame drum known as a bodhran can produce an array of rhythms and sounds. Bodhrans typically range in diameter from 14″-18″, featuring single head made from goat, calf or synthetic skin stretched over wooden bases; to play one, use a tipper (similar to pencil) which strikes back against its skin to dampen or change sound output.
This style of playing the bodhran is used by musicians who prefer striking specific regions of the drum head in order to produce different pitches and tones. This type of performance requires an acute awareness of rhythm as well as excellent partitioning with their left hand.
Ben Hewlett is an extremely accomplished music educator and leads this course with patience and professionalism – taking it step-by-step and teaching each lecture in just 5 minutes!
Technique
Bodhran playing requires mastering certain techniques. Holding the bodhran correctly and striking with proper wrist movement are integral in creating the sound you desire from this drum.
Beginning by holding your drum (if you are right handed) by its non-playing rim and resting it against your body. Take hold of a bodhran beater using your dominant hand; grasping it about one third down from its top as though holding a pencil, and strike its tipper against the skin in an arc shape with your beater.
Repeat this simple up and down motion until you find a steady rhythm that allows your left hand to do other things, like slap the bodhran or add beats with the back of your thumb. Listening to great bodhran players and watching how they highlight natural rhythms of songs will help develop your own style – for instance check out Paraic McNeela from County Kerry for inspiration!
