The Irish Drum Bodhran
Irish music is famously rhythmic and the Bodhran is an integral component of that soundscape. Historically it could be played either with your hand or using an instrument known as a Cipin.
Sean O Riada can be credited for popularising bodhran in Irish traditional music sessions; now it is almost impossible to imagine any session without one! Innovative players like John Joe Kelly and Peadar Mercier have introduced exciting techniques into playing the drum.
Practice to Reels
The bodhran is a frame drum played either bare-handed or using a stick known as a cipin, decorated with anything from spiraling Celtic spirals and GAA county colors to family coats of arms and professional players often opt for beautifully decorated drums for playing. Although decoration doesn’t affect sound production, professional players are known to adorn their instruments with colorfully painted drums as part of their performance arsenal.
The origins of the bodhran remain uncertain. It may have originated as an offspring of tambourines commonly seen throughout southern continental Europe and arrived in Ireland via trade routes; its name comes from Irish word ‘bodhar’ meaning dull or deafness.
Bodhran did not come into mainstream use until the folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s, when Sean O Riada made it popular as front man and bodhran player for Ceoltoiri Chualann (later with The Chieftains). At this point bodhran playing truly began evolving; players explored new tuning systems, frame depths and dimensions and skin types before evolving further as players.
Practice to Hornpipe Rhythms
Today’s bodhran has seen significant development both in its playing style and design. Much of this progress can be credited to late Irish composer Sean O’ Riada who introduced an underappreciated drum into Ceoltoiri Chualann in the early 1960s, elevating it to become an instrument worthy of concert halls and theatres.
Bodhran players can adjust their hand position to strike specific parts of the drum’s curved surface for different pitches on this instrument, creating different rhythms and musical styles on it.
Irish jig beat is an excellent starting point. Beginners should start off practicing basic rhythms before progressing onto more intricate patterns and accents. Furthermore, experimentation is key when learning the bodhran; players can try playing both top-end (by striking more around its edge) and bottom end styles that involve striking the instrument closer to its middle.
Practice to Songs on YouTube
The bodhran has evolved quickly from being used only for ceremonial occasions into becoming the core element of Irish music, thanks to Sean O Riada who introduced this overlooked percussion instrument into Ceoltoiri Chualann ensemble during its rise to prominence during the 1960s.
History of this Irish drum can be difficult to trace; its origin could range from being made out of skin trays used to carry peat and potatoes, or from an ancient shamanic drum, as one theory suggests. One thing’s certain: its unique sound sets it apart from any other frame drum.
The Bodhran is capable of creating an array of notes ranging from sharp urgent taps to melodious ringing beats, depending on how its player manipulates pressure on its underside skin to produce different sounds that convey different emotions, from sadness or merriness, all the way through to martial action calls for battle.
Practice to Tuning
Some bodhran players wet their skins before playing, which significantly lowers tone and allows them to tune the drum more playably. Water or beer may be used, though extended saturation of skin could potentially harm it over time. An alternative approach would be adding tension by placing cardboard strips inside their drum with shims (long thin strips), increasing tension.
Electrical tape can also be used to protect the rim of a drum and reduce “edge-loading”, dampen unwanted overtones and make the drum less susceptible to humidity fluctuations.
Once your bodhran is properly tuned, it is easy to practice to various types of music. Be sure to pay particular attention to rhythmic and accent patterns within each song so you can replicate them using your bodhran, making the sound much more musical and authentic. Practice before playing live performances so that you are confident with matching beats with ease.
