The Bodhran is a versatile musical instrument. When used with its accompanying Tipper (cipin), various rhythms can be produced.

Beginners should opt for a non-tunable shallow rim bodhran as this style allows them to focus on learning the basic strokes and accompanying reels/jigs/reels more quickly.

Features

A bodhran is a circular wooden frame drum fitted with goatskin heads that is played using a stick known as a beater or tipper. This instrument is one of the key percussion instruments in Irish traditional music and also plays an essential part of Celtic music across Scotland and Cape Breton Island.

McNeela offers both non-tunable and tuneable bodhrans to suit novice players all the way through to advanced players. Non-tunable models feature flexible heads which flex with hand pressure for responsive playback; tuneable models allow users to tailor tone and pitch to changing environmental conditions.

Paraic McNeela, Ireland’s premier bodhran maker, offers these premium tunable bodhrans handmade to order – choose between top quality Lambeg or Vellum goatskin finishes and an 8 point hand tuning system to customize your sound and expand harmonic range, producing deeper bass sounds. Each comes complete with its own gig bag, weighted beater and Allen key; plus online lessons so you can accompany traditional Irish music sessions right away!

Materials

Traditional bodhrans are constructed using goat skin stretched over a circular wooden frame and either stapled, nailed, or glued in place for maximum sound quality. Nailed and stapled versions may become susceptible to bubbles and cracking while glue-built versions tend to boast superior strength construction as well as sound quality.

Today’s bodhrans are more sophisticated musical instruments that can be tuned and utilized for all styles of music genres. A talented bodhran player can add something extra special to any session and is an invaluable component to an Irish band or solo artist’s sound.

The bodhran is an ideal instrument for beginners looking to start drumming, thanks to its straightforward setup and simple learning curve. Furthermore, various beaters exist that can enhance sound and feel of this instrument – from hard tippers producing crisp clicks upon striking to hot rods offering less impact per stroke for better tone control on your drum.

Sizes

When purchasing a bodhran, look for one made with quality goatskin and that can be tuned. A non-tunable drum could experience changes in tension as temperature changes affect its tone; this issue is common with animal skins; therefore tunable drums will help avoid this hassle.

Finding the appropriate size frame is a personal choice that should reflect hand size and comfort, rim depth, optional bars (T, cross or single) as well as any desired variations (such as T or single bars). A deeper rim bodhran will produce more modern sounding notes while shallower ones have classic or traditional tones.

Beginners looking to play bodhran should opt for a tuneable McNeela bodhran with an optional bar set featuring beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons by Ronan O Snodaigh of Ireland’s premier bodhran teacher and player Ronan O Snodaigh (this option comes free with all McNeela tuneable bodhrans for a limited time – for more information follow this link).

Tuning

The 14″ McNeela Bodhran offers beginners an easily tuneable instrument with great traditional sound that is simple to tune, ideal for adjustment to environmental conditions and allows users to alter its tone with tightening/loosening of its interior skin over time. Its tunable feature also enables players to control tone.

The rims are constructed from wood and composite materials to produce a solid and sturdy finish, reducing resonance while increasing volume potential to create deeper bass tones.

McNeela Bodhrans hail directly from Ireland and stand for innovation, improvement and musician focus – qualities valued worldwide. Drum Shop Glasgow is delighted to offer these top-selling models – each complete with free weighted beater, gig bag and Allen key!

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