Irish traditional music revolves around the bodhran, a round frame drum covered with animal skin stretched tightly across it.

The Bodhran is used with either a tipper or beater to produce different sounds from its drum. Furthermore, drummers also employ their hand to produce soft sounds from this instrument.

Frame

The Bodhran is a traditional Irish single-headed frame drum. Resembling a large tambourine but lacking the jingling parts, its origin can be traced to early 19th-century clarach instruments with wooden bodies coated with animal skin covering.

Employing one hand on the inside of the drum to control pitch and timbre while striking it with the beater (double-headed stick), playing a bodhran is easy as it requires only minimal skills to master.

Red Cow Music provides an impressive and diverse collection of bodhrans, from tunable models to complete packs with everything needed to start playing this great Irish folk instrument. Browse through the range and discover an exquisite range of bodhrans suitable for novice and expert players alike.

Skin

An integral component of any bodhran’s sound is its skin. For optimal sound and tone, consider opting for EdlauerSelect Premium Goatskin (or Kangaroo Skin for vegans). Cultivated and refined according to centuries-old tanning traditions, it produces lively drumheads with great tonal characteristics.

Once the skin has been attached to the rim with wide-headed, short staples or wide-headed, short tacks, place it over the routed groove and allow it to sag evenly into the body of the drum. After drying and hardening (this usually takes 24 hours or so), cut away any excess and cut away any transparent areas if necessary to help bring up to playing tension without creating wrinkles in its skin.

Head

A bodhran’s skin is the primary factor dictating its sound; goat skin is commonly employed; other materials may include calf, greyhound or even emu skin. Adjustable hardware mounted onto its frame enables fine-tuning of pitch and tone adjustments through tension control on this component of a tunable drum.

Master bodhran players can create an array of sounds from soft taps that echo melodies to forceful beats that conjure Celtic Ireland. Playing the bodhran requires sensitivity, rhythm, and empathy – workshops can help develop these essential traits.

Crossbars

Some drummers prefer the sound of drums with no crossbars while others find them essential. It is important to experiment both styles to find what best fits you – single crossbars offer greater interior hand freedom which in turn produces a wider range of tones.

An effective tuning system will make an enormous difference in your playing. More and more systems of increasing quality are now becoming available.

Stay away from drums with corporate logos, cutesy Celtic art or beer ads painted directly on the head – this will detract from its voice and tone. Furthermore, ask what type of wood was used in its frame construction as well as the depth of its rim before purchasing one.

Accessories

A bodhran is a frame drum constructed with goat skin head and mulberry wood frame. Traditionally associated with Irish music, its main use is as rhythm accompaniments – often played using either a beater or double-headed wooden mallet (cipn).

An expensive bodhran may be out of your budget; therefore, when purchasing one it’s essential that your finances are taken into consideration. Aim to find an instrument with quality workmanship and that has been properly stretched. Also avoid anything featuring painted skins which will alter its sound quality.

The ideal bodhran is constructed with natural, hand-cured and stretched goat skin that has been individually treated by artisans. This material is more durable than synthetic materials like lemo or kangaroo skin while sounding much better; additionally it should come complete with a sturdy yet lightweight wooden frame for the best playing experience.

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