How to Buy a Bodhran
Investing in a bodhran can be a significant decision and is worthy of careful consideration to ensure it will fulfill all your needs effectively.
Numerous variables can determine the quality of a bodhran, from its skin type/quality and height/depth to optional support bars such as T, cross or single versions – each can impact how your hand moves inside of it.
What is a bodhran?
The Bodhran is a circular drum featuring one drum head that is played using a tipper beater (also referred to as an ‘imp’). It is a fundamental instrument in Irish folk music and other musical genres alike.
Modern bodhrans feature tuning capabilities that enable musicians to alter the drum’s pitch and tone to their liking, making it especially useful in Celtic bands without bass instruments as it fills frequency gaps in frequency spectrums.
Typically played with either the hands or drum stick (known as a cipin), bodhrans can be played either barehanded or with a drum stick known as a cipin. While most are constructed from goat skin, other animal hides including calf, greyhound and kangaroo skins are available too. Seamus O’Kane introduced thin Lambeg skins normally reserved for larger Lambeg drums in Northern Ireland for use on bodhrans to deliver higher and crisper notes.
Bodhran history
Bodhrans are traditional Irish musical instruments that can be played either with hands or sticks, featuring a circular drum connected by a string to a wooden frame covered with goatskin and covered by glue or tacking. Today’s modern bodhrans can be tuned to produce higher or lower crisp notes depending on musician preference.
Historically, bodhrans were used both as an agricultural tool and musical instrument. Most commonly played with a beater (cipin), they achieved widespread recognition during Ireland’s traditional music revival during the 1960s.
Malachy Stensrud of Norway believes the quality of skin is integral to creating the distinctive sound of his instrument and sees creating bodhrans as a spiritual experience.
Bodhran types
There is a wide selection of bodhrans designed to meet varying playing styles and preferences, such as deeper frame drums that produce deeper and richer sounds, or lighter frames which make the instrument easier for those with smaller hands.
Many bodhrans are internally adjustable, enabling players to tighten or loosen the skin to change its pitch from within the rim of the instrument. This feature can be particularly helpful as animal skin tension varies with temperature changes.
Tunable bodhrans also help prevent “edge-loading,” when vibrations from the rim are absorbed into the head and amplified, and dampen unwanted overtones resulting in better overall sound quality.
Bodhran sizes
Bodhrans come in various sizes, so make sure that the one you select matches the size and shape of your hands. Consider whether a shallow or deep rim would best meet your comfort requirements; if in doubt, ask someone familiar with playing to demonstrate it for you before listening closely to what sound it produces.
The best bodhrans use high quality goat-skin or vellum skin (a natural animal material used to produce Irish manuscript paper), rather than synthetic heads or non-tunable instruments.
Be sure to purchase from a store that understands Celtic music. If they offer electric guitars and saxophones alongside the bodhran, their staff is unlikely to know much about its importance. If possible, opt for one with adjustable tuning as this will greatly enhance your playing abilities.
Bodhran accessories
Utilizing different beaters can produce distinct sounds on your bodhran. From traditional hard tippers and split hotrod beaters, to flexible hotrod beaters – there are various options to select for creating your perfect sound.
The Bodhran has become a beloved instrument in Irish music and culture. Its distinctive sound ranges from subtle taps to powerful beats that capture the spirit of celtic Ireland.
Bodhran players are revered globally for their talent and skill. Ramin Djawadi makes use of the bodhran in his soundtrack for Game of Thrones, giving battle scenes a distinctive Celtic edge. Irish folk band The Chieftains also often utilizes it during their live performances.
