McNeela Bodhran Drums
Historically renowned in Irish traditional music, today the bodhran has earned itself a prominent place within modern Irish music both nationally and internationally. Renowned players such as Peadar Mercier, Christy Moore of Planxty, Tommy Hayes, and Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh have developed playing techniques which expand its musical potential further.
McNeela 16″ Tunable Bodhran is constructed with premium Lambeg skin for optimal action and sound production, offering great action with deep bass sounds for those just starting their bodhran journey. Perfect for beginners!
Made in Ireland
Our bodhrans are handcrafted in Ireland by expert bodhran maker Paraic McNeela using only top quality lambeg or velvet goat skins, hand stitched, naturally cured in lime for maximum deep bass tone and responsiveness, taped edges for added control over harmonic range, taped edges for enhanced sound of McNeela bass tone, taped edges to achieve lush McNeela bass tone and taped edges to enhance responsiveness of this traditional instrument.
A bodhran is a round drum covered with goatskin that’s played using either a beater or tipper; it has long been part of Irish music and culture as an integral symbol of Saint Brigid of Kildare, Ireland’s patron saint. Our 14 inch tuneable bodhran is ideal for smaller players and comes complete with its own gig bag, weighted beater and Allen key!
Lambeg or Vellum Skin
Choose a bodhran with the appropriate skin design to boost sound performance and ease of playing, as its height and depth influence its tone – shallower designs are suitable for beginners while deeper ones produce rich bass tones.
Lambeg skin bodhrans are ideal for melodic styles of play as they offer excellent response and depth of tone. Regularly apply Bodhran Care Cream using a soft, lint-free cloth in order to maintain peak condition and avoid drying out of the skin.
Vellum skin drums resemble ancient Irish manuscript paper in their smooth surface feel and great sustain, offering easy on-finger use as well as great sustain. Advanced players may add cross or T bars for further tuning their tone.
Taped Edges
Some musical instruments require time and practice before you can begin playing them, while the bodhran is designed for beginners to quickly pick up. Our tunable bodhrans make an ideal choice as they can be adjusted to suit any musical style.
Our tapered edge designs on our bodhrans allow for a higher, richer tone. This feature, commonly referred to as an applique, works by thickening skin around the bearing edge to dampen overtones – standing waves reflected off of drumhead that produce unwanted sounds – which create unwanted tones.
Our tunable bodhrans come equipped with an internal tuning system that can be tightened or loosened depending on atmospheric conditions, making them simple to tune by hand and enabling you to customize its sound while you play. This system makes the instrument simple for tuning by hand.
Tunable Interior
A bodhran is first and foremost a bass drum, with its tone being of primary importance. A tunable interior design helps ensure this by offering the ability to adjust skin tension accordingly to temperature (loosen in cooler environments, tighten for hot or humid environments).
Paraic’s tunable bodhrans utilize either Lambeg or Vellum goatskins sourced ethically and sustainably as byproducts from healthy animals, before hand curing for maximum playing performance and taped for that classic McNeela sound with its deep bass tones.
Tunable bodhrans are easy to handle and fast to tune, with free online lessons from expert bodhran player Paraic McNeela covering the upbeat, downbeat, roll, jig timing basics as well as tuning tips and maintenance advice.
Free Online Lessons
Even though its design seems straightforward, the bodhran is an intricate instrument. Played using a stick known as a cipin or tipper (or beater), playing it requires knowledge of both specific stick manoeuvres as well as hand movements in order to produce optimal results.
Paraic McNeela has spent years perfecting this deep rim tuneable bodhran. Crafted with sustainably-sourced goatskin that has been hand-cured, pickled, stretched, taped to extend harmonic range and add complex layer of sound, this bodhran is perfect for both novice players and advanced musicians – you’ll soon be accompanying Irish traditional sessions in no time! Your purchase includes a complimentary gig bag, hardwood beater and Allen key.
