Irish Drum Bodhran For Sale
A timeless percussion instrument, the bodhran (pronounced bough-rawn) provides a deep yet gentle tone as the rhythmic backbone for musical sessions. Varying hand pressure on its skin shapes the tone to bring subtle variations in pitch for reels and jigs.
Choose a drum made of natural goatskin or other traditional hides for its smooth surface and ability to enable pupils to play simple pulse games, copy rhythms, and discover loud/soft contrasts. Moisten the drumhead prior to use in order to loosen it and unlock various tones.
Size
Not every musical instrument is easy for beginners to pick up; however, the bodhran stands out as one that can be learned very early in a student’s musical learning journey.
The Bodhran is a frame drum with a goat skin head on one side, and a beater or cipin used to produce its sound. Beaters come in all sorts of shapes and sizes; each producing unique tones.
McNeela Instruments provides a diverse selection of bodhrans to meet all levels of play. Choose from tuneable and non tunable models with deep rim designs; as well as packs containing everything needed to start playing one of Ireland’s most beloved folk instruments.
Materials
Bodhrans are traditionally constructed out of wood, either stave or veneered. A stave shell (composed of multiple blocks of wood glued together) may warp more easily; veneered shells make the best instruments.
Bodhrans require quality deep, mellow tones produced by their skins; most often goatskin is employed, though calf, greyhound and kangaroo skin can also work effectively. A special type of goat skin known as Lambeg can even be prepared specifically for large drums used during parades in Northern Ireland.
After being immersed in a solution for two days, skin is stretched over a frame and left to dry outdoors in direct sunlight if possible. Once attached to its frame by glueing or nailing (gluing is preferred). Slack is left in the skin so it can stretch or shrink during drying processes without becoming rigid or unruly.
