The Bodhran Drum
The bodhran is an Irish folk music staple. Played using a stick known as a tipper, its deep and resonant sound provides Irish traditional music with an unforgettable soundscape.
It is a round drum made from goatskin stretched over a wooden frame and usually features crossbars to strengthen it.
The History
The Bodhran originated as an everyday farming tool but eventually evolved into an instrumental musical instrument. It quickly became part of Irish folk songs and traditional dance performances, eventually becoming part of many music sessions across Ireland.
The drum is shaped like a circular disc and features one single drumhead that can be tuned to various pitches. Its bare frame can be struck using a stick known as a cipin for hits on rhythmic beats while staying within the rhythms of reels, jigs, or ballads.
The Bodhran has become increasingly popular worldwide due to its versatility. It is used in Celtic rock bands as well as experimental compositions.
The Skin
A drum’s skin is one of the most crucial components in a bodhran, as it impacts its sound, feel and playability. Working with natural skins requires experience and sensitivity for maximum performance.
The resistance, tear strength and durability of animal skin varies significantly by species used; individual goat skins differ significantly from kangaroo skins in this regard.
A shallow playing angle prevents scratching and reduced friction between the tipper and skin, and allows players to dampen head with skin hand for sound changes from deep bass to high pitches. Christian recommends performing a “SkinReset” after long playing periods – this involves untuning, detuning and relaxing skin as part of this process.
The Frame
The Bodhran is at the core of Irish traditional music, providing musicians with a steady rhythm they can follow. By changing hand pressure on its skin, players can produce subtle variations in pitch and dynamics that weave intricate patterns that elevate an ensemble’s performance.
Bodhran drums are typically constructed out of wood frames that include one or two crossbars that can be removed entirely to allow greater freedom for tuning the tone of their instrument.
The bodhran can be played either with one’s bare hand or using a lathe-turned stick known as a tipper, beater or cipin. Its playing technique became widely adopted following the revival of traditional Irish music during the fifties and sixties; using this style allows dampening skin damping techniques to alter its sound from low bassy sounds up to very high pitched ones.
The Stick
A beater or tipper stick is used to strike the bodhran; this double-ended instrument fits comfortably in your hand like a pencil and should be selected based on your playing style and preferences. There are various different varieties of beaters/tippers, making your decision ultimately up to you!
Hard ebony or walnut bodhran beaters provide an attractive click and heavier sound compared to dowel ones, but each tipper can produce its own distinctive sound; experimentation is key!
At Percussion Plus, we stock an assortment of classroom-ready bodhran drums ranging in sizes 14″-18″, complete with tippers and carry bags so Primary, Secondary, and Adult groups can begin playing straight away. In addition, we carry an array of essential accessories and tutor books.
The Rhythm
Bodhrans may appear easy to play and for some that is an incentive for taking up playing one, but playing well requires significant practice and commitment in order to develop musical accompaniments for songs.
Tuning a bodhran to enhance its tone was made possible thanks to Seamus O’Kane who introduced a mechanical tuning system for bodhrans that allows players to tighten or loosen its skin depending on atmospheric conditions.
Through our video tutorial series on Bodhran lessons, we will teach you to play this drum to any rhythmical accompaniment including Reels, Jigs, Slip Jigs and Slides as well as Hornpipes. In addition, we will cover various playing techniques including rolls, back hand motion and the use of syncopation.
