A bodhran is an iconic frame drum at the core of Irish folk music. With its deep tones, its deep tones add rhythm and depth to Irish jigs, reels and soulful ballads alike.

Now a mainstay of Irish traditional music, the bodhran has become an attractive option for musicians at all skill levels–from novice to pro.

Origins

The Bodhran is an ancient Celtic war drum, revived and popularised in the 1960s by Sean O Riada’s Ceoltoiri Chualann ensemble and played by Peadar Mercier, Tommy Hayes, and Johnny Ringo McDonagh who developed new playing techniques. It quickly found wider recognition across Ireland.

Today, bodhrans remain an essential element of both traditional and modern music, connecting past traditions to contemporary creativity. Browse our wide selection of Bodhrans for Sale that meet both beginner and experienced percussionists’ needs.

Construction

The Bodhran is a circular frame drum that gained considerable attention during the folk music revival in the 1960s. Since then, its playing style has undergone transformation and fully explores its musical capabilities.

Traditional bodhrans are constructed using goatskin stretched over a wooden base of the instrument, prepared by soaking it in a solution and leaving to dry for two days before tacking or gluing it onto the frame. Once complete, this results in a stunning musical instrument with adjustable tuners built right into its wooden frames for seamless tuning during performances in theatres or concert halls.

Sound

Since its revival of traditional Irish music in the fifties and sixties, bodhrans have become a widely utilized instrument. Bodhrans are circular drums 10 to 26 inches in diameter covered with goatskin on one side while remaining open on the other.

As with its tambourine predecessor, this instrument features bells attached to its frame. You can play it either with a stick or your hands; its pitch can even be altered with tuning adjustments. It’s also adjustable.

Colin Harte offers an insightful examination of the bodhran’s journey from its global roots to its modern use in Irish music, from early experimentation through today’s complex playing techniques and instrument design. This book serves as an indispensable resource for scholars and students of this simple-seeming instrument.

Techniques

A bodhran is a circular frame drum featuring a goatskin head on one side and open sides; it became popular during the folk music revival in the 1960s and has continued to evolve into an intricate, versatile instrument.

Depending on its performer, a bodhran may be played either using their bare hand or with an instrument known as a “cipin.” For optimal playback, its length should match that of their hand from outstretched thumb to outstretched baby finger.

Beginners start out learning basic bodhran strokes before progressing to learning to vary the tone, accompanying reels and jigs, more complex patterns and “fills”, and eventually learning about rhythms within tunes. A good teacher should also give lessons about rhythmic progressions within tunes.

Styles of play

Many bodhran players utilize various playing styles and techniques to improve the instrument. By employing these strategies, musicians can produce sounds tailored to any given tune or style of music.

A bodhran player may use either their hands alone, or with an instrument called a “cipin.” This stick features one end designed to rest between thumb and baby finger while its opposite rests against the rim of their instrument.

Some bodhrans feature adjustable tuning systems similar to those found on drum kits, enabling musicians to tune the skins to various pitches. Furthermore, some professional modern bodhrans include crossbars inside their frames that can be tightened or loosened with a hex key for precise tuning adjustments.

Symbolism

The Bodhran is the cornerstone of traditional Irish music and a key symbol of Irish identity, serving as the rhythmic backbone. Additionally, its rhythm has proven crucial in international fusion projects.

Sean O’Riada pioneered traditional Irish music on stage when he founded Ceoltoiri Chualann in the 1950s. Bodhran music became increasingly popular, becoming adopted by bands like The Chieftains.

Bodhrans are now produced by artisans nationwide and used in formal performances and casual jam sessions alike, tourism advertising campaigns, cultural events, and become an important element at cultural festivals. Bodhran-making has become a key industry that serves both professional and amateur musicians.

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