The Non-Tuneable Bodhran
Many bodhrans may not be tuneable due to construction techniques used and this does not reflect upon their quality or authenticity.
The skin of a bodhran can be sensitive to changes in humidity. When exposed to these fluctuations, it can tighten and produce an unwelcome wet paper bag sound or loosen and create the characteristic tom-tom tone of a tom-tom drum.
How to tune a tunable bodhran
Many bodhrans feature non-tunable skins, yet there are methods available to you for tuning them. Wetting or adding cardboard shims are two techniques which may be employed to alter tension and pitch of your drum.
Bodhrans respond to variations in humidity by tightening up in dry environments and loosening up when wet conditions arise, often leaving them sounding either tinny and shrill or bassy; to restore its tone it may be possible to soak its skin with water (or beer!) in order to decrease pitch, though this solution should only be considered short term.
Tape rings inside bodhrans can help shape its tone by dampening harsh overtones and emphasizing bass notes, though these adhesives may sometimes fail. McNeela bodhrans come equipped with free gig bags that protect them against changing temperatures and humidity levels during transportation.
How to tune a non-tuneable bodhran
The Bodhran is a traditional frame drum made from goatskin with no means to adjust tension and produces an earthy and organic tone that many musicians consider ideal for folk music sessions.
Tunable bodhrans feature an inner ring with an adjustable tension system that can be pressed against or pulled away from the skin to alter tone and pitch, giving musicians greater tonal control than non-tunable models. Although more expensive, tunable models allow musicians more precise tonal control.
Many bodhran players often saturate the skin with water before playing to reduce its pitch, although beer also works as an option. Unfortunately, repeated saturation might prove harmful in the long run as its sudden wetting and drying causes its expansion and contraction to tear away from tacks holding it in place or cause tuning problems permanently.
Tuning a tunable bodhran
A bodhran is an intricate instrument, sensitive to humidity fluctuations. Too much dampness will cause its skin to loosen and tone to diminish; while too little dampness will make its sound sharp and tinny; therefore it is wiser to tune your drum in an environment similar to where it was manufactured for optimal results.
Many bodhran players wet down their skins with water or beer before playing to significantly lower the pitch and tune their bodhran down to a more suitable level. Unfortunately, however, this practice should not be repeated as repeated saturation may strip away its natural oils and have degenerative effects on fibres over time.
Applying a tape ring to the inner skin of a bodhran will also help eliminate harsh overtones, focus bass notes and relieve pressure off of the rim. In order to maintain fresh sounding tape rings regularly and lessen humidity changes a small amount of dubbin can also make a bodhran less sensitive.
Tuning a non-tuneable bodhran
Some drummers prefer the simplicity and consistency of non-tunable bodhran drums while others appreciate the tuning options that tunable bodhrans provide. Learning about their differences will enable musicians to select an instrument best suited to their musical needs, environment and skill level.
Non-tunable bodhrans present their primary downside by being unusable to adjust and change the tone of its drumhead. Without an internal tuning mechanism, players must rely on environmental conditions or temporary techniques in order to tune it.
One method for tuning a non-tunable bodhran quickly is soaking its skin with water, as this will slacken its fibers, making tuning simpler and removing cracks or creases from its skin. Another approach would be using cardboard strips made into shims that can be added between its inner hoop and skin that, once saturated with water, will slacken.
