The Bodhran Instrument
The Bodhran is a timeless Irish instrument, capable of adding the rhythmic pulse of Irish music to any performance. Since the likes of Peadar Mercier from The Chieftains and Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh refined their playing techniques, its popularity has skyrocketed worldwide.
The highest-grade bodhrans are constructed with natural goatskin, which has an incredible tonal quality. Unfortunately, goatskin is sensitive to humidity and temperature, meaning its pitch will fluctuate depending on your environment.
Traditional Irish Music
Although various drums were already widely utilized in Irish music, the bodhran became widely recognized during a resurgence of traditional Irish music during the 1960s led by Sean O Riada’s Ceoltoiri Chualann band and played by both hands at once; during this resurgence of traditional Irish music it gained wide-scale acceptance across genres and musical forms.
Initial bodhrans were rather crude instruments. Their playing surface consisted of stretching an animal skin over a wooden frame for an animal skin playing surface that could be stretched across it. A pitched can be altered freely on this instrument for added versatility over other drums.
This technique of pitch-varying allows bodhran players to more closely follow the melody and cadence of any tune being performed, rather than simply serving as a rhythm instrument. As a result, their playing has become more melodic, adding greater depth. Leading bodhran players of this generation include Christy Moore from Planxty; Robin Morton from Boys of the Lough; Peadar Mercier from Chieftains; Tommy Hayes of Stockton’s Wing and Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh from De Dannan;
Easy to Play
The Bodhran is one of the easiest drums to learn. You can play it using either your hand or with a tipper stick (also called cipin). Traditionally, performers would use their bare hand when playing it but now more commonly use tippers instead.
A tipper is a double-ended stick held in one’s right hand like a pencil by performers and struck against goatskin skin with one or both ends to produce sound ranging from low bassy notes to higher pitched notes, similar to that of a pencil. A bodhran drum produces open sounding grooves which produce low bassy sounds to higher pitched pitched sounds.
Innovations to the drum and its playing techniques have taken place since the 1950s when players such as Seamus O’Kane, Darius Bartlett, Victor Barral and Johnny Ringo McDonagh created new ways of playing. Furthermore, more sizes than ever before are now manufactured as well as multiple rim and head options.
Great for Parties
No matter whether it’s accompanying a session or lending energy to solo performances, the bodhran brings life and vibrancy to Irish music. Perfect for adding rhythmic elements like quick beats to reels, jigs and ballads; its playing amplifies melodies as quickly.
The Bodhran is a drumhead made of goat, calf or synthetic skin stretched over a wooden frame and played using either its drumhead itself, a tipper stick (also called beater) or both hands simultaneously.
O Riada elevated this lowly percussion instrument into an iconic symbol of Irish culture. Audiences heard its sounds at theatres and concert halls around Ireland. Since then, numerous bodhran players, including Tommy Hayes, Johny Ringo McDonagh and John Joe Kelly, have taken this instrument to new heights, expanding upon traditional music as they invented groundbreaking techniques that further broadened its musical vocabulary; such as tuning bodhrans or improving tone on simple framed drums.
Easy to Clean
Most bodhrans are constructed of goat skin which is quite sensitive to both temperature and humidity changes. When exposed to high heat and dry conditions, its tightening causes high-pitched notes while exposure to humidity causes it to sag creating low, boomy tones. Dampening with water may help soften its tone; otherwise tunable bodhrans allow you to simply adjust its tension by tuning it.
If you own a fixed head bodhran, it is vital that the skin be moisturized regularly (once every month should do the trick). This helps with tuning and produces a warm, round sound; furthermore, its tape ring dampens harsh overtones while focusing bass notes. If this becomes damaged or comes off accidentally, simply rub some nail polish remover or acetone onto it to reattach it easily.
