The Bodhran is a central feature of Irish music and culture. A hand-held frame drum, it is played using a beater known variously as a tipper, cipin or stick.

Bodhrans have become an essential element in traditional sessions for decades now, particularly over the past 70.

Origins

Through history, various frame drums have been utilized in Irish music. But Sean O Riada revolutionised bodhran as part of resurgent traditional Irish music during the 1960s with his incredible performances and recordings that elevated its standing far beyond kitchen sessions to concert halls around the globe.

Traditional Irish Bodhran was traditionally played using either the hand or a stick called a cipin, which is a short double-ended drumstick usually smaller than standard drumsticks, designed to reduce “edge-loading” and dampen unwanted overtones allowing players to better control its sound.

Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh is one of the greatest bodhran players ever. Throughout his life he pioneered numerous revolutionary techniques for playing this instrument and expanded its musical vocabulary.

Styles

Since their widespread popularity during the folk revival in the 1960s, bodhrans have become an integral part of Irish music. Innovative players have helped further this development by expanding and exploring new sounds on their instrument.

The Bodhran is a frame drum which can be played using both your hand or with an optional stick, called a Cipin. To ensure optimal comfort for extended playing sessions, choose your Cipin accordingly to match its length to that of the Bodhran player’s hand length.

Some modern bodhrans feature mechanical tuning systems similar to those found on drum kits, enabling fine-tuning of skins for greater versatility and sound creation. Non-tunable models are great starting instruments with options including 14″ shallow rim models suitable for younger musicians.

Tuning

Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh revolutionized bodhran playing by using one hand to dampen its sound with one on its back, creating an entirely new style of playing that made more responsive to melodies and cadences in tunes; since then it has spread worldwide.

James Davey began making bodhrans for tourists during the 1920s; some featured jingles attached to their frames. Once realising there was an increasing demand from musicians, however, he discontinued making them specifically for tourists.

He developed and innovated several techniques that revolutionized how bodhrans are played, and his pitch-varying approach enabled it to respond more responsively to melodic phrases of songs – leading him to support many top Irish musical acts.

Materials

The Bodhran is an intricate frame drum which can be found all around the world in various forms and which is played using either hands or sticks (tipper, cipin). Its playing technique has only recently developed over time and continues to progress further.

Skin is an integral component of bodhrans. Although some players use synthetic or other animal skins on them today, goat skin remains the ideal material to produce deep and melodic sounding instruments. Proper care must be taken in treating and stretching this goat-based material before use to achieve quality sound quality.

Bodhran skins are often painted, though this should never interfere with or damage their functionality. Electrical tape may also be applied to the rim of a bodhran for edge loading reduction and enhanced tone and control purposes – an idea pioneered by Seamus O’Kane himself.

Techniques

There are various bodhran playing styles and variations across the world when it comes to frame drumming. However, there are a few fundamental techniques essential for playing bodhrans successfully that should not be overlooked:

The first record of bodhran can be found dating back to 15th or 16th century, though not used to create music at this time. Instead, it was more used as a noisemaker by Celtic warriors marching into battle or people at festivals.

Since the folk revival of the 1950s, there has been much advancement in bodhran playing techniques. These innovations include a novel tuning system and various frame depths and dimensions; additionally it is not unusual to cover the drum’s rim with tape to reduce “edge loading” and dampen unwanted overtones.

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