Bodhran Tippers
A tipper (or cipin) for the bodhran can make all the difference in shaping its sound; its presence can shape its articulation, speed and rhythmic nuance – often called the bone or beater – shaping articulation, speed and rhythmic nuance as an accompanist. A skilled player’s tipper will elevate them from being just another session player to an engaging accompanist.
Finding the ideal tipper requires careful thought and experimentation, with this article providing information on tipper anatomy, common styles and materials as well as practical advice for choosing one that best meets your musical vision.
Choosing the Right Tipper
As part of your bodhran playing experience, selecting the perfect tipper is essential to finding your ideal playing experience. A variety of designs from classic hotrods to split and core tippers allow players to experiment and find their ideal fit.
Effect tippers provide another exciting and versatile way to add new and stimulating sounds to the drum, whether through felt or brush tippers. By creating different effects that complement existing skin sounds, these tippers add new dimensions of depth.
Stevie Moises has designed each tipper with a signature profile to make them truly one-of-a-kind, while his collaborations with various accomplished bodhran players has produced signature tipper series with distinctive plays styles and sound ideals in mind – such as RWE tippers with Rolf Wagels, Bodhrods with Cormac Byrne and EMo tippers for Eamon Murray.
Anatomy
Modern Irish bodhran playing increasingly favors using beaters (also referred to as tippers, sticks or cipins) rather than playing it using just your bare hand, leading to an explosion of different beater types which produce different sounds.
A dynamic instrument like the bodhran is one that responds quickly and viscerally to player touch; for a full range of this responsiveness to be realized, a sophisticated beater is key for realising this responsiveness and selecting one can often make the difference between a competent drummer and engaging accompanist.
Beaters are designed to facilitate swift back-and-forth strokes with the wrist while relieving pressure from thumb and fingers. Their design also reduces strain on them during continuous playing sessions; typically made of wood to allow more movement within a cymbal. Furthermore, beaters come in various wood species which affects not only how they sound but also their comfort level in holding in one’s hand during performances over long durations. This factor becomes especially crucial in live situations when drummers must remain on stage playing for extended periods.
Materials
A bodhran beater, commonly referred to as a tipper, is an integral component of any drum’s sound, rhythms and feel. Beaters come in various shapes, materials and designs.
Wooden beaters typically comprised of solid woods like oak, ash or maple boast a warm tone with their solid construction providing greater weight for increased attack power.
Weighted beaters feature small metal weights attached to their tipper end to reduce pressure on the stick hand and ensure stronger attacks for playing faster pieces such as jigs. These beaters can help players enhance their attack when playing faster pieces that require an extra strong attack, such as jigs.
Technique
While the bodhran can be played by hand, its best use lies with using a small wooden stick called a cipin or tipper as an instrument to strike its goatskin skin drum head and create rhythms and sounds of any variety.
The left hand rests lightly against the drum skin to soften its sound, or slide around to brace and dampen larger or smaller areas of the head. Some players prefer leaving their entire hand off of the skin altogether to give a deeper bass accent – however this technique may cause interference during sessions and lead to complaints from other musicians!
The right hand holds the bodhran tipper with both hands like a pencil. Depending on its shape and desired playing style and sound preferences, players may hold it differently to suit their playing style and sound ideals. In collaboration with experienced bodhran players, various series of effect tippers have been designed.
