How to Buy a Bodhran
Attempts at playing an effective bodhran take dedication. Too many people purchase one with good intentions of joining music but lack the dedication necessary to master its nuances properly.
Prior to playing your bodhran, rub it gently with water from a source such as clear tap or very hot shower to tighten its skin, which could otherwise loosen with temperature changes. Doing this will tighten it back up!
The Bodhran
The Bodhran (pronounced bough-rawn) is an Irish frame drum made up of a shallow circular frame tacked to one end with goatskin. Players typically sit or stand while striking it with the beater known as a Cipin, either pointing straight up above their head as in Kerry style or holding sideways so only its top end touches the drum for Limerick style playing.
The bodhran is most closely associated with Irish folk music, but has also found great favour across Celtic countries and beyond where drums are traditionally played. It is sometimes used to accompany dance performances or act as an official ceremonial instrument on holidays like St. Stephen’s Day and Irish dancing competitions; although not essential to playing Celtic folk music itself, its melodies and rhythms add much-needed texture and dimension.
History
Research online about the Bodhran is limited; however, basic online research indicates it could have originated as an ancient druidic drum or evolved from a frame drum used for winnowing seeds, which came to Ireland through trade. Traditionally it would be played during Saint Stephen’s Day or La an Droilin as part of a ritual hunt for wren.
This drum features a circular wooden rim covered with white skin from either sheep or goat, secured with nails or tacks at either end. Originally played using fingers alone, Sean O Riada introduced it into modern Irish music in 1960 through arrangements made for Ceoltoiri Chualann group of Ceoltoiri Chualann group which marked its transition into more formal settings as well as elevating its status into an instrument capable of musical sophistication.
Materials
A bodhran is a frame drum composed of a shallow circular wooden shell adorned with goat skin that has been attached to it using nails or staples, then submerged in cow manure for curing purposes. When playing it with its stick called a tipper or beater.
Goat skin has traditionally been the material of choice, although other animal skins such as kangaroo, greyhound and lemo may also be available. When selecting quality skins it is crucial that they don’t easily adapt to changes in atmospheric conditions – goat skin remains stable over time making it an excellent option for playing bodhran.
Professional bodhrans may feature mechanical tuning systems similar to those found on drum kits, making pitch control simpler when playing. Most bodhran players instead adjust tension of skin using a hex key depending on atmospheric conditions or add dampening rings for reduced edge loading that could result in overtones being heard when the drum sounds.
Buying a Bodhran
Considerations when buying a bodhran should include its size (height and depth); type of support bars (T, cross or single); and whether or not it can be tuned. It is wise to test out different sizes before selecting the one on which to learn to play this Celtic instrument.
A bodhran is played by striking it with a beater or tipper – a small wooden stick with two ends used for striking its skin – known as a beater or tipper. The quality of its tipper has an enormous influence over its tone.
A bodhran can be played in many different ways; hard beats produce loud beats while gentle tappings produce softer sounds. Bodhran players may also use their hands, with heel of their hand producing sharp beats while flat of palm making lighter strokes.
