The Bodhran (pronounced bow-raan) is at the core of Irish music and can be easily managed using hands and wooden beaters for playing.

Many bodhran owners rub some clear water onto the skin before playing; this helps it stretch more, creating more varied tones, while making their drum more resilient and lasting longer.

External Tunable

Tunable Frame Drums feature screws on the inner part of their frame which allow drummers to adjust tension on the drum head and change pitch of their instrument more precisely. Professional players often prefer these types of bodhran drums as it gives them greater control over its sound.

Lambeg skin directly from a goat – so thin that it’s almost transparent

For optimal performance in bodhrans, real lambeg (goat) skin is superior to synthetic or kangaroo skins in terms of quality, processing characteristics and response rate – Seamus Eckermann of Tabla Bodhran fame adds additional inner skin influence that enhances their drums sound even further.

Internal Tunable

The Bodhran (pronounced boh-raan) is at the core of Irish music sessions, adding depth and dimension to any piece. Capable of producing complex rhythms, its presence can add another level to any composition.

Waltons tunable bodhrans are designed for ease of use and built specifically to suit each player’s personal preference. With easy handling and superior tones, these are an excellent choice for novice and veteran players alike.

A bodhran features a goat skin head on one side that is struck with a wooden beater or tipper called a beater or tipper or cipin stick. An open end allows one hand to be placed against its surface to control pitch and timbre.

Choose a drum with natural skin head over synthetic head when selecting your instrument. A synthetic drum’s synthetic head only produces one sound regardless of how hard it’s hit; natural drums produce much wider tonal range. Be mindful not to overheat a bodhran drum by keeping it near heaters or leaving it exposed in direct sunlight; also, avoid those featuring corporate logos, cutesy Celtic art designs or beer ads painted directly onto its head as these will alter its voice.

Wooden Frame

The Bodhran is the core instrument in Irish traditional music, featuring a round wooden frame covered by animal skin stretched taut over it. Capable of producing intricate rhythmic patterns, its popularity among our customers makes the Bodhran an invaluable choice.

The Bodhran is one of Ireland’s most well-known percussion instruments and one of the world’s most instantly recognisable instruments. Consisting of a circular wooden frame covered with goatskin that can be played either by hand or using a small wooden stick known as a beater, tipper or cipin, its sound has made its mark across cultures around the globe.

A bodhran should be played upright, with its drum head balanced on your knee, using one hand for pitch and timbre control and striking it with another hand. A thick skin bodhran should only be played by experienced drummers as overheating may lead to its skin becoming loose from its pins, possibly breaking or pulling away altogether.

Goat Skin

Waltons Bodhrans offer high quality goat skinned traditional Irish instruments complete with beater and carry bag, making it suitable for players at all levels of skill and experience. Our inventory offers exceptional value bodhrans which come complete with beater.

Goatskin has long been the drum head of choice among serious bodhran makers around the world, outlasting synthetic and lemo skins (comprising kangaroo, greyhound and deer skins). When properly treated and hand stretched it produces an outstanding deep mellow tone that sets itself apart.

A bodhran is constructed by stretching leather over a wooden frame and fastening it using either nails, staples or glue. While glue provides the strongest and neatest finish, nailing or stapling may also suffice. Once dry, the skin can be removed from its frame; an optional step includes adding leather band around its grooved rim in order to conceal staples or nails and achieve an enhanced aesthetic appearance.

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