How to Choose a Bodhran Drum Stick
A bodhran is a circular drum featuring goatskin heads. Historically, its performance has involved striking it using one’s hand but more recently with an instrument known as a cipin for beating.
Start learning to play by searching out Irish folk groups and events in your area that may feature bodhran players; ask if they provide lessons.
Size
When selecting a bodhran drum stick, it is essential that you consider its size carefully. For maximum playing comfort and maneuverability, choose something with the perfect length – you should not feel restricted while playing or carrying. Similarly, light enough so as not to feel cumbersome in your hand.
The Bodhran is a frame drum similar to tambourines and tabors in design and size, featuring three to eight inch side depth and 9-25 inch diameter measurements. Traditionally made from goatskin but today there are also synthetic skin varieties available.
The bodhran is usually played using a stick called a cipin, though some players prefer using their bare hands instead. Beating the skin with your hand produces various sounds; some styles involve moving your hand from bottom to top of drum for higher pitches while other bodhran players utilize both ends of their cipin for heavier beats.
Material
The Bodhran (pronounced Boug-rawn) is a frame drum played with one hand or stick, and has been an iconic instrument in Irish music for more than 3000 years. Additionally, similar frame drums have also been found throughout other cultures and countries worldwide including Western Asia, south India, eastern Europe, north Africa Iberia Tibet and Mongolia.
Modern innovations have also introduced synthetic materials and tuning systems into its construction.
The Bodhran has quickly become an indispensable instrument in numerous musical genres. A skilled player can use it to express a variety of emotions and feelings ranging from sobs and joyousness all the way through martial calls for action. Being able to vary its pitch by shifting their hand from near the center towards its rim allows a bodhran player to produce different melodies and scales with it.
Weight
Weight of the Bodhran Drum Stick can vary. Therefore, it’s crucial that drummers hold it comfortably; with their wrist bent slightly and fingers relaxed so as to achieve an up and down playing motion that feels natural for them.
Advanced bodhran players are adept at using their spare hand to produce a range of sounds with their instrument, from sharp urgent beats to melodious ringing percussion. Top end players may use their instrument as an expressive expression tool conveying emotion or even calling to action in a martial setting.
Bodhran drummers may choose to add effect tippers to their drum, giving it more sounds that cannot be obtained solely with drumsticks alone. These effect tippers come in all shapes and sizes with splits, cores, brushes or felt tips allowing players to create unique sounds that could not otherwise be achieved using only their drumstick.
Finish
The Bodhran is one of the most beloved instruments in Irish music and an icon worldwide. This popularity can be attributed to its historic relevance within Irish culture and heritage; more people than ever recognize and respect this ancient instrument’s place within Irish life and culture.
A drum is played either bare-handedly or with the use of a stick called a tipper, beater or cipin which strikes its goat skin head. A skin hand may also be used to dampen sound levels for varied sounds from bassy to high pitched sounds.
Beginners should use a “curved wrist” technique with their bodhran stick to build an effortless playing style. Flexibility in wrist movement gives a player power and subtlety in their playing style; thus facilitating this method for novice bodhranists. Although not difficult, mastering this method takes some practice.
