Bodhrans are at the core of Irish traditional music. Capable of complex rhythmic patterns, these instruments add depth and emotion to every tune they accompany.

Collins Harte uses ethnographic interviews to investigate the global roots and gradual development of playing styles for this fascinating instrument. This book makes an ideal resource for anyone interested in this fascinating instrument!

Bodhr’ns

A bodhr’n is a frame drum featuring an animal skin head, typically goatskin but other types such as deer and dog can also be found. It makes an excellent introduction to drumming as it can be played using either hand; making it highly adaptable.

Starting off as a rural celebration drum, the drum came to prominence during The Chieftains and Planxty performances in the 1960s, becoming an international mainstay on global music stages with its timeless charm and infinite potential, inspiring musicians as well as audiences both young and old alike.

Bodhr’n Accessories

If you want to help a friend, loved one or family member discover that special deep mellow bass tone of a top quality bodhran then here is an assortment of excellent gift ideas.

Bodhran cases are essential in protecting and transporting the drum while also serving as storage spaces for beaters and accessories. We offer cases to fit our 16″ tunable bodhrans if you prefer dedicated cases; otherwise a high quality snare drum case should do just as well.

Tippers are highly personal choices that can impact a player’s style and comfort levels. We offer several varieties of tippers to meet every player’s need – such as our MopHead practice pad that sticks directly to your hand for instantaneous practice without producing too much sound, or our brush beater which creates more of a ‘brushy’ sound on the skin for playing reels or jigs. Paraic has also developed a bodhran beating weight glued to its end that reduces its tone while expanding its harmonic spectrum – perfect for playing reels or jigs!

Bodhr’n Sets

Some musical instruments can be harder for beginners to pick up quickly, but the bodhran is one they can quickly get the hang of. This small frame drum can be played both barehanded and with a stick known as a tipper for added sound effects.

A bodhran can convey various moods through its sound – urgent tapping, sobbing or even an audible call to arms. Due to this versatility, bodhrans have long been used as accompaniment to Irish music performances, though musicians from other genres also utilize them to add rhythm and energy into their performances.

McNeela Instruments offers an assortment of bodhran sets suitable for beginners or experienced players looking to upgrade, including tunable bodhrans, standalone drums, and complete bodhr’n kits that provide all the accessories necessary to mastering this traditional Irish folk instrument. All options feature high quality goatskin heads stretched across an oak frame made by Walton’s Music of Ireland.

Bodhr’n Lessons

Bodhran lessons will increase hand-eye coordination and sharpen focus while developing rhythm, making Irish music accompaniment simpler. And don’t worry: these classes are suitable for anyone!

However, you will soon find out that playing the bodhran is far more complex than it seems; becoming an effective bodhran player takes considerable practice if you wish to achieve greatness in this instrument.

Many people start playing bodhran with the admirable desire to join music, yet without dedicating enough time or dedication to learning how to play properly. Unfortunately, this can lead to poor results: If you don’t play in tune correctly you may seem out of step with everyone else; to play a jig you need to know its tune, while reels require specific reel rhythms – being able to switch between these is crucial so as to match up to song speed more seamlessly and sound more euphonious!

Please follow and like us: