So you want to play the BODHRAN!

[Macthenife]

Great link! Thanks for sharing this!

Slainte!

Shawn

[andyfg]

Thanks for the link.

[Brother Falldown]

Well gents, It's been about a month. How is it progressing with the lessons?

[Kilted Rogue]

I found this site just last week. She is a Great teacher. Its just hard getting up to 130 beats per min. i would say i have about a year till i should play in public, lots of practicing comming my way

[Brother Falldown]

Some years ago I purchased "Absolute Beginner's Bodhran Tutor" by Conor Long. It is part of the Mel Bay catalog and consisted of 30 some pages of instruction, some tunes, and a CD. Perhaps I simply didn't give it a fair shake. Regardless I still do not play the bodhran. I did find myself for several months going about with a tipper in my breif case, and practicing on my thigh as time permitted.

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Some years ago I purchased "Absolute Beginner's Bodhran Tutor" by Conor Long. It is part of the Mel Bay catalog and consisted of 30 some pages of instruction, some tunes, and a CD. Perhaps I simply didn't give it a fair shake. Regardless I still do not play the bodhran. I did find myself for several months going about with a tipper in my breif case, and practicing on my thigh as time permitted.

Yeah, I carried a tipper for awhile too. One of the best ways (until you convince yourself to get a real bodhran) is a shoebox. I literally beat the bottom out of 2 running shoe boxes until I got the beats right - or at least correct enough to pass muster from my percussionist son-in-law.

Made my own tippers out of Osage Orange wood. It's heavy, turns well, and takes a beautiful yellow/brown finish.

[Brother Falldown]

Shoe box? Grand idea! Actually though, I had the bodhran, I just couldn't take it into hospital where I was consulting at the time. Got to go see if the wife has a shoe box......

[Urchurdan]

Just found this post, thanks for the link - magic, have had a bodhran hanging on the wall for two years or so, going to get it down and wake the neighbours up now.....

[turpin]

I've used Ms. Stewart's videos. She has a really nice way of breaking things down and demonstrating them in increasing tempos. I found that by practicing regularly I am able within 3 months to get comfortably to 120-130 bpm - but it's not a race either. A lighter tipper makes a difference too. Michelle has one video on bodhran alternatives, such as a clipboard or binder, for when you don't have your drum with you. Now I am set up with a local instructor and already want to upgrade my ren-faire bodhran to a high quality instrument - the difference in sound quality is very noticeable.

Be a goatwhacker! But read up onsession etiquette, or you'll be known as "that guy with the bohran".

BTW, Michelle Stewart teaches bodhran and other drumming in Scotland (at least that's what I gleaned form references she made to it in her videos), so I'd say it is played in both countries. After all, a jig is a jig and a reel is a reel, regardles of which side of the Irish sea you come from.

[BagpiperDon]

...somebody asked me if the bodhran was primarily Irish, or used by the Scots as well.

Specifically, I don't know. My understanding -- and I'm of course not here to get anyone's hackles up -- is that bodhran's have a consideration w/in Ireland as being a Catholic drum whereas the drum as-seen in River Dance (go blow the dust off your VHS copy, right) carried like a bass drum and played (as I recall) with curve-ended sticks is a Protestant drum.

In my experience it can be interesting when talking w/ people of different cultures about drums of this nature -- different groups think the hoop-style drum is their thing and theirs alone .... but it shows up in many cultures (Ireland, mid-east, Native American, to name a few). I am no expert, but bodhrans are the only such drum I've seen played in the manner w/which bodhrans are (typically) played and with the stick-motion.

I've lost track of how many years I've been playing on/off -- quite enjoy it -- would like to get back into it and play better, both for my enjoyment but also for my album-work. Apparently more & more players are going to these smaller head diameter drums -- I have an 18", I'd love to get a 24", played one once and had a ball.

Also with getting into bodhran, be sure to get good information on how to care for your drum. Get a case for it, be it a wooden box or one of these padded nylon bags. Be careful where you leave it so the head doesn't get damaged (eg cars parked in full summer sun w/ shut doors/windows are bad, etc). Treating the head w/ lanolin is good, but I found non-homogenized sweet almond oil much more preferable (the lanolin gets sticky on your hand) -- makes me bonkers when a bodhran dumkoff tells me they treat their bodhran head with water (no, that's how you tune it, not treat it -- water dries out leather and skins).