Scottish War Drums?

[beloitpiper]

I'm not too sure about those. I've never heard anything, and neither have the two Scots that replied. I think bands like Wicked Tinkers, Saor Patrol, Albannach, etc. are just using African drums for a more tribal sound with their bagpipes. The only true "Celtic" drum that I know of is the bodhran, and it was only within the past hundred years that they even began using a tipper with that!

[Detroitpete]

Ok--I looked at the link provided. These look very cool--and simple. It looks to me like floor toms or even base (kick drums) elongated a bit. I've seen kicks used like this before, or set up as floor toms. With the right tuning and use of differing mallets/sitcks etc you should be able to get that deep thunder like a gianormous bohdran...just remember though...

When listening to recorded music--especially drums/precussion, SO much can be done with mics and processing. I recorded once with a djembe, conga, bongos set hooked to a snare, high hat and de-tuned base. I used mallets and hod rods to get different sounds and we used 3 tracks to record it.

Playing it live--I had to play the hand drums all with my right hand as I played the snare with my left---a few stick swaps arranged in there--hardest stuff I've ever done--try rubbing your belly, patting your head, hopping on one foot and saying the preamble to the constitution ...backward :-)

[Jack Daw]

When I was in Kilmartin, I visited the local museum that had a section that features ancient musical instruments and how they sound. I pict (har) up a couple of CDs that feature a bronze age pottery drum made by stretching goat hide over a clay pot.

[pipe23]

I have a lot of drums and am running out of space. The other day I spent about an hour playing a neat device from Roland, the HPD-15, an electronic hand drum. Has about 400 onboard sounds, sequencer, all sorts of ethnic patterns, loads of tuning and dynamic possibilities. It has 5 large and 10 small pads, a beam controller and two tape controllers. Playable with either the hands or sticks. Midi capable of course. The sounds are incredible. You can either sequence a pattern or use a preset pattern and play over it, it even includes backing instruments.

[MacHenderson]

No such thing? Darn, and here I was hoping to have stumbled on something really cool.
Nonetheless, those other drums do look and sound good. I'm trying to find a mid-semester project before school starts again. I'd like to try something with a hollowed out log, though I think I'd have to agree with the article that they'd be too heavy to lug around.
So what's a giant bodhran like? Is it just...a giant bodhran?
I'm especially fascinated by the Lambeg...loudest drum in the world, eh?
Thanks for all the links and different drum names, everyone.

[MacHenderson]

I suppose that, as a Scot, I could build a random drum and call it a Scottish War Drum.

[Detroitpete]

I suppose that, as a Scot, I could build a random drum and call it a Scottish War Drum.

As a drummer--I'd say stay away from the digital/mechanical toys and find or make a nice deep-voiced thunder pot, covered in skin--play it by hand or with wood mallets and play it loud, strong and sure...

Then...it'll be a Scottish War Drum! Can ya hear the pipes a'pretty calling above the roar? ;-)

[Bigkahuna]

I think what you may be looking for is a "Lambeg Drum". These are still found over in the North of Ireland are are mostly seen at the "Orange Order" parades. They are basically large bass drums played with sticks rather than regular bass drum beaters. They use to be quite popular but are now fading from the scene.

[macwilkin]

I think what you may be looking for is a "Lambeg Drum". These are still found over in the North of Ireland are are mostly seen at the "Orange Order" parades. They are basically large bass drums played with sticks rather than regular bass drum beaters. They use to be quite popular but are now fading from the scene.

I mentioned the Lambeg back in Post #6.

If you look at the web article I quoted, you'll see that the Lambeg is not fading from the scene, but is actually being used by a number of folk musicians in Northern Ireland, Willie Drennan and the Ulster Scots Fowk Orchestra, for example.

I wouldn't necessarily call them "Scottish", though, as some traditions place their origin with drums used by the Williamite forces in 1690.

Regards,

Todd

[The Barry]

Great info! Thanks guys!