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• By Tyrone Jimenez

Origins of Bodhran Drums

The Bodhran drum can be traced back to the 8th century and has its roots tied into various legends; one such legend is known as the Wren tradition.

These instruments were commonly employed during wars and local celebrations as noisemakers or primitive rhythm instruments, serving dual purposes of noisemaking and grain sifting or transport. Additionally, sifters served as both grain tray husk sifters.

Origins

Bodhran drums are flat instruments made of wood with a wooden frame covered by goatskin for stability and are typically constructed using either birch or ash wood species as their frame material.

The Bodhran is one of the oldest traditional Irish instruments, but it remains unknown when or where its creation took place. Some theories indicate its migration from Asia or Africa while others contend it came to Ireland during Celtic migrations.

Named after an Irish word bodhran meaning deaf or dull in meaning; also used as an adjectival phrase meaning troubled, confused or annoyed.

Types

Bodhran drums are traditional instruments made of goat skin stretched over a circular wooden frame and fitted with crossed bars behind its skin for stability and to act as handles.

Modern bodhrans have evolved into more sophisticated musical instruments, often including built-in tuning systems for controlling their quality of sound production.

When buying a bodhran, keep these factors in mind when shopping: height, depth and optional support bars such as T bars (cross bars or single). All of these elements will affect how it sounds.

Materials

Bodhran drums can be constructed out of any number of materials, from wood and goatskin to exotic materials like polyurethane foam and metal.

Bodhrans are an integral component of traditional Irish music and boast a long and distinguished history. Bodhrans may be decorated with Celtic spirals, GAA county colors or family coats of arms for added flair.

These drums typically consist of a frame drum fitted with one side featuring a single-skin head (usually goatskin) that allows one hand to press against its inside to control pitch and timbre.

Styles

Bodhran drums can be played in a range of styles. Some styles are traditional to Irish music while others take inspiration from non-traditional genres like Middle Eastern percussion.

One of the earliest methods for playing Bodhran involves using only your hand – this form is often known as “naked Bodhran” or “no stick style.”

A traditional bodhran drum is traditionally constructed from goatskin stretched over a frame. Some styles even tack or glue the skin in place. Today’s more advanced models boast built-in tuning systems.

Techniques

Bodhran drums are traditional Irish frame drums with circular frames and heads made from goat or calf skin stretched over them.

Bodhran drums can be played using both hands and tippers; for beginners looking to master playing one there are several things they should keep in mind when learning how to do so.

First, it is important to master the fundamental strokes required to play a bodhran drum effectively – including downstroke and upstroke movements.

Tuning

The Bodhran drum, originally popular in Ireland but now found worldwide, can be played using either your hand or using an instrument called a tipper, bone beater, stick, or cipin from a lathe-turned wooden piece called tipper bone beater stick stick or cipin to strike its frame drum skins.

The bodhran has become one of the most iconic instruments of Irish traditional folk music since Sean O Riada first brought it out into public concert halls and theaters during rural celebrations during his 1960s tour, making it a part of Irish musical history and tradition.

Peadar Mercier, Christy Moore from Planxty and Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh from De Dannan further refined their playing techniques during this period, taking influence from various styles of music as they did so.

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• By Tyrone Jimenez

Basics of Bodhrans – Irish Drum History

Bodhran drums are one of the central instruments in traditional Irish music and its history is one of innovation and adaption.

The Bodhran is an Irish frame drum with an intense and emotive tone. Reminiscent of its counterpart, the tambourine without its bells attached, it produces an deep and menacing sound when played.

Origin

The Bodhran drum is a frame drum used worldwide. The precise history behind its creation remains unknown; some experts speculate it may have been inspired by tambourines popular throughout southern continental Europe.

Though its roots remain obscure, the bodhran remains an essential component of Irish music today. The instrument experienced significant popularity gains after Sean O Riada introduced it into traditional music circles during the 1960s.

Initially, a tight stretch of skin stretched tightly across one side of a drum produced sound while leaving another open allowed users to alter its pitch with their hand. Over time however, innovative bodhran makers and tippermakers developed new techniques for playing drums while improving its sound.

Construction

Bodhrans are Irish frame drums ranging in diameter from 25 to 65 cm (10-26 in), with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm (14-18 in). Each side of the drum measures 9-20 cm (3 1/2-8 inches). A goatskin head can be attached with glue (synthetic heads or other animal skins may also be used).

One side of a drum is designed with an open-ended design to enable one hand to place against the interior of its drum head to control pitch and timbre, and strikers known as bone, tipper, beater stick or cipin can use their lathe-turned piece of wood as a bone for striking its surface directly or by striking with sticks made out of wooden material crafted on lathes – these instruments allow musicians to experiment freely.

Sound

Bodhran drums produce an unforgettable sound. As frame drums, they can be played either by hand or with sticks (tipper/cipin). Players dampening skin on open sides can alter tonality to achieve greater tonal depth and achieve desired tonality.

Goatskin is the most frequently used skin for drums, while in northern Ireland a specific variety known as Lambeg skin has also become widely utilized.

This drum has a long and distinguished history, dating back to ancient Celtic music and shaping Celtic music across the world. Today it remains an essential instrument in Irish traditional music with prominent players like Peadar Mercier and John Joe Kelly pushing its limits with this dynamic instrument.

Techniques

The Bodhran is a Celtic frame drum. Initially used as an agricultural implement to separate grains into silage granules, Gaelic peasants turned it into an instrument used for musical performances.

A bodhran drum can be played using a beater made up of sticks or mallets. To customize its sound, different techniques such as spinning it around or tipping can be employed when striking it.

Some bodhrans feature adjustable tuning systems inside their drum frames that enable you to customize its pitch in order to play different rhythms.

An additional feature of bodhran drumming is its versatility; players can press their hand against its snare skin in various ways to alter its tone and pitch, creating a wide variety of sounds from urgent taps to melodious ringing beats.

Influences

The Bodhran Drum is an integral component of Irish Folk music. This circular drum with an attached goatskin head has become famous worldwide due to its distinct appearance.

However, its exact origin is still unclear but is believed to have stemmed from ancient history.

The Bodhran drum has become an iconic part of Ireland’s cultural identity. Much of its popularity can be credited to Sean O Riada’s introduction of it into public consciousness during the 1960s.