The Irish drum known as a Bodhrán is an open ended frame drum, which allows the player to place their hand inside the drum. Having the hand inside the instrument provides a way to control the pitch and timbre of the drum. Generally, the Bodhrán ranges in diameter from between 25cm and 65cm, or 10 inches to 26 inches. The sides of the drum can range from 9cm to 20cm, or 3.5 inches to 8 inches deep. The head of the Bodhrán is tacked to the other end of the drum and can be made from a variety of materials. Goat or other animal skins are more traditional, but synthetic materials are used as well.

The Bodhrán is typically played in a sitting position and it is traditionally held in a vertical position on the thigh of the player with the player's upper body and arm supporting the instrument, typically on the left hand side for a player that is right handed. The hand is placed at the inside of the drum skin so that it may be used in order to control the instrument's tension, and by proxy, the pitch and the timbre of the instrument as well by applying a varying amount of pressure to the surface. If there is a crossbar, the hand may be pressed against this crossbar in order to change the tension as well.

The Bodhrán drum is then struck using other arm, which is typically the right arm, and it is played using either the bare hand or a piece of wood turned on a lathe, which is known as a beater, a tipper, a bone or a cipin depending on the player. These tippers were traditionally fashioned out of double ended knuckle bones, but they are much more commonly made out of holly, ash or hickory in this day and age. There are also brush ended beaters as well as rim shot techniques that add contrast to the sounds produced by the Bodhrán, and these were initially introduced by a man named Johnny McDonagh.

There are a number of different playing styles when it comes to the Bodhrán, and they are named following the region of Ireland where they originated from. The most popular Bodhrán playing style is the Kerry playing style, which makes use of a tipper that has two heads. Another type of Bodhrán playing style is the Limerick style, which uses only one of the ends of the tipper when playing the instrument.

As the Bodhrán picks up in popularity, modern players are developing new ways to vary the pitch and the sound of the instrument so that players can follow whatever tune is being played. Each of these playing styles is a unique take on this use of this interesting and versatile instrument.

Photo Credits: Amadian

Originally posted 2009-10-12 03:46:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Categories:

Acoustic Musical Instruments, Drums, Instrument History

Tags:

animal skins, ash, crossbar, diameter, frame drum, goat, holly, knuckle bones, lathe, left hand side, mcdonagh, right arm, rim shot, synthetic materials, timbre, tipper, tippers, vertical position