The Bodhran (pronounced BOUGH-RAWN) is a circular wooden frame drum (usually 18"in diameter x 4-6 inches deep),with a goat skin head(although I have played bodhrans with elk, deer, and even dog skin heads that sounded, different but nice).
The bodhran is held in one hand and played with the other. It can be played bare handed or with a double-ended stick called a Tipper(Cipin,Striker, or Beater). By holding the tipper in your dominant hand, much the same as a pencil (resting between the 1st and 2nd knuckles of your middle finger AND in the space between your thumb and index finger,WITH your index finger resting on top of the tipper)you facilitate playing(mostly with the lower end, using the higher end for triplets) with both ends of your tipper.
If you have your tipper in your dominant hand, then you have the bodhran itself in your other hand. By placing the bodhran on your thigh and slipping your hand into the back of the bodhran (under the cross pieces if your borhran has them) and aplying gentle pressure to the skin, at strategic times in the rythm your playing, with the palm of your hand, you can change the tone of your drum, and effectively play "notes" on your bodhran. In addition if you just rest your hand against the back of the skin you can play at least two tone, a tap ON your hand, and a more resonant tone on a place without the hand.
own six-piece acoustic band The Bringers. Anyway,I have over 15 years of experience with the Bodhran, and about 8 years with other hand percussion, and I'm told I'm a
better than average drummer. In addition to the Bodhran I also play most forms of hand percussion including but not limited to Bones, Djembe, Dumbek, Ashiko, Conga, Bongo, Talking Drums, Tamborine, Steel Drum, and Medecine Drums. Not to mention Enviromental Percussion(the art of making ANYTHING into a percussion instrument). I also do some Eefing & Hamboneing, Purt-a-beul (mouthmusic), and I sing (sean-nos style).
If you'd like to hear me playing and singing with my band click hereand browse our sound files.
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The single greatest event of my playing life was in'97 when my band took our instruments to a Cheiftans concert and we (and about a dozen other musicians) got to play the last tune of the night with them. After the show we got the chance to talk with the whole band, it was great! I was thrilled to get the chance to speak with and get the autograph of my hero Kevin Conneff (He is a Bodhranai that sings, so am I, so I've looked up to him forever!). Mr.Conneff and I spoke about Bodhrans, Bodhran makers, playing and singing celtic music. It was one of the best times I've ever had.
