Choosing a Bodhran

Are you new to the bodhran?

Well, let's first get the Gaelic pronunciation down. The "dh" is silent, so the syllables rhyme with cow and brawn. If you'd only heard the name, you might be tempted to spell it "bowron." Some say it looks like a tambourine without the jingles. It may well be related to the tambourine. In fact, the abbreviation "bourine" is one of the several explanations of the origin of the name.

The Bodhran is through and through an Irish instrument, but is certainly similar to frame drums common to the Middle East, Native Americans, and African. The bodhran's identity is also relatively new. In fact, it might not even be popular today if Seán Ó Riada had not been an avid performer with bodhrans in the 1960s. For current examples, check out the Chieftains (all 40+ years of them), or the newly formed High Kings.

The traditional Bodhran is a living instrument. The frame is wood and the head is frequently goatskin, though kangaroo, emu, deer and other animal skins have been used. Synthetic drum heads are also available.

Things to consider when choosing a bodhran:

Size:
Bodhrans are typically 14 to 18 inches, and those are certainly the ideal size for an adult to handle. Smaller ones allow for portability or decorative display. Custom bodhrans up to 34 in. have been used for an especially big sound or for show.

14 inch bodhran	26 inch bodhran

Depth:
Deeper bodhrans have a richer timbre, but are harder to handle. These drums often have a notch to give your hand easier access to the back of the head. A seven inch frame is shown below.

7-inch Deep Bodhran

Frame:
Rosewood is the premium choice. Mulberry, ash, oak are also used. Some bodhrans use highly engineered plywood.

Head:
Natural skins have a rich sound quality that experienced players appreciate. Maintenance and cost are the only downside. They expand and contract with temperature and humidity. Sometimes players use water or heat to either tighten the skin or loosen them up. Synthetic heads tend to be louder and crisper.

Crossbar:
The crossbar only provides support for the player's hand, not to mention a carrying handle. It has no musical benefit. In fact, since some people prefer a completely open back, many drums have removable crossbars.

Tipper:
The beater is a two-headed rod, usually 7 to 9 inches long. Both ends are used since the tipper is rotated about the middle finger.

Plain & Fancy Tippers

Tuning:
Blame the environment. It isn't so much that bodhran players are looking for a different pitch every time they play. It's that temperature and humidity affect the tightness of the drum head. And a dull thud just won't do. This is understandably less of an issue for drums that are born and live in Ireland. So, you have a choice of a fixed head, which can only be tightened and loosened with heat and humidity.

EXTERIOR TUNING is provided by wrench-tightened stretchers mounted on the outside of the drums to compensate for growing drum heads. Some players, particularly in the U.S. have taken to using this hardware as an auxilliary rhythm source; tapping the hardware at unexpected moment provides a surprise variation to the performance.

An INTERIOR TUNING mechanism with a double-rim and wrench-tightened stretchers has been created for the purpose of creating a smoother drum and more traditional appearance.

See the video below for a demonstration of how the bodhran is held and played. This is an 18 inch model.

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