Is the bodhran easy to play?
While the bodhran is relatively easy to learn, some of its hand movements can be quite tricky. And since these hand movements and placements help you control the instrument’s pitch and timber, it’s obviously an important part of learning how to play it.
Can you play a bodhran with your hands?
A drummer can play the bodhran with their hands like a tambourine, but the drum is more commonly played with beaters.
What are the two basic strokes on a bodhran?
Doubling the downstroke should not change the timing of the beat. The extra beat should come halfway between the downstroke and the upstroke, but those two strokes still carry the main rhythm, so they must be even.
How long does it take to learn to play the bodhran?
You can learn the basics in four hours, but the secret is following it up, emphasises Brian: “When you’re doing your one-and-a-half or two hours’ practice every day. . . Did I say something funny?” He insists there are no hopeless cases.
How do I pronounce bodhran?
The letter “a” in bodhran should have a fada (faw-dah) over it. A fada is a slanted line over a vowel. Any letter with a fada over it should be drawn out. Without a fada on the a bodhran would be pronounced bow-ran with the fada it is bow -rawn.
How do you look after a bodhran?
The bodhran needs very little care. Try to keep it out of extreme heat and cold whenever possible. Olive oil, almond oil, bee wax or any other good quality natural oil should be rubbed only on the playing side of the skin. This can be repeated as often as you like.
Is the bodhran Irish or Scottish?
Irish
The bodhrán (/ˈbaʊrɑːn, baʊˈrɑːn, ˈbɔːrɑːn, ˈbɔːrən/, Irish: [ˈbˠəuɾˠaːnˠ]; plural bodhráin or bodhráns) is a frame drum of Irish origin ranging from 25 to 65 cm (10–26 in) in diameter, with most drums measuring 35–45 cm (14–18 in). The sides of the drum are 9–20 cm (31⁄2–8 in) deep.
Who is the best bodhran player?
Tommy Hayes has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the greatest bodhrán players of all time. He has been at the forefront of traditional Irish music for over thirty years. He was the original percussionist with Riverdance and has gone on to inspire countless generations of bodhrán players.