A Question for Paddy

Patrique, I'm hoping to learn to play the bodhran. I did a bit of drumming in my younger years in a marching band and I still have a kit at home but the Bodhran has always appealed to me.

So what would you recommend for a beginner? What grip? The better half bought me a tunable drum last year. Any particular books etc that would get me going?

RMDrive wrote:I did a bit of drumming in my younger years in a marching band and I still have a kit at home

I haven't been to Rossnowlagh for years either ....

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:I did a bit of drumming in my younger years in a marching band and I still have a kit at home

I haven't been to Rossnowlagh for years either ....

I'd love to have a go on a Lambeg drum. Doubt I'd be able to walk with one though.

RMDrive wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:I did a bit of drumming in my younger years in a marching band and I still have a kit at home

I haven't been to Rossnowlagh for years either ....

I'd love to have a go on a Lambeg drum. Doubt I'd be able to walk with one though.

Not recommended - in Donegal anyway!!

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:I did a bit of drumming in my younger years in a marching band and I still have a kit at home

I haven't been to Rossnowlagh for years either ....

I'd love to have a go on a Lambeg drum. Doubt I'd be able to walk with one though.

Not recommended - in Donegal anyway!!

It'd be grand JC. The Lambeg is not a strictly Unionist/Orange instrument. The AOH used to have such drums.

To quote from the late Séan O'Ríada: "The only thing to use on a bodhrán is a penknife".

Boxtyeater wrote:To quote from the late Séan O'Ríada: "The only thing to use on a bodhrán is a penknife".

LOL. I know all the criticisms. "I thought a real instrument would be too hard to learn so I'll just play the bodhran instead".

Just thinking RM - you can make the bodhrán from your icon!!

There is only one lesson for bodhran playing, which ois why I charge £1,000 per lesson.

Forget about books and videos and such, you would end up with a dislocated arm using them.

As a drummer a basic rhythm shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Now the first mistake everyone makes is getting a stick. That comes later.

Assume you are right handed. So the left hand is holding the drum, the right for playing.

Sooooooo...........

Make a fist and put it against the skin, the thumb on top.

Now open your fingers, so your hand is at a right angle, still touching the skin.

Now just using the knuckle on the index finger, get a slight angle and even practice scrapping UP and DOWN on the drum. Gets you used to the up and down motion, most people lift a stick and go in and out.

So just using the knuckle on the index finger you try getting a basic Jig rhythm. Believe it or not all that 2/4 and 4/6 time means nothing to me. To me a jig is Boom, diddle-le dee.

A reel is Boom, boom, diddle-lee-dee.

Now you practice that, using the index finger. Once you get that rhythm, then use a stick, I prefer a long thin stick. Use ONE side, hold it like a pencil, and suddenly it is simply an extension of that index finger.

After that it is all practice, playing along IN THE HOUSE to CDs and such.

The old ceilidh bands are good for this because they had perfect timing. When yoiu venture out to a session, they will probably play a bit quicker, but once you have that basic rhythm, the rest follows wityh practice.

I accept payment by credit card.

Boxtyeater wrote:To quote from the late Séan O'Ríada: "The only thing to use on a bodhrán is a penknife".

Alas Sean O'Riada is the man most purists curse for "inventing" the drum, so he certainly never said that.

He did revive the drum, but he didn't invent it.

Twas Seamus Ennis uttered those immortal words I think ....

patrique wrote:There is only one lesson for bodhran playing, which ois why I charge £1,000 per lesson.

Forget about books and videos and such, you would end up with a dislocated arm using them.

As a drummer a basic rhythm shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Now the first mistake everyone makes is getting a stick. That comes later.

Assume you are right handed. So the left hand is holding the drum, the right for playing.

Sooooooo...........

Make a fist and put it against the skin, the thumb on top.

Now open your fingers, so your hand is at a right angle, still touching the skin.

Now just using the knuckle on the index finger, get a slight angle and even practice scrapping UP and DOWN on the drum. Gets you used to the up and down motion, most people lift a stick and go in and out.

So just using the knuckle on the index finger you try getting a basic Jig rhythm. Believe it or not all that 2/4 and 4/6 time means nothing to me. To me a jig is Boom, diddle-le dee.

A reel is Boom, boom, diddle-lee-dee.

Now you practice that, using the index finger. Once you get that rhythm, then use a stick, I prefer a long thin stick. Use ONE side, hold it like a pencil, and suddenly it is simply an extension of that index finger.

After that it is all practice, playing along IN THE HOUSE to CDs and such.

The old ceilidh bands are good for this because they had perfect timing. When yoiu venture out to a session, they will probably play a bit quicker, but once you have that basic rhythm, the rest follows wityh practice.

I accept payment by credit card.

How do you use a double sided stick?

As I said, use one end of it.

If you want to use both ends, well that involves turning your wrist over on one of the strokes.

Sounds highly suspicious does it not?

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Twas Seamus Ennis uttered those immortal words I think ....

The very man Jayo...my mistake....apologies to O'Ríada and forumites for erroneous misquotations.....

While we are here. I made 2 bodhráns a few weeks ago. they're finished now. The skin on one is much tighter than the other however. A very loud bang off it when "struck". Which bodhrán would be the best to start practising and is there anyway I can loosen the tight one?

Since when did we start referring to him as Paddy??

johnnos bulls wrote:While we are here. I made 2 bodhráns a few weeks ago. they're finished now. The skin on one is much tighter than the other however. A very loud bang off it when "struck". Which bodhrán would be the best to start practising and is there anyway I can loosen the tight one?

if you put it in a damp area or just sprikle a bit of water on it spairingly tho. if you loosin it to much just open your palm and rub up and down heating it up it will tighten more the hotter you make it by rubbing

I really really dunno ..........

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

I really really dunno ..........

was thinking that myself Jayo - not sure if Old is talking about a bodhran or an organ!!!!!!!!!!!!

well i am no expert but i have an idea played a bit in my day

old98! wrote:well i am no expert but i have an idea played a bit in my day

Phew - its ok Boc - it was the bodhrán!!

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

old98! wrote:well i am no expert but i have an idea played a bit in my day

Phew - its ok Boc - it was the bodhrán!!

no the organ is that not what we are talking about

Did anybody ever bring one to a match?

Battering the Bejaysus out of a drum will loosen it up, as will a bit of water on it, sparingly.

You shouldn't need water on a "good" drum.


And when did I become "Paddy".

I resent that, sounds like an Irishman in England.

I lurve being French.