,...Of A Different Drum

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What's a Bodhran? How Are They Played? Me, And My Playing Drum Makers I've Bought From Other Drum Makers Other Useful Sites	Celtic Musicians Other Music I Listen To Celtic Music Companies Bodhran Lessons Care & Feeding Organizations

Tough to learn and tougher still to master, THE BODHRAN is one of the Most interesting and fun drums in the world to play. It is also the weapon of choice for such celtic music luminaries as Kevin Conneff of The Chieftans, Gino Lupari of Four Men and a Dog, Tommy Hayes of Stocktons Wing and, of course, me Vash of The Bringers.
(o.k... that last one was humor)

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).

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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.

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I, personally, have been playing the Bodhran since God was in diapers (or maybe it just seems like that long).I have played with Knot Sisters and Tuatha in Phoenix, various groups at and around renaissance faires all over the western U.S., lots of sessions, studio and back-up jobs, and currently with my

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. .

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.

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If your in the Phoenix area, I AM NOW AVAILABLE TO TEACH! I am offering to teach lessons pretty much any afternoon, you'd like. I charge \\$14 per 1/2 hour, and can provide a bodhran to be used at lessons. If your serious about learning to play the bodhran drop me a line and we'll work out scheduling and things like that. I have also been known to give lessons via video cassette, they cost the same as regular lessons and are personalized for you,E-Mail me and we'll get you set up. Don't spread it around but I am, a bit, negotiable on pricing and love to barter.

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These are links to drum makers that I have bought from,personally, and can vouch for as being of the highest quality

MacDaid Bodhrans

Bothy Bodhrans

Triskelion Folk Music

Axen Drums

Healing earth drums

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These are some other drum makers and retailers, who produce and/or sell some fine quality work for just about any budget.
Music Web-Bodhran Makers Of Ireland

Belgarth Bodhrans

All One Tribe

Lark in the Morning

Elderly Music

Ceolas bodhran makers list

Mid-East Mfg.

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Here are some of the best places I've found to research the bodhran and how to play it. As well as sites on folk music (celtic and otherwise), and Irish culture.


The Bodhran Page So you want to play the Bodhran!?! Irish Singing (Sean-nos) Irish-Music(dot)Net Ceolas.org The Prescott Folklore Center The Bodhran Club Phoenix Music Dot Com	The Pastime Celtic Corner Fintan's Well--Home of The Celtic Club Steven Winicks Music Webpage Drumspeak! Boston College Irish Studies Program Every Celtic Thing On The Web	Y Barddou Keltoi Localireland Virtual Ireland GUINNESS (The Extra Stout People) The Guinness 'Fleadh' Festival English Folk And Trad. Music On The Internet Australian Folk Songs

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I've compiled a listing of some of the best places to find and buy celtic and folk music. Some of these are very small companies, but they are also the best places to find 'odd' and 'rare' recordings.


Claddagh Records Horslips Records Green Linnet Records Random Factors CDIreland.com Granny K's Records Tayberry Music	Rego Records Shanachie Records Ainm Records Owl Records Dirty Linnen Record Company Address List (folk music) The Celtic Trader Windham Hill Records

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� 2000