Someone put a bodhran in my hands the other Sunday and tried to get me to play a rythm. I would not. He leant over my back held my right hand with his, and the bodhran with his left, and still I would not hit it. I just cannot beat a rythm, particularly with someone I barely know getting a bit too close for comfort.
However, I have noticed that people who would normally play the accordion or fiddle, and treat the bodhran player with contempt, sometimes give in and borrow a bodhran for the one jig and play, usually rather badly.
Come on, own up, have you ever yielded to the lure of the bodhran, just the once, usually because you'd had a few drinks and lost control.
I would suggest that if you find yourself overcome with the desire to add rhythm to the music of others, the bodhran is not the instrument to use. A simple one-beat-per-bar on a tambourine (or a glass) would be more effective; although that is a can of worms not to be opened casually.
I am more concerned with the attitude of half-drunk punters and others that any rhythm instrument within reach is public property; no previous experience necessary.
I'm pretty sure "Too close for comfort" was the point of the exercise. "Harmonica lesson" is a better pickup line.
I have been remarkable blest with very fine Bodhran Players, with a great sense of humo(u)r. We tell tell the same jokes, but it's friendly. I never knew how lucky I was until I got on the yellowboard.
I do fairly well with Rudimental Bass Drum and proper beaters,
I'm OK with the manly "bare-knuckle" style on a big skillet or a board. The same thing on a goatskin w/ tipper always sounds like 17/51 time signature. Bare-knuckle on the goatskin sounds like the wolf clawing at the door.
Don't talk to me about rhythm sticks! I had a noodler sitting next to me the other night who, when he didn't know the tunes, & got bored with noodling, started to whack his Whistle against the table, out of time to the music! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Fortunately for him, he left before I could get my Kalashnikov loaded!
Hi Jim, hadn't been on the site for a while. Sorry to disappoint but the waist is not as slender as it used to be!!!! I notice your smiley face wears glasses
Ah Button, while the rest of the world 'waists' it's time ca'noodling', you are learning useful skills, like how to produce exotic smileys - fair play, ya boy ya! ................. 'fraid that's the best 'I' can do!
bloddy great life it is being a bodhran player. can't ever do anything right ! If you melody manglers get stuck with some tosser who can't count, whacking a beer glass with a spoon horribly out of time you all most justifiably get shat off. Then along comes a serious musician with a bodhran doing a magnificent job of keeping you note strugglers honest and is there ever a word of encouragement? gratitude? the odd pint for keeping the whole thing together? not bloody likely.
Good on ya mate, mcknowall, pint of 'Red Diesel' comin' up! Don't listen to them, we just wouldn't be without you guys mate.
Our Thursday night session would just simply fall apart if we didn't have our regular FOUR Bodhran players, one who plays far too loudly, one who plays the same rhythm for every tune, but at least it's steady, one who can't play to save himself but just batters it & looks around all night at the talent, who should, of course be impressed by him & one who actually plays far too quietly, (Oh yes he does - cause he's actually the best player!)
Two weeks ago we also had the pleasure of two Guitar players & two Bouzouki players too!
Bear in mind now this is all for just two fiddlers & a flute player!
[ All I can say is, thank goodness our flute player is world class & fit for the lot of them, even on her own! ]
Heart flutter now gone after 10 hours sleep, thanks Jim.
Phantom Button how do you do the smily face and glasses?
My closest friend plays bodhran, but she's never tried to get me to play it, good woman. She's steady and she regularly works on some new rythms. She also know when not to use the bodhran - quite a skill, believe me. She's never very loud but I do miss her if she's not playing along our tunes. That usually happens when a diddler does not know the tune and nicks her bodhran to keep his hands busy. Hence the thread. Come on, own up....
Don't panic Ron P, fortunately that was a one off!
Recently we have been blessed by the presence of a sh*t hot Concertina player who is studying at Coleraine, & we learned last week that a nippy young Box player will also be joining us every now & then, so us "melody manglers" are gaining in strength every week.
We usually do get at least one Guitar though, but the regular Mandola is very quiet & lately we usually have only the best, quiet, bodhran player with us - so don't tear up that advanced season ferry ticket - just yet.
A good session I can promise fairly quickly, but good weather (i.e. the impossible) might take a little longer to organise!
Sorry I can't find a way for my new eMac to tell me how to get those 'Phantom Sunglasses' - probably just as well, cause I don't really need them over here anyway.
"Then along comes a serious musician with a bodhran doing a magnificent job of keeping you note strugglers honest and is there ever a word of encouragement? gratitude? the odd pint for keeping the whole thing together? not bloody likely."
This is the sad reality of playing bodhran. What seems to happen is that people who are swept away by the session who haven't played music before but would like to be a part of the scene will look around wondering which instrument they might try to play. 9 out of 10 will select, you guessed it -- the bodhran. Next thing you know the session has all kinds of people showing up with their drum happily on their lap and tipper at the ready. You'll say, "How long have you been playing?' and they'll answer, "Two weeks... I've been playing along with my Chieftain CDs."
Then comes along somebody who's played a long time, understands the instrument and can play it well… but they can't even find a seat because they're all taken by 4 or 5 bodhran hacks. If they do find a seat they're likely to have to play along with the hacks who rarely understand the concept of taking turns, and the musicians have gotten so used to blocking out the bodhran that they might not notice the good ones, or they're afraid to encourage any bodhran hacks that might be in ear shot by complimenting the competent player.
We used to be plagued by bodhran hacks, but I don’t know where they all went. The ones that show up these days do it one at a time and are all very good. Mind you our sessions aren’t the big dog piles they used to be, but even so, the folks who played along with their Chieftain CDs seem to have all lost interest.
"the folks who played along with their Chieftain CDs seem to have all lost interest." - That's easy to explain P B - they quite simply had no solid foundation of learning, to build on.
Most of the rest of us struggle for weeks & months before we dare go anywhere near a session, to actually play.
But at least when we get there, we've probably been receiving lessons for ages & have buried in our basements practicing away.
We have probably even developed a certain limited amount of a reportoire of tunes.
However, we at least have a solid foundation to build on, which prepares us for all the set backs, hic ups & knock downs we inevitably receive on our journey.
The Bodhran player who bought one & brought it along to our session the following week, rarely comes now.
He would always try & sit right next to another Bodhran player & would never play unless one of the other Bodhran players was playing too - a dead give-away!
The only thing I will say for Bodhran players is, they always get the girls!
But then of course, who would ever really notice if 'they' stopped playing?
A small session 30 minutes north of town, a local band holds once a month. Inspiration seized me, as I did the bodhran. Just one tune.
I got complimented afterwards.
Methinks the mistake most ppl make with a bodhran is to attempt to use the tipper without knowing how. I just whacked it (the drum) with my hand/fingers. Since I can keep a decent beat, it was mostly in time.
Since I;ve admitted this, there's no hope. Don;t mind the gunshot sound. I hereby bequeath my internet connection to the highest bidder. . . all proceeds go to charity. Stop bodhran abuse before it starts.
And here I thought worm was going to confess to hanging around the fringes of the session with a bodhran like a spider who builds his web by a street lamp to snag the lovely moths attracted to the flame.
Ok, but just the once....
Ok, but just the once....
Someone put a bodhran in my hands the other Sunday and tried to get me to play a rythm. I would not. He leant over my back held my right hand with his, and the bodhran with his left, and still I would not hit it. I just cannot beat a rythm, particularly with someone I barely know getting a bit too close for comfort.
However, I have noticed that people who would normally play the accordion or fiddle, and treat the bodhran player with contempt, sometimes give in and borrow a bodhran for the one jig and play, usually rather badly.
Come on, own up, have you ever yielded to the lure of the bodhran, just the once, usually because you'd had a few drinks and lost control.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Wow... great idea! I can think of a few women I would like to teach to play the bodhran. *raising eyebrow emoticon*
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Ok, but just the once....
I would suggest that if you find yourself overcome with the desire to add rhythm to the music of others, the bodhran is not the instrument to use. A simple one-beat-per-bar on a tambourine (or a glass) would be more effective; although that is a can of worms not to be opened casually.
I am more concerned with the attitude of half-drunk punters and others that any rhythm instrument within reach is public property; no previous experience necessary.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by oldstrings
Re: Ok, but just the once....
I'm pretty sure "Too close for comfort" was the point of the exercise. "Harmonica lesson" is a better pickup line.
I have been remarkable blest with very fine Bodhran Players, with a great sense of humo(u)r. We tell tell the same jokes, but it's friendly. I never knew how lucky I was until I got on the yellowboard.
I do fairly well with Rudimental Bass Drum and proper beaters,
I'm OK with the manly "bare-knuckle" style on a big skillet or a board. The same thing on a goatskin w/ tipper always sounds like 17/51 time signature. Bare-knuckle on the goatskin sounds like the wolf clawing at the door.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Don't talk to me about rhythm sticks! I had a noodler sitting next to me the other night who, when he didn't know the tunes, & got bored with noodling, started to whack his Whistle against the table, out of time to the music! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Fortunately for him, he left before I could get my Kalashnikov loaded!
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Hi Jim, hadn't been on the site for a while. Sorry to disappoint but the waist is not as slender as it used to be!!!! I notice your smiley face wears glasses
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
My smiley face wears x-ray sunglasses.
*raising eyebrows*
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Ah Button, while the rest of the world 'waists' it's time ca'noodling', you are learning useful skills, like how to produce exotic smileys - fair play, ya boy ya!
................. 'fraid that's the best 'I' can do!
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
bloddy great life it is being a bodhran player. can't ever do anything right ! If you melody manglers get stuck with some tosser who can't count, whacking a beer glass with a spoon horribly out of time you all most justifiably get shat off. Then along comes a serious musician with a bodhran doing a magnificent job of keeping you note strugglers honest and is there ever a word of encouragement? gratitude? the odd pint for keeping the whole thing together? not bloody likely.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by mcknowall
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Good on ya mate, mcknowall, pint of 'Red Diesel' comin' up! Don't listen to them, we just wouldn't be without you guys mate.
Our Thursday night session would just simply fall apart if we didn't have our regular FOUR Bodhran players, one who plays far too loudly, one who plays the same rhythm for every tune, but at least it's steady, one who can't play to save himself but just batters it & looks around all night at the talent, who should, of course be impressed by him & one who actually plays far too quietly, (Oh yes he does - cause he's actually the best player!)
Two weeks ago we also had the pleasure of two Guitar players & two Bouzouki players too!
Bear in mind now this is all for just two fiddlers & a flute player!
[ All I can say is, thank goodness our flute player is world class & fit for the lot of them, even on her own! ]
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Heart flutter now gone after 10 hours sleep, thanks Jim.
Phantom Button how do you do the smily face and glasses?
My closest friend plays bodhran, but she's never tried to get me to play it, good woman. She's steady and she regularly works on some new rythms. She also know when not to use the bodhran - quite a skill, believe me. She's never very loud but I do miss her if she's not playing along our tunes. That usually happens when a diddler does not know the tune and nicks her bodhran to keep his hands busy. Hence the thread. Come on, own up....
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Dick, I'm not so convinced about the arguments for the ferry if your sessions end up like that!
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Don't panic Ron P, fortunately that was a one off!
Recently we have been blessed by the presence of a sh*t hot Concertina player who is studying at Coleraine, & we learned last week that a nippy young Box player will also be joining us every now & then, so us "melody manglers" are gaining in strength every week.
We usually do get at least one Guitar though, but the regular Mandola is very quiet & lately we usually have only the best, quiet, bodhran player with us - so don't tear up that advanced season ferry ticket - just yet.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Phew! Thank goodness for that.
I'll go buy that ticket now, and get my sunglasses and sunblock for the hotter climate in Antrim!
(Just an excuse to try out the Phantom's sunglasses emoticom).
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Yippee, it worked.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Ok, but just the once....
A good session I can promise fairly quickly, but good weather (i.e. the impossible) might take a little longer to organise!
Sorry I can't find a way for my new eMac to tell me how to get those 'Phantom Sunglasses' - probably just as well, cause I don't really need them over here anyway.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
*-)
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Yippee !
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Didn't work for the monocle though
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
%-)
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by matildamarmotte
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Think that's after a few too many Jamiesons....
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by matildamarmotte
Re: Ok, but just the once....
that's just a broken picasso profile: %7)
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Q
Re: Ok, but just the once....
"Then along comes a serious musician with a bodhran doing a magnificent job of keeping you note strugglers honest and is there ever a word of encouragement? gratitude? the odd pint for keeping the whole thing together? not bloody likely."
This is the sad reality of playing bodhran. What seems to happen is that people who are swept away by the session who haven't played music before but would like to be a part of the scene will look around wondering which instrument they might try to play. 9 out of 10 will select, you guessed it -- the bodhran. Next thing you know the session has all kinds of people showing up with their drum happily on their lap and tipper at the ready. You'll say, "How long have you been playing?' and they'll answer, "Two weeks... I've been playing along with my Chieftain CDs."
Then comes along somebody who's played a long time, understands the instrument and can play it well… but they can't even find a seat because they're all taken by 4 or 5 bodhran hacks. If they do find a seat they're likely to have to play along with the hacks who rarely understand the concept of taking turns, and the musicians have gotten so used to blocking out the bodhran that they might not notice the good ones, or they're afraid to encourage any bodhran hacks that might be in ear shot by complimenting the competent player.
We used to be plagued by bodhran hacks, but I don’t know where they all went. The ones that show up these days do it one at a time and are all very good. Mind you our sessions aren’t the big dog piles they used to be, but even so, the folks who played along with their Chieftain CDs seem to have all lost interest.
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Ok, but just the once....
"the folks who played along with their Chieftain CDs seem to have all lost interest." - That's easy to explain P B - they quite simply had no solid foundation of learning, to build on.
Most of the rest of us struggle for weeks & months before we dare go anywhere near a session, to actually play.
But at least when we get there, we've probably been receiving lessons for ages & have buried in our basements practicing away.
We have probably even developed a certain limited amount of a reportoire of tunes.
However, we at least have a solid foundation to build on, which prepares us for all the set backs, hic ups & knock downs we inevitably receive on our journey.
The Bodhran player who bought one & brought it along to our session the following week, rarely comes now.
He would always try & sit right next to another Bodhran player & would never play unless one of the other Bodhran players was playing too - a dead give-away!
The only thing I will say for Bodhran players is, they always get the girls!
But then of course, who would ever really notice if 'they' stopped playing?
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
So, there is hope.......
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Ron P
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Hahahahaha
# Posted on October 15th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Ok, but just the once....
I confess.
I've done it.
A small session 30 minutes north of town, a local band holds once a month. Inspiration seized me, as I did the bodhran. Just one tune.
I got complimented afterwards.
Methinks the mistake most ppl make with a bodhran is to attempt to use the tipper without knowing how. I just whacked it (the drum) with my hand/fingers. Since I can keep a decent beat, it was mostly in time.
Since I;ve admitted this, there's no hope. Don;t mind the gunshot sound. I hereby bequeath my internet connection to the highest bidder. . . all proceeds go to charity. Stop bodhran abuse before it starts.
# Posted on October 16th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Worm, I often wondered what they would sound like, if they were "mostly in time"?
# Posted on October 16th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Worm, the first person to confess. Well done, but don't ever pick up the bodhran again - now for those specs
# Posted on October 16th 2005 by Cath
Re: Ok, but just the once....
And here I thought worm was going to confess to hanging around the fringes of the session with a bodhran like a spider who builds his web by a street lamp to snag the lovely moths attracted to the flame.
# Posted on October 16th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Ok, but just the once....
Naah, me fluter.
I think the tune musta been Julia Delaney or some other tune in a weird key for a keyless flute.
Payback can be sweet sometimes.
# Posted on October 16th 2005 by wormdiet