Hi
From what i`ve read on the web etc...it seems that stefan hannigans tutor book is amongst the best, i think its called "the bodhran book" Most profesionals nowadays play a 16 inchs diameter or similar, usually between 4 - 6 inches deep. You should check out bodojo.com they got some tutorials as well as bodhran reviews! Seamus O Kane seems to be the most sought after drums, but a lot will depend on what your style of play is ....or what you want it to be. o`kanes seem to be more for topend players. Where as the more traditional kerry style may require a different style of drum!
Do not get an O'Kane drum just yet, that is a bit like buying an expensive Taylor guitar as a beginner. You should be able to get a reasonably priced good drum to start with.
I do not agree with tutorial books for bodhran, you may end up with a dislocated arm.
Get someone to show you how to position the playing hand, and then practice. That's it.
First I might ask myself, "Whose playing impresses me, and what do they do to achieve their results?"
Then I would investigate what type of drum they use, what basic techniques or style they prefer, and decide what elements I want to have in my repertoire.
If you are shopping for a tutorial, the instructor on a tutorial frequently is a well-known and possibly much-recorded player. Search out his/her discography and give them a listen before paying out money toward teaching resources to learn their method.
There is a certain type of fittness that is needed to play at a decent level. The last thing you want is to be playing catch up , build up this fittness in your hand before you go to sessions or before you start paying out money for drums. Do this and you will always be comfortable at the musicians tempo and you will be able to step up a gear if you have to. There is alot of work in this good luck.
I play a wonderous Davy Stuart bodhran from christchurch in NZ, he's also very affordable and the skins rock:
http://www.stuart.co.nz/
(ignore the fact that he pretends to be a luthier, everyone knows it's all a front!)
Let us know where your based and i'll try and put you in touch with a teacher. WAY better to get instruction in person as i cannot agree more with bodhran bliss' assesment of the tutor books/videos.
I'd just like to take the opportunity here to agree wholeheartedly with my old mucker Mr Bodhran Bliss. You can learn all the technique there is in bodhran playing in just a few minutes.
(playing the thing well, of course, has nothing to do with the bodhran itself. Rather, it has everything to do with knowing the music. Which, as we all know, is a lifetime's study.) (Though, as we all know, I'll never understand why anyone would wish the culmination of their lifetime's study of music to be expressed in not actually playing it completely passes me by)
which is why you probably should waste our time by posting on a bodhran-related thread when someone has shown a genuine interest in learning the instrument.
I hate to admit that Illig could be right about anything, but you must have a great familiarity with the music.
SirNose is always right, one on one tuition is best.
Go to my website http://mcknowall.com for more info, if you are handy to Northern NSW I can give you a long lesson, sell you a bodhran outfit and then you can spend many happy hours in the comfort of your own home playing with the greatest ITM bands in the world on your CD player.
Then the wonderful world of sessions.
Play along with solo cds its easier to spot your mistakes(IMO) .You can have a look at the different styles on you tube. I heard someone say recently that the hand movement is like shaking water from your hands.
llig, mate, I've seen mcknowall's setup and i can tell you it aint no 'industry'. unless you put the word 'cottage' in front of it.
He's one of australia's great folk instrument making community, and due to the startlingly small folk scene in general here, NO-ONE is making any significant money out of this (unless your name is Grinter, McGee or Gilcrist) and people like McKnowall do it for the love of the music (which he has in spades) and a genuine desire to make the best instruments possible. Fleece?!? gimme a break.
Llig and Sir Nose both agreed with me about tutorial books, a waste if you ask me. I mean you can't learn to play golf from looking at a manual.
Llig and I agree on one thing. Hold the hand right, try fot a basic jig beat, and practise.
And I am sure McKnowall is not exploiting people, unlike string instruments which are vastly over priced.
Thanks llig
At least now we know what Jason did once he got the Golden Fleece. He obviously skinned it and turned it into a bodhran.
If you believe that, let me know because I have the original golden fleece bodhran and I'll put it up on ebay
Who was it that used to do a routine with the bodhran..."I have here the original bodhran of Brian Boru which was used at the battle of clontarf. Well, the skin had to be changed a couple of times of course, and the frame has been replaced - but it is still the original bodhran from Brian Boru".
Cheers to all the lads. How was the National? No - wait don't tell me..."It was the best EVER! It always is the year I don't go. I wonder if that's a coincidence...hey, hang on a minute!
Greenwiggle!! how are ya!? Great to see you contributing to this bodhran fest, remember that gig we once did that prominently featured a THREE bodhran solo?! With myself as one of those 'musicians'?! and how we spent the whole night raving about how it was the BEST gig we'd ever do?!?
ahem, well, as the sad veteran of over 15 Nationals... this was, without a shadow of a doubt...
THE GREATEST NATIONAL OF ALL TIME EVER!!!!!!!
there is simply NO reason to EVER go to the nash EVER again 'cause you won't beat this one.
(indeed, the only thing that could have made it better would have been the now-traditional threats of Mr Greenwiggle that he'll finally end up dancing on the tables... before heading off to bed at 8pm)
Starting bodhran in Australia
Starting bodhran in Australia
Are there any good tutors worth reccommending, and also brands/makers/sizes of bodhrans? Thanks.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by carissa
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Hi
From what i`ve read on the web etc...it seems that stefan hannigans tutor book is amongst the best, i think its called "the bodhran book" Most profesionals nowadays play a 16 inchs diameter or similar, usually between 4 - 6 inches deep. You should check out bodojo.com they got some tutorials as well as bodhran reviews! Seamus O Kane seems to be the most sought after drums, but a lot will depend on what your style of play is ....or what you want it to be. o`kanes seem to be more for topend players. Where as the more traditional kerry style may require a different style of drum!
Good Luck!
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by iluvpints
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Do not get an O'Kane drum just yet, that is a bit like buying an expensive Taylor guitar as a beginner. You should be able to get a reasonably priced good drum to start with.
I do not agree with tutorial books for bodhran, you may end up with a dislocated arm.
Get someone to show you how to position the playing hand, and then practice. That's it.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
First I might ask myself, "Whose playing impresses me, and what do they do to achieve their results?"
Then I would investigate what type of drum they use, what basic techniques or style they prefer, and decide what elements I want to have in my repertoire.
If you are shopping for a tutorial, the instructor on a tutorial frequently is a well-known and possibly much-recorded player. Search out his/her discography and give them a listen before paying out money toward teaching resources to learn their method.
Good luck.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Piece
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
There is a certain type of fittness that is needed to play at a decent level. The last thing you want is to be playing catch up , build up this fittness in your hand before you go to sessions or before you start paying out money for drums. Do this and you will always be comfortable at the musicians tempo and you will be able to step up a gear if you have to. There is alot of work in this good luck.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by Saint
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Some of the people who have instruction books are not very good players, reflecting the old saying about those who can't do something teach it.
# Posted on April 11th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
I think I'll start teaching..................
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by Saint
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
I'd get in touch with some of the local Aussie maker's. Where are you based carissa?
Erle Bartlett is based in the blue mountains, and is a great maker (i've only got an email address for him, email me through this site if you want it)
And thesession's own 'mcknowall' makes some great skins and is Australia's finest tipper craftsman:
http://thesession.org/members/display/18651
I play a wonderous Davy Stuart bodhran from christchurch in NZ, he's also very affordable and the skins rock:
http://www.stuart.co.nz/
(ignore the fact that he pretends to be a luthier, everyone knows it's all a front!)
Let us know where your based and i'll try and put you in touch with a teacher. WAY better to get instruction in person as i cannot agree more with bodhran bliss' assesment of the tutor books/videos.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
I'd just like to take the opportunity here to agree wholeheartedly with my old mucker Mr Bodhran Bliss. You can learn all the technique there is in bodhran playing in just a few minutes.
(playing the thing well, of course, has nothing to do with the bodhran itself. Rather, it has everything to do with knowing the music. Which, as we all know, is a lifetime's study.) (Though, as we all know, I'll never understand why anyone would wish the culmination of their lifetime's study of music to be expressed in not actually playing it completely passes me by)
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by ...
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
which is why you probably should waste our time by posting on a bodhran-related thread when someone has shown a genuine interest in learning the instrument.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
*shouldn't* waste our time i mean
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
I hate to admit that Illig could be right about anything, but you must have a great familiarity with the music.
SirNose is always right, one on one tuition is best.
Go to my website http://mcknowall.com for more info, if you are handy to Northern NSW I can give you a long lesson, sell you a bodhran outfit and then you can spend many happy hours in the comfort of your own home playing with the greatest ITM bands in the world on your CD player.
Then the wonderful world of sessions.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
"Sell you a bodhran ourfit". See what I have to contend with? A goddam feckin industry set up to ecourage and fleece. Fleece? Nea, prey.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by ...
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Play along with solo cds its easier to spot your mistakes(IMO) .You can have a look at the different styles on you tube. I heard someone say recently that the hand movement is like shaking water from your hands.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by Saint
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
llig, mate, I've seen mcknowall's setup and i can tell you it aint no 'industry'. unless you put the word 'cottage' in front of it.
He's one of australia's great folk instrument making community, and due to the startlingly small folk scene in general here, NO-ONE is making any significant money out of this (unless your name is Grinter, McGee or Gilcrist) and people like McKnowall do it for the love of the music (which he has in spades) and a genuine desire to make the best instruments possible. Fleece?!? gimme a break.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by SirNose
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
McKnowall's prices are good and I know the quaility is good.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by Saint
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Llig and Sir Nose both agreed with me about tutorial books, a waste if you ask me. I mean you can't learn to play golf from looking at a manual.
Llig and I agree on one thing. Hold the hand right, try fot a basic jig beat, and practise.
And I am sure McKnowall is not exploiting people, unlike string instruments which are vastly over priced.
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Thanks llig
At least now we know what Jason did once he got the Golden Fleece. He obviously skinned it and turned it into a bodhran.
If you believe that, let me know because I have the original golden fleece bodhran and I'll put it up on ebay
Who was it that used to do a routine with the bodhran..."I have here the original bodhran of Brian Boru which was used at the battle of clontarf. Well, the skin had to be changed a couple of times of course, and the frame has been replaced - but it is still the original bodhran from Brian Boru".
Cheers to all the lads. How was the National? No - wait don't tell me..."It was the best EVER! It always is the year I don't go. I wonder if that's a coincidence...hey, hang on a minute!
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by Greenwiggle
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Well, I can say it was the best ever, 'cause it's the first time I've been!
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by Tish
Re: Starting bodhran in Australia
Greenwiggle!! how are ya!? Great to see you contributing to this bodhran fest, remember that gig we once did that prominently featured a THREE bodhran solo?! With myself as one of those 'musicians'?! and how we spent the whole night raving about how it was the BEST gig we'd ever do?!?
ahem, well, as the sad veteran of over 15 Nationals... this was, without a shadow of a doubt...
THE GREATEST NATIONAL OF ALL TIME EVER!!!!!!!
there is simply NO reason to EVER go to the nash EVER again 'cause you won't beat this one.
(indeed, the only thing that could have made it better would have been the now-traditional threats of Mr Greenwiggle that he'll finally end up dancing on the tables... before heading off to bed at 8pm)
# Posted on April 12th 2007 by SirNose