Has anyone used a bodhran "slide bar" and if so, how would you rate the results? I understand there are several makers of these thingies (including the Grady Slide Bar, http://www.mance.com/acebodhrans/bo.html) but haven't come across any reviews. Any input would be appreciated!
If you want a slide bar don't waste your money try a pice of a brush handle or something. Personally I don't like them because of the rising and falling tone they produce but its up to yourself.
I don't like them and have only witnessed one player in the last five years that had a bodhrán with one. I think that alone speaks volumes for the value and practical nature of these things.
i have one of these myself made from an old curtain pole. Good craic for a while but dont spend money on one in fact ive still some curtain pole left if ya want it.
At the risk of name-dropping, I have seen Mr. Grady use his device in sessions (just played in a session with him last month as a matter of fact), and it does help him move his "damping" hand inside the drum to change the pitches of the thumps. He uses pitch more than any other drummer I have ever seen, he doesn't just "percuss," he plays countermelodies on the thing. A truly amazing drummer!
So the slide may not be for everyone, but in the right hands, the results can be pretty amazing.
bliss - he's the guy who makes these things - same link as on line 2 of this thread: http://www.mance.com/acebodhrans/bo.html
But like you I'd never heard of the guy before I looked at this thread.
Personally, I loathe the technique of varying the drum pitch, except in a rare solo, or as a VERY occasional embellishment. It drives me nuts when players keep going up and down the scale as they play. Anyone else agree?
I've met Mance a couple times (hey, we live in Rhode Island, we MUST know each other, right?), and so as far as inventions, pitch-changing drums, and percussive countermelodies go...
Boom Boom diddilda,Roll Diddilda
Boom Boom diddilda,Roll Diddilda
or
Diddilda,diddilda
or
Boom (gap)diddilda,diddilda diddilda
Boom boom diddilda,diddilda diddilda
or
Boom boom , Click
Just some of the jig variations I use,
Keep practising kids, and leave the percussion to the people who can count. Is it not a strange phenomena that most of the people who count in sessions are the people who can't?
btw changing pitch is most of playing the bodhran- getting a strong rhythm's easy but it's just boring and adds nothing to the tune if all you're doing is banging away at the same pitch. You may as well just be hitting the table if that's all you want. If you can change the pitch you can follow the tune- when it goes up, you go up and if you get runs going down (as you often get at the end of a tune part) you can follow that too. You should change pitch to complement and highlight the changing pitch of the tune- that's what makes a bodhran so different to, say, a snare drum.
I'll tell you what is annoying though, when people think "I'm going to do rimshots" and then move the bodhran away from them and start playing just on the wood for several bars. What's all that about? Rimshots are meant to be occasional embeliishments- maybe to highlight the down beat of a bar. You'd be shot at dawn if you did that in a Fleadh bodhran comp!
But yeah, what's a slide bar????
The only thing bar-like I can think of on a bodhran is the bar you get across the back on cheaper bodhrans. Is that what you mean?
Oh right, I googled it. That's kinda strange- why do you need one? Can't you just do what everyone else does and use your arm and wrist to put pressure on the skin. Also, I'd probably say don't get one because it means you have to have a bar across the back of your drum. That makes it more awkward to move your hand up and down because you get less space for your hand. Bars across the back were originally to keep the bodhran in a circular shape because the manufacture wasn't strong enough to stay cricular on its own. Some bodhran makers still use them because, i dunno, they look mor traditional but they restrict your movement. I'd leave it personally.
Ok, yeah I guess the bar across the back can make it a bit easier to hold when you're starting out, but if you're serious about the bodhran you usually move onto one without so you can move your hand properly.
Yes, the first bodhran I got in 1974 did have a bar across the back, now that you mention it.
My current one, bought in 1992, has cross bars at the back. You put your hand inside the bars, and grip the bar with the back of your hand. That means you have more freedom to move your hand, and take your hand right of it. Do that too often without a bar and the drum will fall off your knee. Which is why so many players without a bar have most of their hand on the back, to balance it. It also means you can't hear it. Mind you I have a somewhat flambouyant style, and need to be able to have full control of the drum. I also tend to play all of the drum. I dare say someone could "top end" all night in a quiet, unheard way, without knocking the drum over.
Mind you, you need to be a hellish good player to grip with the back of your hand, and move your hand while beating the bejaysus out of the drum at the same time.
To grip my bodhran (since I don't have a bar) I use the crook of my arm to hold it tight and then I don't have to hand my hand on the back of the bodhran all the time. My favourite hand position is the side of my hand. I know what you mean bodhran bliss when you say you can't hear it properly if you have your hand flat on the back though.
Nice to see you back Roisin. What you describe sounds great, but after 33 years as a bodhran novice my old limbs are creaking and wouldn't be up to that.
Maybe if I become serious about the bodhran I will try it.
Bodhran Slide Bar
Bodhran Slide Bar
Has anyone used a bodhran "slide bar" and if so, how would you rate the results? I understand there are several makers of these thingies (including the Grady Slide Bar, http://www.mance.com/acebodhrans/bo.html) but haven't come across any reviews. Any input would be appreciated!
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by lednar
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
If you want a slide bar don't waste your money try a pice of a brush handle or something. Personally I don't like them because of the rising and falling tone they produce but its up to yourself.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
What is a slide bar?
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
A music venue is Kerry/ Cork ?
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by bazouki dave
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Thanks.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
I don't like them and have only witnessed one player in the last five years that had a bodhrán with one. I think that alone speaks volumes for the value and practical nature of these things.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by ejsant
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
i have one of these myself made from an old curtain pole. Good craic for a while but dont spend money on one in fact ive still some curtain pole left if ya want it.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by big B
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Slide bar followed by a polka nightclub very good dave
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Look, it's a f###ing bodhran, do not complicate it. That's what causes all the trouble. Just keep time with it.
Punters loving it obviously opens up all sorts of money making opportunities, but do not lose sight of reality.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
At the risk of name-dropping, I have seen Mr. Grady use his device in sessions (just played in a session with him last month as a matter of fact), and it does help him move his "damping" hand inside the drum to change the pitches of the thumps. He uses pitch more than any other drummer I have ever seen, he doesn't just "percuss," he plays countermelodies on the thing. A truly amazing drummer!
So the slide may not be for everyone, but in the right hands, the results can be pretty amazing.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
No disrespect Al, but I doubt if many people have heard of Mr Grady, so forget about name dropping.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
bliss - he's the guy who makes these things - same link as on line 2 of this thread:
http://www.mance.com/acebodhrans/bo.html
But like you I'd never heard of the guy before I looked at this thread.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by Alf Tupper
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
An inventor? No wonder I hadn't heard of him, science is not my forte.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Some nice drums but I just made two of mances $35 tippers and they only cost me E3 in total and not great at making things.
# Posted on May 14th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Personally, I loathe the technique of varying the drum pitch, except in a rare solo, or as a VERY occasional embellishment. It drives me nuts when players keep going up and down the scale as they play. Anyone else agree?
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by Ailin
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Ya I agree Ailin .Stick to a strong rhythm
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
I've met Mance a couple times (hey, we live in Rhode Island, we MUST know each other, right?), and so as far as inventions, pitch-changing drums, and percussive countermelodies go...
...he is kind of a weird dude : P
--DtM
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by Dan the Man
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Take a jig. Boom, diddiley. The boom on each bit is all the variation you need, 90% of the time.
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Boom Boom diddilda,Roll Diddilda
Boom Boom diddilda,Roll Diddilda
or
Diddilda,diddilda
or
Boom (gap)diddilda,diddilda diddilda
Boom boom diddilda,diddilda diddilda
or
Boom boom , Click
Just some of the jig variations I use,
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Keep practising kids, and leave the percussion to the people who can count. Is it not a strange phenomena that most of the people who count in sessions are the people who can't?
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
People who count
get it get it?
# Posted on May 15th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
I've heard of bodrhan players sliding down the bar.I find the constant changing of pitch annoying too.
# Posted on May 16th 2007 by dafydd
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
What on earth is a slide bar?????????
btw changing pitch is most of playing the bodhran- getting a strong rhythm's easy but it's just boring and adds nothing to the tune if all you're doing is banging away at the same pitch. You may as well just be hitting the table if that's all you want. If you can change the pitch you can follow the tune- when it goes up, you go up and if you get runs going down (as you often get at the end of a tune part) you can follow that too. You should change pitch to complement and highlight the changing pitch of the tune- that's what makes a bodhran so different to, say, a snare drum.
I'll tell you what is annoying though, when people think "I'm going to do rimshots" and then move the bodhran away from them and start playing just on the wood for several bars. What's all that about? Rimshots are meant to be occasional embeliishments- maybe to highlight the down beat of a bar. You'd be shot at dawn if you did that in a Fleadh bodhran comp!
But yeah, what's a slide bar????
The only thing bar-like I can think of on a bodhran is the bar you get across the back on cheaper bodhrans. Is that what you mean?
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Oh right, I googled it. That's kinda strange- why do you need one? Can't you just do what everyone else does and use your arm and wrist to put pressure on the skin. Also, I'd probably say don't get one because it means you have to have a bar across the back of your drum. That makes it more awkward to move your hand up and down because you get less space for your hand. Bars across the back were originally to keep the bodhran in a circular shape because the manufacture wasn't strong enough to stay cricular on its own. Some bodhran makers still use them because, i dunno, they look mor traditional but they restrict your movement. I'd leave it personally.
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Or they make it easier to hold.
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Ok, yeah I guess the bar across the back can make it a bit easier to hold when you're starting out, but if you're serious about the bodhran you usually move onto one without so you can move your hand properly.
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Yes, the first bodhran I got in 1974 did have a bar across the back, now that you mention it.
My current one, bought in 1992, has cross bars at the back. You put your hand inside the bars, and grip the bar with the back of your hand. That means you have more freedom to move your hand, and take your hand right of it. Do that too often without a bar and the drum will fall off your knee. Which is why so many players without a bar have most of their hand on the back, to balance it. It also means you can't hear it. Mind you I have a somewhat flambouyant style, and need to be able to have full control of the drum. I also tend to play all of the drum. I dare say someone could "top end" all night in a quiet, unheard way, without knocking the drum over.
But what would I know?
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Mind you, you need to be a hellish good player to grip with the back of your hand, and move your hand while beating the bejaysus out of the drum at the same time.
Do not try this at home.
# Posted on May 17th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
I use a door nob inside the bodhran its great for control and applying pressure.
# Posted on May 18th 2007 by Saint
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
To grip my bodhran (since I don't have a bar) I use the crook of my arm to hold it tight and then I don't have to hand my hand on the back of the bodhran all the time. My favourite hand position is the side of my hand. I know what you mean bodhran bliss when you say you can't hear it properly if you have your hand flat on the back though.
# Posted on May 19th 2007 by RoisinB
Re: Bodhran Slide Bar
Nice to see you back Roisin. What you describe sounds great, but after 33 years as a bodhran novice my old limbs are creaking and wouldn't be up to that.
Maybe if I become serious about the bodhran I will try it.
# Posted on May 19th 2007 by bodhran bliss