Comments

Bodhran playing

Bodhran playing

Wondering if anyone can tell me how to play the bodhran in the relatively new style of beogas bodhran player?Absolutely amazed by this style, what type of bodhran, stick etc.....

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by tradmarty

Re: Bodhran playing

Oh hell - another Bodhran bashing thread ahoy.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by RockyRoader

Re: Bodhran playing

Read recent posts about plipperty plopperty playing JJ Kelley etc
A party piece, not for sessions or in front of the kiddies please, or as lliG leachiM would say, "play the tune"

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by mcknowall

Re: Bodhran playing

Martina, this site has a core of twitching neurotics who hate the bodhran in all its manifestations. Mention bodhran, they will come.
You're best to try a bodhran-friendly site like www.bodojo.com. Excellent resource.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by RockyRoader

Re: Bodhran playing

But having said that I would be happy to sell you a bodhran and stick that will do the job. hahahahhah
http://www.mcknowall.com

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by mcknowall

Re: Bodhran playing

its top end style, he plays o'kane bodhrans as well as a couple of others i think, as for stick. he playes different types of sticks like every other bodhran player, but mostly a standard straight tipper from what i can see. have a look at this:

http://www.bodojo.com/


.....and one other thing tradmarty, take no notice of these begrudging knowalls on this site....

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by CFlood

Re: Bodhran playing

Biogas bodhran-playing, eh? Could be an improvement on humans doing it I suppose...

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Steve Shaw

Re: Bodhran playing

Thank you CFlood, at least you helped me out with info instead of bodhran bashing!Its an instrument and all instuments deserve some respect....

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by tradmarty

Re: Bodhran playing

Id also recommend, Dan Griffin, and Tad sargent both from london who are excellent at this style of bodhran playing.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by CFlood

Re: Bodhran playing

i'm 6 and i play the bodhran at my dad's session and i love it
love from fergus :-)

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Rudall the time

Re: Bodhran playing

THe above message is true, BTW. from Dan, this time :-)

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Rudall the time

Re: Bodhran playing

Ah drummers, nature's most unloved musicians. Poor fellers.

The lad in question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n9DF4HWjV4

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: Bodhran playing

Martina, check out this website
http://www.craiceann.com/
AFAIR Eamon teaches there every year.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by padre

Re: Bodhran playing


Looks good eh? I fancy popping over for a few days to check out the Island and have a few tunes.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by piobagusfidil

Re: Bodhran playing

'Popping' he says! Plooping too? Planning on poppety ploop ploop pop popping over there, perhaps? ;-)

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

Re: Bodhran playing

I can recommend the Craiceann week too - Great fun, great teachers, and you're set up for Willie Week when you get back to the mainland!

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by RockyRoader

Re: Bodhran playing

Not me, I play the fiddle mainly. But its a great excuse to visit the Island and enjoy some great hospitality, and a bit of craic while I'm there.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by piobagusfidil

Re: Bodhran playing

I might even make it to WW as well I hope, though I prefer the sessions around there in the 'off season'.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by piobagusfidil

Re: Bodhran playing

tradmarty...go ahead and learn whatever instrument you want to learn. The fact that you actually play another instrument is going to put you miles ahead of other bodhrán players out there, most of whom don't know the tunes (which is very important in my opinion).
enjoy it...but you're a brave woman if you go to Craiceann! ;-)

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by munya beor

Re: Bodhran playing

I love good bodhran playing, and I miss them when they aren't there. However, there's no reason why a bodhran player can't bring a whistle and join in the tunes along with everyone else, especially at my session where we had six (SIX!) bodhrans flailing away all evening.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Greg the Piano Tuner

Re: Bodhran playing

Jeez thats extreme! 6!!!.. LOL , Well In that case I can see where the bodhran haters come from ! 6? in one session? ! what other instruments were there?

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by piobagusfidil

Re: Bodhran playing

Feic! Even at Craiceann, six bodhrans playing at once is a bit over the top - except at the Megabash, where you might get 70-odd whackers belting away under the conductor's baton of the likes of Mel Mercer!
Mind you - no melodies at the Megabash for some reason...

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by RockyRoader

Re: Bodhran playing

bodhran bashing=oxy moron?

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by skin&bow

Re: Bodhran playing

Martina....let me just say, on a more serious note, that while in it's way his playing is impressive too many bodhran players think that sessions are the place for their personal drum solos these days...and while it might be worthwhile to practice paradiddles, rim shots and whatever rudiments come to hand [bodojo has lots of em] if you play like this at a session you're going to win no friends.

I attend a session on and off where a person plays just like this guy above [more or less...less control perhaps] and X plays too loudly and too long. Every pause between tunes X sees as his personal moment to launch into a solo a la the video posted by swfl above.

It's both inconsiderate and stupid. But aside from that, what this guy is playing [in vid] has little to do with the actual tunes themselves...as I'm sure you know if you play concertina. Play and pracitice and be interested by all means, just don't play like this at a session ....keep it for the living room.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by skin&bow

Re: Bodhran playing

Regarding the clip by swf....If I close my eyes I can imagine Peter Chris or John Bonham...maybe By-Tor and the snow dog by Rush....They're(all three) very talented percussionists but for bodhran in Irish folk music I prefer this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBwTNaGGPBE&feature=related

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by shanty

Re: Bodhran playing

Sure, the drum can add a nice touch sometimes. But check out the first words on the home page of this site:

"The exchange of tunes is what keeps traditional Irish music alive. This website is one way of passing on jigs, reels and other dance tunes."

So--when was the last time you saw two bodhranistas exchanging tunes? I'm just sayin'.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by John Galt

Re: Bodhran playing

Ah, the truth comes out. And--aha!--you have been *performing* at sessions all this time, too!

Let's get something about trombones in here too--might as well go for the hat trick.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by John Galt

Re: Bodhran playing

Bodhran players - The easy way of playing along to traditional music. Surely the best thing is to learn to play with 'two hands' then you learn all the rudiments that are required to make you a proper drummer like this gent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYT77qnPqcI

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Free Reed

Re: Bodhran playing

And this one too, Free Reed. He has great facial expressions as well as athletic drumming technique.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F631VSEs9Ck

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by John Culhane

Re: Bodhran playing

Tut tut 55336...

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by David50

Re: Bodhran playing

Thank you llig for admitting the foundation to your bodhran dislike,my respect u have regained :)I play in sessions with the musicians leading the way I must admit that Donncha Gough and Eamon leave me in awe with their class solos!Craiceann it is so....Anyone upset Eigse Mrs Crotty is gone? Forme it was the best festival for comfortable but high standard sessions.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by tradmarty

Re: Bodhran playing

So how bout them ornementations? Nice to have but not necessary?

And tunes... If it get's played then it must be one of the possible versions/variations...

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Tirno

Re: Bodhran playing

But perhaps we're just confusing instruments with musical instruments.

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Steve Shaw

Re: Bodhran playing

Attention, chaps! This is very important.
Everyone make a note of this link and keep it in a safe place - you never know when you might need it:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/21237/comments#comment442158

# Posted on April 9th 2009 by Trevor Jennings

Re: Bodhran playing

In the 70s I went to loads of rock/metal gigs. I saw them all. There was a great tradition of drum solos. Carefully choreographed it went like this: Drum solo started ... musicians walked off stage ... crowd went to bar ... drummer came to the end of solo and band walked back on stage ... crowd missed the beginning of the next song.

Isn't it heartening that the importance of tradition is kept alive by the likes of Beoga.

# Posted on April 10th 2009 by ...

Re: Bodhran playing

At least I dont fondle the goats arse any longer..Grew out of that..Perhaps il grow into spelling/typing..In any case the local goat farmers bill for electric fences and Goat whisperers is signficantly reduced

# Posted on April 10th 2009 by Miss Mulligan

Re: Bodhran playing


Ahh, no trucks, i haven't changed my opinion yet, in fact your recent posts have confirmed my view! Though your retraction on the Buck -alec thread has redeemed you somewhat. I'm not 'pseudo' anything trucks. As far as spelling, , have you not heard of spell check? Its a simple add on for firefox.

For example;

>>At least I dont fondle the goats arse any longer.<<

This is humour yes? OK, I think I can see why you get on so well with llig.
:-)

# Posted on April 10th 2009 by piobagusfidil

Re: Bodhran playing

"Fondlin' the goat's arse" nearly made me fall off my chair. Hilarious. So glad I ploppety popped ploop pop plooped back in here.

# Posted on April 10th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler

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