Hello!
I've finally decided to buy my first bodhran. The problem is the diameter. Do you prefer 16'' or 18''? It's simply a question of personal preferences? Which are the pro/con?
I'm italian; I need to order one of them from ireland or UK, so I can't try the bodhran in order to understand which diameter fits more to me.
So I asks your suggestions! ;)
Thanks,
Michele
Actually, the smaller the drum, the more flexible the head will be. In order to get a deep open tone, the 16" head will be a little more slack.. So, it will be a little more responsive to you r hand pressure. Actually, the big drums are pretty much out these days.. I see alot of players playing smaller drums because they are easier to control, and offer the same tonal variation with less hand movement..
If you want to play the modern stuff, get a tiny little drum, the smaller and deeper, the better, without crossbars. Then learn how to hit the thing as fast as possible so no matter when a beat happens, you will always be hitting the drum at that very moment, and you can say you're playing on time.
If you want to play a more traditional style (as traditional as the bodhran gets, which isn't very), get an 18" drum with a shallow frame and both crossbars, and learn to hear the tunes before you start playing it. Crossbars are essential for good tone, but as you'll hear, that's pretty much out these days.
If you want it to sound like a bodhran, get the 18" with one or two crossbars depending on how you wish to play it. If you want to sound like the timpani section of an orchestra, go for the tunable 14" or 16" without crossbars.
Is there take-out pizza in Italy? You would find it here in the US, in abundance. Here, the freshly baked pizza is taken home in wide, shallow cardboard boxes which the customer needs must dispose of somehow, after their meal. in the right hands, an empty pizza box can be used to produce close approximations of the old, and new, bodhran styles. I've heard it done. There are lots of pizza boxes here in the US -- both used and un-used. Just a thought. (smiley, winking emoticon) Are there no shallow hoop-drums in Italian musical tradition? Pleased to meet you, Miky.
Depends. If you're chaffing wheat or carrying peat, I imagine you'd want a shallow 18" bodhran. It's hard to get the chaff away with something deep and an 18" will hold more peat. Big, shallow bodhrans also make nice decorations when you find one with a painting you like. Now if you're drumming, most of the good players I know use a 14" tunable.
with all the instruments that you play
smaller drum will take less space and will be easier to carry around
personaly I'm huge fan of 12" drums by Metloef - Rob Forkner, great design and very innovative maker.
if you're looking for a good drum get 12 or 14"
and get it from either Rob Forkner or Diarmaid O'Kane. that's just my personal opinion but these two guys are the best on the market.
There is a load of tosh spouted on this site about bodhráns., especially from those who don't know how to play them. Eg. 'needing crossbars for tone' for example, and 'smaller drums equals timpani' etc. What tosh.
18" is the traditional size for a bodhrán. The crossbars were necessary to keep the frame circular, before the days of ply and polymer glues. They are no longer necessary for that purpose. Some people still like them, but most players prefer not restrict the movement of their 'skin- hand' when altering the tone of the drum. Basically the 18" drums were found to be too big and too loud for session playing, so for this and other reason, smaller drums were introduced. If you are just starting out then buy whatever you can afford. If possible buy a drum that is adjustable so that you can compensate for the goat skins reaction to humidity. I would recommend 15-16" as a good starter. Traditional un-tunable drums with crossbars start at about £40GB, whereas a tuneable 16" will start at about £120GB.
Happy drumming Michelle.
I had a girlfriend that said she really liked an 18" but I thought she was exageration just to p i ss me orf...I'm quite content with my 7 1/2"...
Ooh Er Matron!
I'd think the "facilitator" of http://www.bodhranwisdom.co.uk/ would have a little more sense than to bring up the word "tosh" and "bodhrans" in the same sentence.
Oh, well - pot, meet kettle. You were saying? Something about the smaller drums being better for calling the spirit world? Is that because the calling plans are better, or is it the coverage? With the larger drums, the signal cuts out over Gehenna, is that the story?
curiadydrwm is no different to anyone else here, apparently, when it comes to talking tosh. Some people, myself included, hold the crossbars at the intersection when playing, and use the extended fingers of that hand to modify the tone. The crossbars, therefore, are necessary. Also the diameter of the drum bears little or no relationship to the volume, and that they were 'found to be too big' is conjecture.
Thanks everyone for the answers :D
I've see two bodhrans that it can be good for me.
One is the Vignoles Budget 16'', it seems to be a good bodhran at a not very high price:
Mine is 14 inches, and 6 1/2 inches deep. I've played bigger drums and I like this one a lot. I found 18 inches too big of a drum for me.
I bought it from a fellow here in Canada, David Settles (http://www.daveydrums.com/). I realize that is far from where you live, but if you can try a smaller drum you may prefer it,...
Get a friend who plays to go with you to the local music shop or bodhran maker's shop. Have him/her play both sizes of drum. Listen to both and get the one that sounds best to you.
If it's a money situation, get the one that is the least expensive.
You can always save up and get the better drum at a later date.
Ask a bodhran player you know or trust to tell you what he/she thinks are the best drums and why. His/her input can be invaluable when starting out and not knowing much about quality/craftsmanship/price factors regarding a good drum or a good 'first' drum to purchase.
"Some people, myself included, hold the crossbars at the intersection when playing, and use the extended fingers of that hand to modify the tone. The crossbars, therefore, are necessary"
Some people, on the other hand, put their left hand under the crossbars and use them as a brace, to give leverage for modifying the tone, allowing for "pushing" the skin - also allowing for use of the full skin. I don't see how crossbars would interfere with your hand motion, unless you're playing a drum that's too small and too deep, putting your left arm at a bad angle for playing - but that's just a problem of using badly-designed gear.
First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Hello!
I've finally decided to buy my first bodhran. The problem is the diameter. Do you prefer 16'' or 18''? It's simply a question of personal preferences? Which are the pro/con?
I'm italian; I need to order one of them from ireland or UK, so I can't try the bodhran in order to understand which diameter fits more to me.
So I asks your suggestions! ;)
Thanks,
Michele
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by MikyMate
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
You can fit more pint glasses on the 18" ones. Be sure to saw off any crossbars first.
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by Steve Shaw
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Actually, the smaller the drum, the more flexible the head will be. In order to get a deep open tone, the 16" head will be a little more slack.. So, it will be a little more responsive to you r hand pressure. Actually, the big drums are pretty much out these days.. I see alot of players playing smaller drums because they are easier to control, and offer the same tonal variation with less hand movement..
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by banjoloon
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
yeah.. NO crossbars.. unnecessary..
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by banjoloon
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Depends on what you want to play.
If you want to play the modern stuff, get a tiny little drum, the smaller and deeper, the better, without crossbars. Then learn how to hit the thing as fast as possible so no matter when a beat happens, you will always be hitting the drum at that very moment, and you can say you're playing on time.
If you want to play a more traditional style (as traditional as the bodhran gets, which isn't very), get an 18" drum with a shallow frame and both crossbars, and learn to hear the tunes before you start playing it. Crossbars are essential for good tone, but as you'll hear, that's pretty much out these days.
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
If you want it to sound like a bodhran, get the 18" with one or two crossbars depending on how you wish to play it. If you want to sound like the timpani section of an orchestra, go for the tunable 14" or 16" without crossbars.
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by gam
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Is there take-out pizza in Italy? You would find it here in the US, in abundance. Here, the freshly baked pizza is taken home in wide, shallow cardboard boxes which the customer needs must dispose of somehow, after their meal. in the right hands, an empty pizza box can be used to produce close approximations of the old, and new, bodhran styles. I've heard it done. There are lots of pizza boxes here in the US -- both used and un-used. Just a thought. (smiley, winking emoticon) Are there no shallow hoop-drums in Italian musical tradition? Pleased to meet you, Miky.
# Posted on February 15th 2011 by Atahualpa Quigley
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Depends. If you're chaffing wheat or carrying peat, I imagine you'd want a shallow 18" bodhran. It's hard to get the chaff away with something deep and an 18" will hold more peat. Big, shallow bodhrans also make nice decorations when you find one with a painting you like. Now if you're drumming, most of the good players I know use a 14" tunable.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by ElaineT
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
with all the instruments that you play
smaller drum will take less space and will be easier to carry around
personaly I'm huge fan of 12" drums by Metloef - Rob Forkner, great design and very innovative maker.
if you're looking for a good drum get 12 or 14"
and get it from either Rob Forkner or Diarmaid O'Kane. that's just my personal opinion but these two guys are the best on the market.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by padre
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
There is a load of tosh spouted on this site about bodhráns., especially from those who don't know how to play them. Eg. 'needing crossbars for tone' for example, and 'smaller drums equals timpani' etc. What tosh.
18" is the traditional size for a bodhrán. The crossbars were necessary to keep the frame circular, before the days of ply and polymer glues. They are no longer necessary for that purpose. Some people still like them, but most players prefer not restrict the movement of their 'skin- hand' when altering the tone of the drum. Basically the 18" drums were found to be too big and too loud for session playing, so for this and other reason, smaller drums were introduced. If you are just starting out then buy whatever you can afford. If possible buy a drum that is adjustable so that you can compensate for the goat skins reaction to humidity. I would recommend 15-16" as a good starter. Traditional un-tunable drums with crossbars start at about £40GB, whereas a tuneable 16" will start at about £120GB.
Happy drumming Michelle.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by curiadydrwm
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
I really like an 18".... I think you get a certain sound that way.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Zazzaliss
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
I had a girlfriend that said she really liked an 18" but I thought she was exageration just to p i ss me orf...I'm quite content with my 7 1/2"...
Ooh Er Matron!
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by yhaalhouse
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
I recommend chosing answer "C." none of the above!
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Just get what sounds good to your ears. I love a good bodhran played well with a good tone.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
I'd think the "facilitator" of http://www.bodhranwisdom.co.uk/ would have a little more sense than to bring up the word "tosh" and "bodhrans" in the same sentence.
Oh, well - pot, meet kettle. You were saying? Something about the smaller drums being better for calling the spirit world? Is that because the calling plans are better, or is it the coverage? With the larger drums, the signal cuts out over Gehenna, is that the story?
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
curiadydrwm is no different to anyone else here, apparently, when it comes to talking tosh. Some people, myself included, hold the crossbars at the intersection when playing, and use the extended fingers of that hand to modify the tone. The crossbars, therefore, are necessary. Also the diameter of the drum bears little or no relationship to the volume, and that they were 'found to be too big' is conjecture.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by gam
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Thanks everyone for the answers :D
I've see two bodhrans that it can be good for me.
One is the Vignoles Budget 16'', it seems to be a good bodhran at a not very high price:
http://www.michaelvignoles.com/budget%20tuneable.html
Otherwise, i found a less expensive solution on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/16-INCH-BODHRAN-HANDMADE-TUNABLE-CELTIC-GREEN-pbs16tg-/110646177655?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Drums_Percussions_MJ&hash=item19c306af77#ht_2904wt_1139
(there's also the 18'')
But I don't know what kind of bodhran is this, if it's made in uk/ireland or it's asian, can anyone help me to recognise it and his quality?
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by MikyMate
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
18" makes a bigger target.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Rudall the time
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
It's a bit of skin stretched over a wooden ring. There is a lot of marketing going on on planet Bodhran. Caveat emptor.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by gam
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Check www.bodojo.com for genuine advice on bodhrans.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by RockyRoader
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
You get a lot of Flack on here about Bodhran's - Get youself one of these for the session instead --
'' Dat e'll sicken dem '' - jim,,,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EXAhOKhThY
jim,,,
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Well at least they are tunable jim.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by gam
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Now a saw a bodey using yin o' those auld Allen key's,
tae his Bodhran in our session in Saturday hey .....
jim,,,
PS-
Sorry About the Ulster Scot's - lol...
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by FIDDLE4
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
If you have a big enough bodhran, it can also serve as a flotation device in the event of a water landing.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by DrSilverSpear
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Mine is 14 inches, and 6 1/2 inches deep. I've played bigger drums and I like this one a lot. I found 18 inches too big of a drum for me.
I bought it from a fellow here in Canada, David Settles (http://www.daveydrums.com/). I realize that is far from where you live, but if you can try a smaller drum you may prefer it,...
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Porridge
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Sorry, I was wrong. My drum is 15 inches, not 14. I'm not quite awake yet :>)
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Porridge
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
Get a friend who plays to go with you to the local music shop or bodhran maker's shop. Have him/her play both sizes of drum. Listen to both and get the one that sounds best to you.
If it's a money situation, get the one that is the least expensive.
You can always save up and get the better drum at a later date.
Ask a bodhran player you know or trust to tell you what he/she thinks are the best drums and why. His/her input can be invaluable when starting out and not knowing much about quality/craftsmanship/price factors regarding a good drum or a good 'first' drum to purchase.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by fiddlerdan
Re: First Bodhran: 16'' or 18'' ?
"Some people, myself included, hold the crossbars at the intersection when playing, and use the extended fingers of that hand to modify the tone. The crossbars, therefore, are necessary"
Some people, on the other hand, put their left hand under the crossbars and use them as a brace, to give leverage for modifying the tone, allowing for "pushing" the skin - also allowing for use of the full skin. I don't see how crossbars would interfere with your hand motion, unless you're playing a drum that's too small and too deep, putting your left arm at a bad angle for playing - but that's just a problem of using badly-designed gear.
# Posted on February 16th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky