Basic lessons on how to play the Bodhran

October Browne give an introductory lessons on playing the Irish Bodhran. For more on October please visit http://profile.myspace.com/octoberbrowne

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bodhran
• lesson

[kungfuasgaeilge]

is the back of the beater/stick/thing just for counterweight or do you strike with it as well?

Thanks :)

[mikewhitla]

@kungfuasgaeilge both sides are used when triplet patterns are played.

[humblebum75]

ODufaigh: 4/4 time is a common musical term (not just for durmmers or Irish trad players). It means that there are 4 "beats" in each bar. (You can ignore the 2nd of the 2 numbers, it won't mean anything to you). Jigs are in 6/8 time (6 beats a bar). Waltzes are in 3/4 time (3 beats). Reels are played on the bodhran - down-up-down-up-down-up-down-u­p.

RenaissantMan: don't worry about brushing - when you start playing faster, there's no way you'll have time to worry about each stroke being "crisp".

[mikewhitla]

Thanks for the response humblebum. One minor correction 6/8 time is really two beats each one being divided into 3 parts 123 456.

[phantasma616]

is it possible to play with the 'tipper' in the left hand, or should it be strictly right?

[mikewhitla]

If you are lefthanded I think holding it with the left hand would be the thing to do!!

[gothicpiper]

she sure was cheerful

[keishab52]

she looks like Susan Sarandon :)

[FunkyMando]

Ha ha, ha, Oh dear. Above = below. I post comments below others and they get displayed by youtube above them. lol

[FunkyMando]

@FunkyMando (me) Oops! There's a typo in the second to last sentence in my comment above... " beats/bar should read 2 beats/bar. I hit the sneaky shift key at the wrong time. lol :)

[FunkyMando]

@TheDallimar

Jigs don't actually have 6 'beats' in a bar though. The 6 six 'pulses' are distributed into 2 groups of three. 6/8 is 2 beats in a bar, each beat having a value of three eighth-notes (quavers). 6/8 is a 'duple time' rhythm. You can count the 2 beats (six 'pulses' - stressing the 1st and 4th 'pulse') 1,2,3,2,2,3 or 1 triplet, 2 triplet or 1 & a, 2 & a - or you can save yourself counting and say "Bacon and Sausages, bacon and sausages" :)... Please see above about reels. Best wishes

[FunkyMando]

@humblebum75 ... except that it's a common misconception that reels have a 4/4 rhythm. They are actually played in 'cut-common' time which is 2 beats to a bar; each beat having the value of a half-note (minim) which can be divided into 4 eighth-notes (quavers). You can think of it as "watermelon watermelon" - 2 groups of four. So rather than it being counted 1,2,3,4 which is square, it is counted 1, e, &, a, 2, e, &, a. " beats/bar. "Watermelon watermelon" is easier than counting though. :)

[TheDallimar]

@mikewhitla I was actualy taught by a drummer from southern dublin that the triplet patern is the customary way of playing and the single strikes didn't come about untill people that didn't know how to play them got their hands on their hands on them.

He may have been a little bias, he was quite passionate about his drumming.

[TheDallimar]

@humblebum75 You missed the other half of the 4/4 time's meaning, though generaly it's only important if you're reading music rather than doing improv. 4/4 - 4 beats per measure, the 1/4 note gets the beat (ie. is one beat).

So, 6/8 is 6 beats per measure, the 1/8 note gets the beat. If you're playing at the same tempo, 6/8 will be twice as fast as 6/4. (you probably know this all, it's more for information for those that don't)

[TheCelticValhalla]

i'm trying to get a bodhran i know an old friend who still selling one at his music shop

[kungfuasgaeilge]

@mikewhitla Wow, that's a fast response if ever I saw one! :)

Thanks for the info