Great Bodhrans Are Made From Passion
The bodhran is the traditional Celtic frame drum. The cross braces and laminated rosewood strengthen the shell of this goatskin-covered drum. With a rich dee. The Playing Position for Bodhran Drums. The Bodhran is held vertically in the player’s left hand and if the player is seated the drum may be rested on the players lap or held up with the arm. Like so: The hand that is holding the drum is positioned so that it can touch the back of the skin of the drum to dampen it and to change its sound.
Whether you are looking to purchase your very first bodhran or planning to upgrade to a better quality one, this section is here to help. This decision is made even more difficult by the fact that there are so many superb makers out there now (See the list below). My husband, Mark, and I are simply too busy with other projects to keep making our Cape Breton Bodhrans, but I can tell you from first hand experience that making an instrument is done out of passion and not for love of the almighty dollar. A great deal of time, effort and care goes into making a bodhran so please keep that in mind when looking to buy one.
I would always suggest you deal directly with a maker, or one of their reps in your country, as most shops that sell instruments get them in at cost price, making more than the actual maker. With the exception of a few really great shops, most music store employees usually don’t know that much about bodhrans. The dead give away is when they have them hanging in the front window, baking in the direct sunlight. In fact, you probably already know more about bodhrans than they do.
Do Your Homework
The more time you spend researching the best maker and drum for you the better you will feel about your final decision.
Don’t be afraid to email makers to ask some questions, but remember to sift through their websites first as many of your questions are most likely already answered there.
The Better The Instrument – The Better YOU Sound,
But It’s Ok To Start Out On The Cheap
If you are just looking for something to get you started and don’t want to pay alot of money I’m sure you already know you will simply get what you pay for. There’s nothing wrong with starting out on an inexpensive drum and then upgrading once you’ve decided to stay with it. My very first drum was a very cheap one made in Pakistan and it served me well in my early stages. Once you try a great drum though you will instantly hear how much better you actually sound.
Why It’s Good To Get A Second, Third And Fourth Opinion
I hesitate to recommend one maker over another as the choice is such an individual one. I’m sure many people would just like for me to say ‘This is the one drum I recommend’ and make the decision for them, but going by only one person’s opinion wouldn’t really be in their best interest. I also don’t think any one person should have that much power.
Leave A Comment To Help One Another
Collecting information from lots of different sources is the best way to find the drum just for you. I know that people like helping people so please leave a comment to exchange information about bodhrans, where you got yours, what size is it, etc. and your overall experiences in the comments section below. This will help everyone become more educated about bodhrans and makers around the world.
~ Michelle
UNITED STATES
Rob Forkner – Metloef Irish Drums www.metloef.com – Texas
Brent Cuyler – Finnegan Hill Percussion – Columbus, Ohio
Albert Alfonso www.albertalfonso.com – Texas, USA
Mance Grady www.acebodhrans.com – Rhode Island
Cooperman www.cooperman.com – Bellow Falls, Vermont
Mike Quinlan www.hstrial-mikequinlan.intuitwebsites.com – Chicago
John McPrange www.mcprange.com
CANADA
David Settles www.daveydrums.com – Calgary, Alberta
Chip Mulvaney Mulvaney’s Handcrafted Instruments – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Robin Shackleton – Sylvan Temple Drums www.sylvantemple.ca – Vancouver Island, British Columbia
C. J. Dixon http://www.cjdixon.com – Ontario
Fred Graham – Ardglen Bodhrans www.ardglen-bodhrans.com
Neil O’Grady www.celticmusiccrafts.ca – Newfoundland
Shaw Percussion www.shawpercussion.com – Ontario
Bridget Drums www.bridgetdrums.com – Ontario
GERMANY
Christian Hedwitschak – Hedwitschak Drums www.bodhranmaker.de – Bavaria
David Roman Drums www.davidromandrums.com – Berlin
WALES
Dragon Drums www.dragondrums.co.uk – North Wales
Mark Harmsworth -DD Percussion www.ddpercussion.com – North Wales
IRELAND
Paraic McNeela www.TheBodhranMaker.com – Dublin
Malachy Kearns www.bodhran.com – Co. Galway
Michael Vignoles www.michaelvignoles.com – Galway
Ben March Bodhrans www.benmarchbodhrans.com – Co. Clare
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Eamon Maguire http://www.leafpile.com/TravelLog/NorthIreland/Belfast/Eamon/Eamon.htm
Niall Carey – NiCa Percussion www.facebook.com/NiCaPercussion – Tipperary
NORTHERN IRELAND
Seamus O’Kane www.tradcentre.com/seamus – Derry
Paul McAuley www.irishbodhrans.com – Ballycastle
SCOTLAND
Eoin Leonard – Belgarth Bodhrans www.Belgarth.com – Orkney (Currently only making on hobby basis)
John Wilson – Skye Bodhrans www.skyebodhrans.co.uk – Portree
Doug Lanchbery – Auchencairn
Adam Brown – RandABrown
NORWAY
Harold Hougaard www.hougaardguitars.com
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AUSTRIA
Eckermann Drums www.eckermanndrums.com
THE NETHERLANDS
Brendan White www.bodhran.nl – The Netherlands
ENGLAND
Renegade Rhythms – Marc ‘Mog’ Moggy www.renegaderhythms.co.uk – Norfolk, England
Diarmaid O’Kane (son of Seamus O’Kane) www.tradcentre.com/diarmaid – Essex
AUSTRALIA
John McKnowall www.mcknowall.com – Kyogle, New South Wales
FRANCE
SPAIN
Victor Barral www.victorbarral.com
Mariano La Duela – www.celticdevil.com/bodhrans
Currently Taking A Break From Bodhran Making
Ralf Siepmann www.bodhranshop.com
Davy Stuart – New Zealand
Darius Bartlett – France
EastCoast DrumCraft – www.eastcoastdrumcraft.com PEI, Canada
Del Eckels – Dels Drum www.delsdrums.com – California
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