Roosebeck Bodhran - User Manual

B
I
f the head is a natural skin, it will react
to humidity; high humidity can loosen
the natural skin head. Low humidity will
tighten the natural skin head. If the head
is synthetic, it requires no adjustment and
keeps a constant pitch. ese heads don’t
react to temperature and humidity the way
natural skins do; making them nicer for
playing outside.
For natural heads, avoid extreme heat, cold,
and humidity. Do not leave your bodhrán in
a hot car.
Avoid placing any objects on top of your
bodhrán.
Clean the bodhrán frame using a so damp
cloth or spray it with a water bottle and then
lightly wipe it down.
If you have a hole in a drum head and it
is not getting bigger and the drum sounds
good, you may not want to tamper with a
good thing. If the hole is small and you are
afraid it will tear, just close it up with super
or white glue; apply a little glue to both
the inside and outside of the drum head
around the hole to close it up. ere are also
some commercial patch kits available. In
a pinch, strong tape will hold temporarily.
ese drums can also be re-headed. Natural
skin heads can usually be put on drums
with yellow wood glue, a hose clamp, and
masking tape.
Accessories
Caring for your
Bodhrán
Bodhrán
Y
ou probably want to get several
bodhrán tippers of dierent sizes.
Mid-East oers a variety of bodhrán
tippers. Experiment with them until you
nd one that’s comfortable. Due to the
nature of the materials used to construct a
bodhrán, it is recommended that you keep
your bodhrán in a case when transporting
or when you have it in storage. Mid-East
also sells a variety of bodhrán cases which
are also displayed on our website.
If you want to learn more about how to play
the bodhrán, check out Mid-East’s bodhrán
instructional materials on our website.
BTN8RS
Bodhrán Case BTC4
Tippers
BSDD
– Owner’s Guide –
www.mid-east.com
© Copyright 2015. Mid-East Mfg. Inc.
Bodhrán

Summary

Caring for your Bodhrán

Head Care and Maintenance

Covers natural vs. synthetic head reactions to humidity and basic cleaning of the frame.

Drum Repair and Re-heading

Details fixing holes with glue or tape and re-heading with wood glue, hose clamps, and tape.

Bodhrán Accessories

Tippers and Cases

Recommends trying various tippers and using a case for transport and storage.

About the Bodhrán

Definition and Musical Context

Defines the bodhrán as a Gaelic percussion instrument and its role in Celtic music.

Playing and Tuning

How to Play the Bodhrán

Step-by-step guide on holding the drum and using the beater for tone and pitch control.

Tuning Fixed Head Bodhráns

Methods for adjusting pitch on fixed head drums using heat for tightening or water for loosening.

Tuning Tunable Head Bodhráns

Adjusting lugs on tunable bodhráns to achieve and maintain desired pitch evenly.

Bodhrán Construction

Drum Anatomy and Hardware

Explains goatskin heads, wood frames, and internal/external tuning hardware systems.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Important Technical Specifications
3. Usage Features
4. Maintenance Features
5. Additional Information

The Roosebeck Bodhrán is a traditional Irish frame drum, a premier percussion instrument in Celtic music, often referred to as the Irish frame drum. Its name, "bodhrán," is a Gaelic word meaning "deaf" or "dull sounding." These drums are used in both Irish and Scottish folk music.

Function Description:

The primary function of the bodhrán is to produce rhythmic sounds for musical accompaniment. The player controls the tone and pitch by applying pressure to the drum head with one hand while striking it with a beater (also known as a cipín or tipper) with the other.

Important Technical Specifications:

• Head Material: The drum head is typically made of goatskin, stretched over one opening of a circular wood frame. Some models may feature synthetic heads.
• Frame Construction: The head is glued and tacked to the outside of the wooden frame.
• Beater: The bodhrán is struck with a double-headed stick called a cipín, tipper, or beater. Mid-East offers a variety of tippers in different sizes (e.g., BSDD).
• Tuning Mechanisms:
  • Fixed Head Bodhráns: These drums do not have mechanical tuning hardware. Tuning adjustments rely on environmental factors (humidity, heat) or manual intervention (water, oil).
  • Tunable Head Bodhráns: These come in two main types:
    • External Tunables: Have hardware on the outside of the frame hooked to a metal ring that holds the head in place. These may be less expensive but can be more cumbersome to play.
    • Internal Tunables: Have hardware inside the frame to adjust a wooden ring under the head. These are generally more expensive but lighter in weight than external tunable bodhráns.
• Models Mentioned:
  • BTN8RS (Bodhrán)
  • BTG4M (Bodhrán)
  • BTP6X6B (Tunable Head Bodhrán)
• Accessories:
  • Tippers (e.g., BSDD)
  • Bodhrán Cases (e.g., BTC4)

Usage Features:

• Playing Posture:
  1. Rest the drum frame on your thigh at a slight angle towards your chest.
  2. Lay your upper arm over the top of the frame so the top edge tucks slightly under your armpit.
  3. Bend your elbow so your palm rests against the back side of the head.
• Tone and Pitch Control: The player controls the tone and pitch by increasing and decreasing the pressure of their hand against the head.
• Striking Technique: Bring the beater to the drum head in a smooth pendulum swing, moving up and down.
• Combined Action: One hand swings the beater against the head, while the other hand presses the head to "deafen" the sound, creating varied tones.
• Environmental Responsiveness (Natural Skin Heads): Natural skin heads react to humidity. High humidity loosens the head, while low humidity tightens it.
• Environmental Stability (Synthetic Heads): Synthetic heads do not react to temperature and humidity, maintaining a constant pitch and making them suitable for outdoor playing.

Maintenance Features:

• Environmental Care (Natural Skin Heads):
  • Avoid extreme heat, cold, and humidity.
  • Do not leave the bodhrán in a hot car.
  • Avoid placing objects on top of the bodhrán.
• Cleaning: Clean the bodhrán frame using a soft damp cloth or by spraying it with water and lightly wiping it down.
• Head Repair (Holes):
  • If a hole is small and not getting bigger, and the drum sounds good, it may not require immediate repair.
  • To prevent tearing, close small holes with super or white glue, applying a little to both the inside and outside of the drum head.
  • Commercial patch kits are available.
  • Strong tape can provide a temporary fix.
• Re-heading: Natural skin heads can be re-headed using yellow wood glue, a hose clamp, and masking tape.
• Tuning (Fixed Head Bodhráns):
  • Higher Pitch: Tighten the drum head by adding heat. Keep your hand on the drum head while applying heat; if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for the drum. Use a heating pad, blow dryer, or other heat source.
  • Lower Pitch: Loosen the drum head. Temporarily, a small amount of water rubbed evenly into the head with a cloth can loosen it (though this method is not recommended for repeated use).
  • Permanent Loosening: A little oil, head conditioner, or moisturizer will permanently loosen the skin, so use with caution.
• Tuning (Tunable Head Bodhráns):
  • Lower Pitch: Loosen the tension on the lugs.
  • Higher Pitch: Tighten the tension on the lugs.
  • Even Pitch: While adjusting the lugs, tap the drum near each lug position to ensure a consistent pitch all the way around.
• Storage and Transport: Due to the materials used, it is recommended to keep the bodhrán in a case when transporting or storing it.

Additional Information:

• Mid-East offers a variety of bodhrán tippers and cases, available on their website (www.mid-east.com).
• Instructional materials on how to play the bodhrán are also available from Mid-East.

Roosebeck Bodhran Specifications

General

Brand	Roosebeck
Model	Bodhran
Category	Musical Instrument
Language	English