Essential Bodhran, learn the basics of Irish drumming today!

In this lecture we will learn how to make our first hit.

This is learnt on the skin of your hand first before playing it on the skin of the drum.

First I show you how to hold the beater and then how to rotate the beater and strike the skin.

As you will see we rotate the beater from 9pm to 6pm and back to 9pm on the 'clock face'.

The beater hits the drum skin between those points.

Try to hit the skin with impact almost like throwing the beater or flicking it at the skin with some momentum but still with a follow through.

Now we are getting the hang of playing a single note or beat.

The 'count' for this exercise is in the attached jpeg.

There are four beats in the bar for this piece so you can count 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4

But as we are trying to trying to play on beat one only the sound will be:

Boom 2, 3, 4, Boom, 2, 3, 4, Boom 2, 3, 4, Boom, 2, 3, 4

Try to be accurate with the rhythm and also with the way the beater strikes the skin.

Make sure you don't scrape the beater along the skin, strike it with impact.

In this lecture we will play this brilliant tune - Whiskey in the Jar.

Just play one beat per bar as we've learnt in the previous lecture.

Get to know the tune with the words provided and sing along if you can.

Now play along one beat per bar on your had.

Next try it on your bodhran.

Play it round many times until you feel comfortable.

THIS COURSE IS THE FIRST BODHRAN COURSE IN WHAT COULD BECOME A SERIES.

IF YOU WANT MORE YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW.

IF YOU DON'T ASK FOR MORE I WON'T DO ANY MORE!

Take a look at the attached jpeg and let's learn to play what it says.

Still four beats in the bar but playing on beats one and three only so you can count 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4.

Here's how it looks when you play beats one and three but not two and four,

Boom, 2, Boom, 4, Boom, 2, Boom, 4, Boom, 2, Boom, 4, Boom, 2, Boom, 4,

There are four beats in the bar for this piece so you can count 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4

You can also play four to the bar as well - please follow the video.

Try making the first beat louder than the other three.

Either you can hit the fist beat harder and louder or lift you left hand off the back of the drum skin a little bit to up the volume.

This lecture is about stretching your arms and hands to help you play comfortably.

DISCLAIMER: THESE EXERCISES ARE WHAT I DO AND THEY WORK FOR ME. PLEASE DO NOT DO THEM UNLESS YOU ACTIVELY WANT TO AND LET IT BE UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU DO THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK. I ADVISE YOU NOT TO DO THEM.

Having said that a simple easy stretch should be within most people's reach and I have been taught to do them by various teachers with no problems so far.

THIS COURSE IS THE FIRST BODHRAN COURSE IN WHAT COULD BECOME A SERIES.

IF YOU WANT MORE YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW.

IF YOU DON'T ASK FOR MORE I WON'T DO ANY MORE!

That's pretty much the course done now.

The follow up is different rhythms, songs and techniques. Different beaters, playing single ended, playing outside Irish trad music, playing different pitches on your drum - and loads more!

Bye for now, please message me if you need any help.

Ben Hewlett