The bodhrán: a beginner's guide

Updated 2026-09-28 · Researched guide, not a hands-on review

What the bodhrán is

The bodhrán (pronounced roughly “BOW-rawn” or “bow-RAWN”) is a frame drum: a wooden rim, usually 14 to 18 inches across, with a goatskin head tacked or glued to one side. The other side is open. You strike the head with a small wooden stick, the tipper (also called a cipín or beater), while the other hand presses on the inside of the skin. That hand changes the pitch and tone and damps unwanted ringing.

Frame drums are ancient, but the bodhrán's place in performed Irish music is fairly recent. It became widely known in the 1960s, when the composer Seán Ó Riada featured it in his group Ceoltóirí Chualann. Several members of that group went on to found The Chieftains. Players at that time often used their hands or a stick. Since then, tipper technique, and the drums themselves, have developed a great deal.

Sound and role in the music

The bodhrán is an accompanying instrument. Its job is to support the dance rhythm of the tune: the lilt of a jig, the drive of a reel, the swing of a hornpipe or polka. A good player listens closely, follows the melody's phrasing and changes texture from tune to tune. They don't play one pattern at full volume. You'll hear it mostly in Irish music, and also in Scottish and other Celtic-influenced bands.

There are two broad playing approaches:

• Traditional or “bottom-end” styles often use larger drums and play across more of the head. A widely taught Kerry style uses a double-ended tipper: one end carries the main rhythm and the other adds occasional ornaments.
• “Top-end” playing, developed over recent decades, usually uses a smaller, deeper, tunable drum. It's played near the top of the skin, with the inside hand constantly shaping the pitch, which gives a tighter, more melodic sound.

Construction, sizes and depths

Tippers

Tippers range from about 6 to 9 inches long, and may be single- or double-ended, light or heavy. Lighter, thinner tippers suit fast, crisp top-end playing. Heavier ones give a fuller sound on larger drums. Brush and rod tippers are much quieter, which is useful for practice and small rooms. Many players end up owning several. As a beginner, buy one medium, all-round tipper and get used to it before collecting more.

What a beginner needs to know before choosing one

• Buy an instrument, not a souvenir. Decorated “gift” drums with painted heads are often sold as ornaments and may not sound or play well. Look for a maker that sells to musicians.
• Think about your climate. In damp or very dry places, a fixed-head drum may sound flabby or harsh for much of the year. Tunable drums avoid this.
• Pick a size you can hold comfortably for half an hour, with your arm relaxed.
• Check that your inside hand can reach the skin freely. This matters if you plan to learn modern pitch-bending technique.
• Budget for a tipper and a padded bag if the drum doesn't include them.

We compare specific beginner drums, and explain what to check before ordering, in our beginner bodhrán buying guide.

First accessories and learning resources

• A padded bag: protects the skin from knocks and sudden temperature changes.
• A tuning key: needed if your tunable drum uses one. Keep it in the bag.
• A tutor book, video or online course that shows the basic jig and reel patterns slowly.
• Recordings you love to play along with quietly, at home.

Session etiquette

Experienced musicians give new drummers the same advice again and again. Ask before joining in. Check whether another bodhrán player is already there, because one drum is usually enough. Play quietly. Sit out tunes you don't know, and slow airs. The quickest way to be welcome is to know the tunes: many good drummers can hum or lilt most of the session repertoire.

Common mistakes and limitations

• Playing too loud: the drum should sit under the melody, not on top of it.
• Gripping the tipper tightly: tension ruins rhythm and tires your wrist. Keep your hand loose and let the wrist rotate.
• One pattern for every tune: learn to hear the difference between jigs (groups of three) and reels (groups of two and four).
• Ignoring the inside hand: it gives the drum most of its musical variety.
• Its limits: the bodhrán is quick to start but hard to play really well. It isn't a melody instrument, so it won't teach you tunes on its own.

Listening examples

• Johnny “Ringo” McDonagh played bodhrán with De Dannan and on Mary Bergin's Feadóga Stáin.
• Kevin Conneff was The Chieftains' long-time bodhrán player and singer.
• Peadar Mercier played bodhrán in Ó Riada's Ceoltóirí Chualann and early Chieftains line-ups.
• Dónal Lunny is best known on bouzouki, but played bodhrán with Planxty and The Bothy Band.

For more to hear, including albums that feature bodhrán, see our listening guide.

A learning path

1. Learn to hold the drum and tipper, and play a steady, even down-up motion from the wrist.
2. Learn the basic reel pattern, then the jig pattern, slowly, with accents on the beat.
3. Play along quietly with recordings, and practise following changes between tunes.
4. Add triplets, inside-hand pitch changes and dynamics.
5. Learn to hum the tunes, then try a friendly slow session.

See our beginner learning path for practice habits and where to find lessons.