bodhran triplets

[Allan MacDonald]

Hi has anyone got any tips on playing triplets on the bodhran?
I just can't seem to get the rhythm smooth.

[SPBurris]

In article <4doii2$5...@news.nstn.ca>, alma...@fox.nstn.ca (Allan
MacDonald) wrote:

> Hi has anyone got any tips on playing triplets on the bodhran?
> I just can't seem to get the rhythm smooth.

I had the same problem. Try this: first just sort of flop the stick
against the drumskin, letting it hit and jiggle from side to side. Do
this over and over. Hard to describe...

Hold the stick in the middle, horizontally over the drum (might as well
lay it flat for the moment). Let your hand fall against the drum with the
stick, and feel how the stick ends bounce off the skin in alternation. It
will sound a lot like a short drum roll.

Now, while you are playing bodhran normally, try hitting the stick against
the skin in a similar manner as above. Try to get that drumroll sound
again. Then you can begin to control the drumroll and shorten it to three
triplets.

The important thing is not to try to achieve each hit of the triplet
consciously. You have to execute the triplets as a whole maneuvre.

Probably impossible to explain what I mean online. Good luck.

--
SPBurris, graduate student in Classics
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

[Dean Karres]

Are you having trouble with triplets in general or is thee a specific
application that is difficult?

alma...@fox.nstn.ca (Allan MacDonald) writes:
> Hi has anyone got any tips on playing triplets on the bodhran?
>I just can't seem to get the rhythm smooth.

--
Dean Karres | http://www.southwind.net/~karres
kar...@southwind.net |
Southwind Internet Access | Systems Administrator
Wichita, KS | <Troll-In-Training>

[HoosierSnd]

Hello,

> Hi has anyone got any tips on playing triplets on the bodhran?
> I just can't seem to get the rhythm smooth.

I'm real new to bodhran playing myself, but my husband, steveV,
found a couple of instructional video tapes for bodhran playing. They
are 'The Bodhran Video' by Steafan Hannigan (#OSV1, Ossian Publications,
Ltd., PO Box 84, Cork, Ireland) and 'Bodhran and Bones' by Mel Mercier
(Interworld Music, RFD 3, Box 395A, Brattleboro, Vermont 05301,
802/257-5519). I prefer Steafan Hannigan for just starting out, Mel is
alittle more advanced.

I hope this is helpful.

Min Gates
steve V. johnson + studio V
Original Music Recordings
All Popular, Ethnic & Formal Musics
Bloomington, Indiana 47401

[Laura Sandy/David Shaughnessy]

sp...@cornell.edu (SPBurris) wrote:
>In article <4doii2$5...@news.nstn.ca>, alma...@fox.nstn.ca (Allan
>MacDonald) wrote:
>

>> Hi has anyone got any tips on playing triplets on the bodhran?
>> I just can't seem to get the rhythm smooth.
>

>I had the same problem. Try this: first just sort of flop the stick
>against the drumskin, letting it hit and jiggle from side to side. Do
>this over and over. Hard to describe...
>
>Hold the stick in the middle, horizontally over the drum (might as well
>lay it flat for the moment). Let your hand fall against the drum with the
>stick, and feel how the stick ends bounce off the skin in alternation. It
>will sound a lot like a short drum roll.
>
>Now, while you are playing bodhran normally, try hitting the stick against
>the skin in a similar manner as above. Try to get that drumroll sound
>again. Then you can begin to control the drumroll and shorten it to three
>triplets.
>
>The important thing is not to try to achieve each hit of the triplet
>consciously. You have to execute the triplets as a whole maneuvre.
>
>Probably impossible to explain what I mean online. Good luck.
>
>--
>SPBurris, graduate student in Classics
>Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

It is also helpful to angle the top of the bodhran towards your playing hand. This shortens the distance between the top end of you=
r tipper and the bodhrans skin.

good luck....David