Organized across fifteen sections and sixty-six video lessons, the course begins with foundational technique — posture, grip, striking, tuning, and rhythm — before gradually moving into more developed accompaniment and variation.
Reel and jig patterns, hornpipes, slip jigs, polkas, slides, triplets, open tones, left-hand technique, pitch variation, fills, rim shots, and session etiquette are all covered in detail, alongside the rhythmic vocabulary that lets the bodhrán support the tune without overwhelming it.
Rather than approaching the bodhrán as an isolated percussion instrument, the teaching stays closely connected to the tune itself. Each tune type asks for a different feel, emphasis, and accompaniment from the drum, and the course shows throughout how the bodhrán sits inside the tradition.
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Inside the course
The Irish Bodhrán Drum
Instrument
Bodhrán
Sections
15
Videos
66 · 2h 24m
The aim of this course is to equip you with all the tools necessary to develop into a masterful bodhrán player. The nice thing about learning via video here on the web is that my course is available to you 24/7 and can be paused, rewound, skipped, etc. If at any time I'm going too fast for you, please pause or rewind the video as needed.
Those just beginning with the bodhrán are encouraged to start at the beginning and work progressively through the outline, taking care to have mastered the task at hand before moving forward. Intermediate and advanced students may want to jump around to the topic(s) that interests them the most.
While there are various ways to play the bodhrán, I'll be teaching the double-ended/Kerry style, as it is the most popular and my primary playing style as well.
Irish dance music has many different tune types. We'll be primarily looking at reels and jigs, as the technique for playing them also applies to most other types of tunes. We will, however, look into slip jigs, hornpipes, polkas and slides as well.
All that is needed to get the most out of this course is patience and childlike curiosity. Oh, and a bodhrán and tipper might help!
If you have suggestions for topics you would like to see me cover in this course, please post them in the comments section below. These will be considered for any future updates.
Enjoy.
