Forgive a newbie, but I got a drummy question for all you bodhran players out there...

I've been trying to learn for the last 3 weeks or so, and it's slow going!  My problem comes when I'm trying to throw in triplets.  I can do it, but instead of a good solid thump from the top end, my tipper sort of skips along the drum creating two small staccato beats instead of one good solid beat.  Do I need to just work on a heavier stroke, or would a heavier tipper help this?

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Rachel

My recommendation is to not even worry about triplets at this point in the game.  They will come with time and usually when you aren't thinking about them.  It could be something as simple as how you are holding the tipper or the bodhran.  Mind you, it could be the tipper you are using...if it's too long or too short for you hand you could have some difficulties.

Work on getting a solid downstroke and then work on incorporating a solid upstroke.  Triplets are usually considered to be advanced and can't be quickly learned by most people, and they usually come when you least expect it.

Never worry about asking questions :)  We'll help as best as we are able!

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Don't feed the idiots or they'll continue being idiots...

Jim FIdler said when he stopped trying to do triplets, he suddenly became able to! I think that's the truth with almost everyone I know.

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

I'll third that! Stop trying for them... it will come.

Work on control and building up your wrist. Soon enough you'll be playing and all of a sudden out of nowhere you'll hear a triple beat and go "Now where did THAT come from?".  Don't try then either... just keep playing... they'll happen with greater frequency and then you'll be able to get them when you want them. 

Patience, young obiwan... erm... grasshopper... uhm... Rachel!

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

I'm actually going to disagree here, 'cause she says she can do it... That's very possible, since some people pick up the instrument really quick!

 The other reason I disagree is 'cause I own three tippers and can do triplets, but get the same problem with two of the tippers because of the weight issue. A heavier tipper may not be exactly what you need, 'cause I have a particularly heavy one and I "scratch" the skin on the top end, just like you do... the tipper is the wrong kind of heavy for me.

The problem with that tipper is that the weight is, in fact, evenly distributed throughout the tipper. Basically, there's no significant weight on the ends. My favourite tipper, which... go figure... I got FREE with the drum, is skinny in the middle with teardrops on both end. This ensures that the weight is on the ENDS of the tipper, so I feel that my strikes are much harder and more controlled.

Keep in mind, this may not work for you, but it works for me, so you could give it a shot. Depending on where you are, my "favourite" tipper is VERY cheap. lol

This is the one that fixed my triplet woes: http://www.mid-east.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=BSKS&Tp=

Just keep at it. Try playing "Come and I Will Sing You"... that's the first song my triplets "happened" on. lol

 

Steph 

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Great Big Stuff!


"I'm still in diapers, actually." - Ron Hynes

"Any people from Newfoundland? Whaddya doin' here?! Taking all the jobs?! REVENGE!" - Ron Hynes

"You're like Bob with tits." - Candace

Great advice all around!  I'm definitely focusing more on just keeping a good simple rhythm, and I also trust that better control of triplets will come with time.  And thanks, Steph!  No more than some tippers cost, it certainly couldn't hurt to experiment with a couple more styles than just the one that came with my drum. 

 Thanks!

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Rachel

You can never have too many tippers!  They all play differently!

(I've got nearly 30... SHHHH!! Don't tell!)

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

My teacher from the Gaelic COllege just sent me an email about instructional videos she's put up on You Tube. Michelle is a really good teacher. Go look her up!

BodhranMasterClass is the section and she has a new website for bodhrani-

http://www.BodhranExpert.com

Tell her Anne sent ya!

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Anne, that's a really great video!  I wish I were able to find an actual teacher here in Nashville.  Bodhran players seem to be thin on the ground in the land of country music and steel guitars!

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Rachel

Kestrel:

You can never have too many tippers!  They all play differently!

(I've got nearly 30... SHHHH!! Don't tell!)

I get all squirmy and grumbly when I hear you say that... I can't tease you with my McCannipper anymore!

Haven't picked up my baby in several weeks... you know, living in a dorm sort of makes one wary of banging on one's bodhran in one's room...

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~Squeezy~
I can wiggle my bum and I can slide on my tummy!
"Alan's true calling [is] to be a whacko percussionist... to hit things with mallets." ~ Sean McCann

Rachel,

There's more than one video in that collection. I don't know whether you saw them. I think there are five of them up now. SHe and her husband make bodhrans over in Scotland. A company called "Cape Breton Bodhrans." They might have a website, but maybe nit. We apparently just got Michelle online. LOL!

Anne

---

And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Took me a while to find the bodhran thread...

I was in my local music store looking through the percussion accessories (well actually in fact I was looking through the whole store) when I saw a tipper.  It was a slightly different shape and length then the one I use.  So I had to look.  The tag on the package actually said tipper.  Upon closer inspection the tipper had Sean's signature and Great Big Sea printed on it.

So now I have a new tipper.  I haven't used it yet.  Has anyone else?  How is it?  The bulge in the middle is new to me, my usual tipper is thin through the middle.  Does it give better grip?

Here's the website:

http://www.loscabosdrumsticks.com/

Click on Products then Mallets then Bodhran Beaters and it'll take you to it.

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But I know I'm going to do it again!
Oh Yeah!
Robbie

RobbieMc:

Took me a while to find the bodhran thread...

I was in my local music store looking through the percussion accessories (well actually in fact I was looking through the whole store) when I saw a tipper.  It was a slightly different shape and length then the one I use.  So I had to look.  The tag on the package actually said tipper.  Upon closer inspection the tipper had Sean's signature and Great Big Sea printed on it.

So now I have a new tipper.  I haven't used it yet.  Has anyone else?  How is it?  The bulge in the middle is new to me, my usual tipper is thin through the middle.  Does it give better grip?

Here's the website:

http://www.loscabosdrumsticks.com/

Click on Products then Mallets then Bodhran Beaters and it'll take you to it.

 

They sell it at concerts and such. It looks nice, but it's very cheaply made and way too light for me to play properly. It feels like a toy.

 Good for display, not for real playing. 

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Great Big Stuff!


"I'm still in diapers, actually." - Ron Hynes

"Any people from Newfoundland? Whaddya doin' here?! Taking all the jobs?! REVENGE!" - Ron Hynes

"You're like Bob with tits." - Candace

TheYoungSpaniard:

They sell it at concerts and such. It looks nice, but it's very cheaply made and way too light for me to play properly. It feels like a toy.

 Which is kind of funny... it's the same design Séan uses except he has lead shot in his to make it heavier. I suspect a different wood as well.  I agree though.

 ETA: Robbie... just FYI, it's a stamp, not a real signature.

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~Kes


Desperate times call for desperate measures
Open your mind to all life's little pleasures
The hole in this world could be healed if by chance
everyone just stood up, took their pants off and danced

~Bruce Guthro

Yeah it feels a lot lighter than mine.  Still haven't used it yet or even taken it out of the package.  I'll give it a try one day.  And yes I understand it's not his real signature.  I did say it was printed on didn't I?

But for less than $8CDN it's worth a shot.  Other than that it's just a keepsake.

The main buzz was that I came across it unexpectedly.  In a shop that I've spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on guitars, amps, mics and recording gear.  It was quite a surprise in a shop that usually caters to rock and country musicians to come across a Sean McCann tipper.

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But I know I'm going to do it again!
Oh Yeah!
Robbie