Bodhrán Technique Overview

  • 13 lessons teaching how to play advanced rhythm on the bodhrán.
  • Progress at your own pace, pause & repeat videos.
  • Access on all your devices.
  • mp3’s of different rhythm types to download.
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Bodhrán Technique is a follow-on course from Bodhrán Basics, which you are recommended to have completed first if you are new to the bodhran.

By the end of this course you will have a broad repertoire of percussion skills such as rolls, backhand motion, the use of syncopation and the ‘Bo Diddley Beat’ to accompany popular Irish tunes like Reels, Jigs, Slipjigs, Slides, Polkas and Hornpipes. The course has 13 lessons, broken into 3 to 4 tutorials each.

Course Structure

A broad range of rhythmical accompaniments that cover a variety of tune types – Reels, Jigs, Slipjigs, Slides, Polkas and Hornpipes – are taught in this masterclass for bodhrán players. Over the course of the 13 tutorials, the tutor discusses and demonstrates rolls, backhand motion, the use of syncopation, the ‘Bo Diddley Beat’, and rim techniques to name but a few. As a drummer, the tutor frequently discusses how to translate a drum beat to the Bodhrán, so if you’re a drummer wishing to add the bodhran to your percussion selection, then this course is a must for you. The video tutorials are in a split screen format, so the learner can view the back hand as well as the forehand at all times.

Here’s a lesson by lesson breakdown of what is covered:

Beat To Accompany A Reel
Beat To Accompany A Hornpipe
Focus On The Jig Rhythm
Continue To Examine The Jig Rhythm
Beat To Accompany Slip Jigs
Expand Upon The Reel Beat
How To Accompany Slides And Polkas
Focusing On Hand Technique
Advanced Development Of The Funky Reel Rhythm
How To Strengthen The ‘Up Beat’
Rim Technique For Both Reels And Jigs
Bo Diddley Beats
Various Sticks And Drums

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Special Mp3s available to Download for each Rhythm Type

Sample mp3 of a Funky Reel Rhythm

Download Reel Rhythm for Bodhran mp3.

 

Your Tutor
Jim Higgins hails from Renmore in Galway. He has recorded and performed with such luminaries as Paul Brady, Christy Moore, Liam O’Flynn, Donal Lunny, Bill Whelan, Martin O’Connor and Lúnasa. Jim also specializes in ethnic percussion encompassing the djembe, the darabukkas, the dumbeq and the mbira. Read more.

Detailed questions and discussion on the course can be found in the Community Forum, available to paying members only.

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Bodhrán Technique Lessons

Level

Beat To Accompany A Reel

Bodhran Technique Lesson 1

  • Accompaniment
  • D Major
  • Level 2
Learn Irish Bodhran Online

In this lesson Jim will teach a funky beat to accompany a, medium paced reel.

Reel

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Beat To Accompany A Hornpipe

Bodhran Technique Lesson 2

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Hornpipe Rhythm

Hornpipe

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Focus On The Jig Rhythm

Bodhran Technique Lesson 3

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Jig Rhythm

Jig

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Continue To Examine The Jig Rhythm

Bodhran Technique Lesson 4

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Jig Rhythm and Patterns

Jig

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Beat To Accompany Slip Jigs

Bodhran Technique Lesson 5

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Slip Jig Rhythms

Slip Jig

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Expand Upon The Reel Beat

Bodhran Technique Lesson 6

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Accompanying Reels / Creating Variation in Tone Production and Contrast and Variation of the Beats

Reel

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How To Accompany Slides And Polkas

Bodhran Technique Lesson 7

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Accompanying Slides and Polkas

Polka

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Focusing On Hand Technique

Bodhran Technique Lesson 8

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Using the Hand as a Stick

Focus on Technique

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Advanced Development Of The Funky Reel Rhythm

Bodhran Technique Lesson 9

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Advanced Development of the Funky Reel Rhythm

Reel

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How To Strengthen The ‘Up Beat’

Bodhran Technique Lesson 10

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 3
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Strengthening the Up Beat

Focus on Technique

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Rim Technique For Both Reels And Jigs

Bodhran Technique Lesson 11

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Rim Technique for Reels and Jigs

Jig

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Bo Diddley Beats

Bodhran Technique Lesson 12

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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‘Bo Diddley Beats’.

Focus on Technique

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Various Sticks And Drums

Bodhran Technique Lesson 13

  • Accompaniment
  • Level 2
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Exploring Different Types of Bodhrˆns and Percussion Instruments

Focus on Technique

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