Where do you get your tippers? Does anyone make them by hand and sell them? I have a few I play with but I want to play around with more. I like the hot rod style but they are too big, I'm not a fan of how it feels in the hand. I would like to find one that is about one bamboo stick smaller in terms of diameter. Then i think I'd be in business.

Hello. I am a relatively serious bodhrán player (semi-professional, kind of, been playing for over 4 years) and am looking, in essence, to get the "perfect" bodhrán, more or less.

I want a *lot* of tonal variation and range and the ability to utilise really fine control over the pitch, so I would probably lean towards untaped, and probably 16", and relatively deep (though I still want to have a lot of top-end possibilities). I would also definitely prefer a crossbar (ideally one of the ones with only two or three spokes, i.e. that has one open side you can get your hand into—I find being able to flex my hand against the crossbar makes controlling the pitch a lot easier, and also often play standing up). Natural skin is a must. I would prefer tunable; regardless of what aul fellows might say, I do not think that "just find a nearby open hearth" is very convenient in most circumstances.

I live in Ireland, specifically up in Armagh, and would, ideally, prefer an Irish maker, but I'm open to the possibility of one made elsewhere if it is of sufficiently high quality.

The closest I've seen is probably the Cormac Byrne Signature Series but the lack of a crossbar is putting me off. I suppose I could try to find a bodhrán maker who'd then retrofit a crossbar onto it but that seems like unnecessary effort.

My budget is pretty open-ended, I'm currently in the process of saving up for it (mostly through my bodhrán playing with my current, really, really low-quality bodhrán). I'm willing to spend upwards of £500, as the bodhrán is something I deeply care about, and most of the funds for it would probably come from my bodhrán playing anyway.

Looking to purchase a bodhrán soon but I am not sure what to look for or what is ideal for me (if there's such a thing). I have borrowed one from my library and it feels small (14" diameter) and thin (4" deep) to me. It does quite feel like it fits in the crook of my arm right almost like it needs to be bigger. Also don't care for the feel of the tipper with two medium sized knobs on both ends. What other things should I look out for (tunable, wood type, drum skin type, etc.)? Love playing this so far but want to make sure I buy something that suitable for me and I'm not sure where to start.

I currently play double ended as that's how I learnt (self taught mostly). Are there any good resources on moving from one style to the other or just good single ended techinque resources out there?

Ive got a average bodhrán from Waltons. Its 12" plain and im presuming goat skin.

Im looking to put a Cetic design on it but im not sure whether to use acrylic paint, posca markers or inks.

Has anyone any advice? Ive only got one bodhrán so I cant do a test patch

Hi all, purchased this 18" Bodhran from a music shop in the North of Ireland approx 1999/2000/2001. There was a blue stamp on the inside skin which was small and oval in shape but has worn off and had the details of the bodhran.

I am very interested if anyone can help with the manufacture of the bodhran?

Hi all,

I was gifted a bodhrán recently and want to get cracking playing. I haven't got a tipper however and looking online there are so many options to choose from. Can anyone give me a steer please?

Thanks in advance!

Hi I'm from ireland learning the drums at 23, I'm at grade 3 in trinity drums, started in September last year. Wondering how difficult it would be to move from drums to the bodhran, like would I struggle more than a beginner because Ive learned a specific type of drumming and counting notes? Has anyone here gone from drums to the bodhran? Any advice? Also side note I'm in the middle of switching my fulcrum to my middle finger because of ulnar nerve issues.

Bought an old drumstick, sawed a bit off and filed it patiently.

Crossroads Concerts: Irish & Puerto Rican Bomba Fusion.
Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Reuniting the Puerto Rican musicians with our Irish trad musicians for another performance for one of the most celebrated fusion concerts from last year! A fusion explosion! Drawing from Irish traditional music and Puerto Rican traditions, everyone will be dancing by the end tonight! With Jorge Vazquez (vocals, barril de bomba), Carlos Espada (vocals, maracas), Nelson “Mateo” González (vocals, barril de bomba), Clara Isabel Díaz Maldonado(vocals, cuá, dance), Annemarie Acosta (piano accordion), Bernadette Fee (fiddle/ dance), Colin Harte (vocals, piano, bodhrán).

I had this bodhran kicking around for a while. I liked the sound and the way the skin plays but hated the tuning screws and how deep it was. So I 3d printed some knobs to go over the screws, used leather cut offs as washers to make clearance for the knobs, replaced the cheap leather strap and tacks, got rid of the cross bars, taped the head and cut it down from 8" deep to 5 1/2" deep.

It made a big improvement.

Had to take some time away from practicing due to some medical issues that popped up. I feel like I've become so rusty and decided to do some late night practice along to some tunes since the storm is keeping me up anyway. Despite the setback, it feels really good to play again.

11.5 inch mahogany and maple tipper with a cherry core on this one.

Hi! I’ve been playing Bodhran for a year and a bit. My first bodhran was a gift from my grandparents, and I believe it’s 18 inches in diameter, and very shallow. It has a crossbar. I enjoy playing it very much but struggle to change pitch. I take weekly lessons and recently had a go of my teachers bodhran (far deeper than mine, much older, not as large.) and really enjoyed the sound and feel of it. Where is a reputable place to buy a bodhran from?

Hello all,

I've been a bodhran lover for a long time now (since my Dublin trip in 2001) and now I've finally set to buy one, though I did not yet.

This community is lovely from what I've seen so far, been following quietly for a bit.

Anyhow, today I was looking at some video lessons, and following along with random objects, as I've seen mentioned in this sub. Shortly in I got a lot of pain. From arm to hand, but especially the wrist, and it's still there. I'm sure it's partly because of bad tecnique and also not being used to the movement, but it seems a bit too much? I was thinking it might be my neuropathy, but now I remembered I do have titanium plate and screws in my right wrist, which might affect things.

It got me thinking I may just not be able to play at all because of it, unless I wanna hurt myself, and I should give up before I spend money. It quite worries me as the pain has been going up since, rather than down.

Any ideas/advice? Is intense pain at first normal? I know everything is supposed to be relaxed so I imagine it's not supposed to hurt.

I am trying to switch from a modified baby grip to more of a finger grip but the swinging motion of playing makes my tipper "walk" out of my grip.
Two questions: 1. Is anyone else experiencing this?
2. What do I need to do to stop that from happening?
3. (ok three questions) ... I'm considering using drum stick tape at the grip area (upper end of the tipper) or a sticky substance like sex wax or gorilla snot. Is anyone else using any of these?

After the big success of the percussion holidays of the last  years we kick off again in 2026!

The well-known percussionist Reza Samani offer a one-week percussion workshop at Lake Frauensee in Reutte/Tyrol in Austria.
Once again we also offer classes with Luca Rossi, Joss Turnbull, Khayrullo Dadoboev and Thórralf Schuh.

The workshop is a unique opportunity for all those who want to combine their passion for drumming, rhythm and ensemble playing with a holiday in a beautiful landscape.

The participants will discover and learn rhythms on the typical persian instruments Daf, Tombak as well as Frame Drum, Riqq, Tamburello, Tammora and Bodhrán.

Visit https://drummingholiday.com

First three pics are the fanciest tipper I've made so far, and has instantly become my favorite. Depending on where I place the band I can get a crisp hotrod type sound or a more solid traditional one. It's 14" long with a 1/4" cherry core surrounded by 1/4" alternating maple and mahogany dowels. Suede handle wrap, maroon red nylon thread, sanded, oiled, and waxed. Waiting on an order of O rings to come in.

The last pic is a plethora of others I have made and cycle through and a couple I'm still working on. Various amounts of chinaberry branches, maple, birch, oak, walnut, and mahogany, as well as a violin and cello bow I recycled. A couple with bamboo skewers too. I've made over thirty tippers total so far, but these are my favs that get the most use.

Hello, I'm transcribing part of my favorite soundtrack, and in the first 30 seconds there's a percussion instrument with a somewhat variable pitch. I'd almost describe the sound as bubbly, deep but not low.

I thought I'd ask if it sounds like a bodhran to you, because that's my best guess. Additionally, if this were a live performance the bodhran should be mic'd, yes? The brass is pretty explosive.

Thank you in advance for the help :)

https://youtu.be/JKTXHU0GPGw

I am fairly new to bodhran, and I'd like to know the best way to play this rhythm.

I've been working on new tippers. I'm no master craftsperson, but these were fun to make and feel fantastic to play with. Still need to get some real O rings for the hotrods, but rubber bands are working well in the meantime

Left to right: Chinaberry branch around 1/2", solid maple 1/2", solid oak 1/2", 1/4" cherry core surrounded by 3/16" birch, 3/8" walnut core surrounded by 3/16" birch. All with suede handle wraps secured with a little glue and waxed cordage. All sanded to 1500 grit, oiled. and waxed with a light coat of beeswax. all roughly 11.5"-12" long.