Whistling to a Bodhran Beat

boomerang · Post by **boomerang** » Mon Feb 02, 2004 11:13 pm

Hi Guys,
Practicing by yourself is ok, i do it all the time, but every now and then would love to have a good beat to practice to,
I have done a search to try to find a good web source to get some bodhran beats for jigs, reels hornpipes etc but failed miserably,
has anyone out there come across such a resource that is worth while,??If you can help i would be greatly appreciative
regards
David

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 8:14 am

Here is the kind of answer you probbly weren't wanting or expecting but since nobody else has chimed in I might as well.

There is a bodhran tutor available on video which I actually own but have never played. (Shows how eager I am to learn bodhran.) I'm sure it will contain extended examples of the different dance rhythms for bodhran students. If you can't find something more specifically directed to your needs it should be easy to adapt this. If you can get the rhythms into your computor you'll be off and running. You should be able to slow down or speed up to suit your needs and you might also be able to make bits you like loop for as long as you want.

If nothing better turns up and you want to pursue this video, just let me know and I'll give you details of the video and where to get it. If there is more general interest I'll post the details to this thread.

Father Emmet · Post by **Father Emmet** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:48 am

http://members.shaw.ca/dabooks/music/at ... ssion.html

mcfeeley · Post by **mcfeeley** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:58 am

"An Gabhairin Binn" A Bodhran Tutor featuring Paddy League and Grey Larsen has a number of tracks with Paddy on bodhran and Grey on whistle. You should be able to find it somewhere on Grey Larsen's site at www.greylarsen.com.

johnbunch · Post by **johnbunch** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:15 pm

This a cheezy substiute but if you have a ABC player like ABC Mus.
Go the the Midi and playback options and select a drum (e.g. the melodic tom) as the melody instrument. It will play back with a drum line that mathches the melodic rthym of the tune you have loaded.

Hope that this helps.

LimuHead · Post by **LimuHead** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 1:41 pm

Substitute drummers:

- Your foot on the ground/floor/trash can/instrument case...anything that'll make noise when you kick or stomp it.

- Metronome. In fact, it's always a good idea to have it keep the beat for you when practicing or learning tunes. It's a cheap (though earned) thrill when you can play something well enough to justify nudging the ticker up a couple of notches on the metronome.

- A washing machine on wash cycle, and sometimes spin cycle if you have an unbalanced load.

- Electronic keyboard's drum kits --any cheapie will do, and on most you can program your own beats.

I vote for the metronome.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:51 am

LimuHead wrote:
- Electronic keyboard's drum kits --any cheapie will do, and on most you can program your own beats.

I vote for the metronome.

Since the keyboard will do anything the metronome can do and more, why vote for the metronome? You'll never get that feeling of being accompanied using a metronome, and I got the impression that that was what Boomerang wanted.

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:21 am

There's also PC software which is rather simple to use (but the trial version doesn't include a Bodhran). With it you can 'program in' your own beat, and off you go.

http://www.pcdrummer.com/

Worth the trial download (I don't think it expires, at least mine hasn't) if you want something a bit more 'adjustable' and realistic than a metronome's tick.

hth

boomerang · Post by **boomerang** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:24 am

LimuHead wrote:Substitute drummers:

- Your foot on the ground/floor/trash can/instrument case...anything that'll make noise when you kick or stomp it.

- Metronome. In fact, it's always a good idea to have it keep the beat for you when practicing or learning tunes. It's a cheap (though earned) thrill when you can play something well enough to justify nudging the ticker up a couple of notches on the metronome.
- A washing machine on wash cycle, and sometimes spin cycle if you have an unbalanced load.
- Electronic keyboard's drum kits --any cheapie will do, and on most you can program your own beats.

I vote for the metronome.

I have heard of many people doing very strange things on washing machines...i never thought of whistling to its beat...

thanks to all for the suggestions,
wombat yes i would be interested in the bodhran tutor...post away

Thanks again
David

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:08 am

Here's a link to a local supplier David.

http://www.celt.com.au/percussion.html

The video I had in mind is the Tommy Hayes but when I looked through the other bodhran related material I realised I also had the Hannigan tutor and CD which you might find even more useful.

If you don't already know about this site, you might come to curse me for introducing you to it. They sell a significant amount of just about everything to do with celtic music and the Gaelic language.

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:33 am

If you are just looking for some form of metronome, fine. (If you have a Mac and OS X consider Apple's new GarageBand, which makes it easy to lay down a percussion loop or even *gasp* chords to play to.)

Just a general note: It's not by coincidence that many if not most Ir Trad musicians complain about Bodhran players. The reason is not so much that the Bodhran players can't keep a beat---there are plenty who can. The problem is that the they keep the beat. Meaning, since most of the rhythm comes form the melody line, there is no set rhythmic scheme or pattern that will work for every jig or every reel. There is an infinite number of obvious and subtle rhythmic variations from reel to reel or jig to jig, and even with each tune. Putting a steady, unchanging beat behind an Irish tunes (and guitar & 'zook players are often guilty here, too) will in the best case sound like the Bothy Band and in the worst case like crap.

Take for instance a tune like the Cup of Tea. Listen to the stresses and flow of each of the three parts... I think you'll agree that it would be a shame to have the same beat running behind all three of them.

susnfx · Post by **susnfx** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 10:38 am

Scoiltrad also offers a CD tutor:

www.scoiltrad.com

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:14 am

Bloomfield wrote: Putting a steady, unchanging beat behind an Irish tunes (and guitar & 'zook players are often guilty here, too) will in the best case sound like the Bothy Band and in the worst case like crap.

How much difference would you say there is between the best case and the worst case, Bloomy?

Seriously, as though I weren't already, variation in accenting is crucial. The good accompanist knows and respects both the tune and the quirks of the melody players. That said, so long as you know the limitations, and you also practice wholly solo and with good records, it can't hurt to practice to a generic bodhran beat some of the time I think. Just have it relatively low in the mix and don't be frightened to accent differently when you should do so. It will certainly help you to keep a steady rhythm and catch you out if you stop to breathe rather than breathe musically.

Bloomfield · Post by **Bloomfield** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:21 am

Wombat wrote:
Bloomfield wrote: Putting a steady, unchanging beat behind an Irish tunes (and guitar & 'zook players are often guilty here, too) will in the best case sound like the Bothy Band and in the worst case like crap.

How much difference would you say there is between the best case and the worst case, Bloomy?

Oh, come now, I love the Bothy Band.

I was going to add a parenthetical to the effect that either sound would be undesirable in a session, though. Then I deleted it again.

BoneQuint · Post by **BoneQuint** » Wed Feb 04, 2004 2:01 pm

Bloomfield wrote:I think you'll agree that it would be a shame to have the same beat running behind all three of them.

Such a thing has never occured to me! Why...how...what...er, oh my.

I think of percussion as winding my way down a twisty, hilly path covered with rocks and lined with branches, and keeping a sure but light footing as the path unfolds beneath me. Not like plodding down railroad tracks. I guess much "rock drumming" is like railroad tracks, though. I can see how that works with certain kinds of music.

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Whistling to a Bodhran Beat

Whistling to a Bodhran Beat

"Bodran Beat" using an abc player.