bodhrán

The bodhrán is a traditional Irish frame drum. It is a circular wooden frame, typically around 30 to 45 centimeters in diameter, with a single circular skin head stretched across one side. The skin is usually goatskin, though synthetic heads are common in modern instruments. The frame is shallow and the drum is designed to be played upright on the knee or supported with a strap around the neck and shoulder.

The instrument is played with a tipper, a small wooden stick, struck against the outer surface of the skin. Some players also use the bare hand or fingers to create more subtle timbres. The non-dominant hand rests on the inside of the drum to regulate pitch and dampen the head, allowing for dynamic changes in tone during performance.

Originating in Ireland, the bodhrán has a long history with uncertain precise origins, but it became a prominent element of Irish traditional music in the 19th and 20th centuries. In modern times it has spread to Celtic and folk music worldwide and is used in ensembles as well as solo accompaniment. Variants may differ in frame material and skin type, but the basic design remains a single-headed frame drum.