It’s not exactly a mainstream musical instrument. It’s a niche drum, with a relatively small number of serious players. This means that naturally, there is not exactly a wealth of accessories or gift ideas for people who play the bodhran either. So when looking for gift ideas you can quickly end up trawling the lower levels of the internet and coming up with decorative tat for tourists.
Fear not! With this in mind we’ve had bodhran players compile a list of the actual items they use, what they love, find useful or genuinely help improve their playing. Especially for you.
Few things to consider first though. In some of these cases we’re recommending gifts for which you need to already know the size of the bodhran they play (diameter and width), and/or which sticks (tippers) they already have, and love. Beware of buying sticks and cases if you do not know this information. Don’t worry if you don’t though, there are plenty of other ideas below too.
Tipper case
There are surprisingly few cases made specifically for bodhran sticks but this is by far the best on the market (we’ve looked). Granted it’s a niche instrument but it’s also one which is used in such a wide variety of situations, the pub being the most common!
And it’s here where a tipper case is most useful. Not least because they roll off the table or get dipped in beer.
Most bodhran players pride themselves in their collection of tippers so you’ll be hard pressed to find a bodhran player who won’t love this. What’s more, it also doubles up as an impromptu drum stand which again, makes it perfect for the pub or any live/studio setting. It even rolls up and fits inside your drum at kicking out time!
- Pro: Less than $50.
- Pro: Not many cases on the market and no other comes close to this one!
- Pro: Beautiful design and practical as includes a roll out stand.
Practice pad
This is a very simple but effective solution to practicing your sticking whilst not making a din! The MopHed practice pad sticks right to your hand and allows you to practice your sticking techniques all day without needing a bodhran to hand. Practice in the office or on the move, and it really is small enough to carry around.
You should know – this is really only good for ‘top end’ players and is not a substitute for a Bodhran.
- Pro: Great gift which players improve their technique (if playing top end).
- Con: Little pricey for what is basically some plywood and a strap.
You can see our full review of the MOpHead practice pad here.
New tippers
This one is a little more tricky. Any bodhran player is always going to love a new tipper as a gift, but having said that, it is a personal decision and you’re going to need a steer on what they already have and what they like (BTW a tipper is the name for a bodhran drum stick). If you can get that info and you feel like you could make a call on it then head to one of the many tipper makers or retailers to browse their ranges.
Things to know in advance.
- Do they play with a double ended or single ended style?
- Do they already have any of the three main tipper types; Solid, clicker and hot rod?
- And/or do they have preferences over these types?
Tip: Trying looking for whipper and brush tippers. These are somewhat less common types of sticks.
- Pro: No bodhran player needs or wants less tippers
- Con: Difficult to know exactly which ones they want, or will like, or already have…
We’ve even got an in-depth review of the MOpHed Pad here.
The bones
The bodhran is a developed version of Ireland’s traditional frame drum; simply an animal skin stretched over a wooden frame, something found in many cultures around the world. The bones are similar in that the traditional banging together of two rib bones of a cow is a somewhat universal concept. It’s also something which has been refined over time and remains part of traditional Irish music today.
They are also something which appeal to bodhran players as they are an alternative rhythm instrument. Most ‘bones’ sets today are made of hardwood, although look hard enough and you can still find real bone ones.
- Pro: Great addition to a bodhran players repertoire
- Pro: Make a great stocking filler
- Con: Does involve learning a new instrument
The spoons
Guess what, people also used to bang spoons together too. A concept which was also refined over time and formed into a fully fledged percussion instrument in its own right. Much like the bones, bodhran players love these as an addition to their rhythmic repertoire. Modern spoon sets are designed specifically for ‘playing’ (and not eating), meaning they are a quirky and fun instrument to pick up and experiment with.
- Pro: Same as bones
- Con: Same as bones
Bodhran stand
It sounds simple enough but it’s actually very handy having a stand for your bodhran; more so than many other instruments. Not only because it means you can keep your drum on display at home and grab it quickly to practice, but also because bohrans are often played by people as a second instrument, or alongside other instruments. This means they need to keep their drum safe and accessible when not using it in a live environment.
You can find allsorts of stands online from decorative wooden ones, to adjustable metal and rubber ones, in some cases which are generic and suitable for other instruments too.
This foldable compact stand available from McNeela music is the best example we know of.
We recommend this one from McNeela
- Pro: Under $30 depending on shipping
- Pro: Makes a great gift for bodhran players who love their drums on display
‘The Bodhran Makers’ by John Brendan Keane
This is a wonderful, much loved novel set in the 1950s and is a celebration of Irish culture, music and dance and of course, the bodhran. A great stocking filler for any lover of traditional Irish music but especially for bodhran players.
- Pro: Great stocking filler!
- Pro: Ideal for anyone who has an interest in irish music and culture.
Bodhran case
There are simply not enough quality bodhran cases around, the choice is surprisingly small. A good case will provide excellent padding and protection and have some storage for tippers and accessories. Many bodhran players turn to snare drum cases as a perfectly suitable alternative too, as long as your bodhran is 16 inches.
Make sure you know the size and depth of the drum you are buying for, this is obviously really important. Most bodhrans are 16 to 20 inches and 4 or 6 inches wide.
Protection Racket cases are a good option, specific for bodhrans. They do have a bit of a silly logo though…
Another great option is the HEDcase from the Bodhran maker Christian hedwitschak
- Pro: Ideal for anyone who travels with their drum to gigs or sessions.
- Con: Can be very tricky to purchase without more info on their drum sizes.
- Con: Good ones can be expensive
Bodhran Player 
