Performance Beaters started as a project to find out what is likely to make that ideal bodhran beater.
If there was a simple mission statement, it would be to identify how we can make the most effective beater or beaters, to allow a musician to execute the notes on a bodhran as easily and effectively as possible.
You are different
This challenge threw up many questions and quickly reminded us that that not all bodhran players are the same. By that we mean, not only is each player physically different, you will have your own unique musical style – even if not fully developed yet – and you will almost certainly have your own musical ambitions as to what you want to achieve.
You may wish to play different musical genres and generate a sound that works best in that environment.
You may want to simply accompany the music, or instead influence a musical piece with a slightly more forceful contribution.
There are so many musical colours that you probably would like to paint…and the beater should not be a limiting factor.
Our objectives
The challenge of identifying a perfect, one-size-fits-all beater is fraught with difficulty, if not impossible. But looking to design a very good, general-use beater, where only guesswork currently seems to exist is surely a laudable aim.
So, we would like to help you as a player, gain an insight into what is likely to make the best beater or beaters for the music that YOU want to make.
Here are just some of the variables that can control or influence the sound you can produce:
- The way you hold the beater (the grip)
- How you like to produce triplets (single or double-ended)
- The dynamics of the bodhran including the type of skin, the skin diameter and tuning
- Altering the sound you produce by changing the type of beater you use.
- …and more besides. including your own musical ability and style of playing.
An informed choice
We look at this project as the start of a conversation, where we can help improve the playing experience for those who realise that buying the right beater is as important as owning the right bodhran.
This project is also about helping to make the process of selecting a beater a little more scientific. Hopefully this will help you make an informed choice and avoid the guesswork, which we know from experience, can be expensive and very frustrating!