Playing any instrument can come with a physical risk. Maintaining a good posture and avoiding blisters are two of the classic health issues when playing the bodhran.
Playing any instrument can be physically demanding, but the bodhran can be particularly ‘full-on’, if you so wish it to be.
The way you hold the bodhran is obviously very important; but so too is your choice of beater, and especially the type of grip you choose to adopt.
If you’re playing along to music going at a ‘fair lick’, even a simple ‘foot-tap’ beat could involve you playing at around 100 notes a minute. If however, you are playing along to an Irish March – in other words you’re in ‘triplet-heaven’ – then you could be playing close to 300 notes a minute!
For example:
Needless to say, playing at this speed means that both your choice of beater and your grip selection needs to be spot on….and should help to reduce the wear-and-tear on your body.
Avoiding pain is easier said than done when the excitement of playing music takes over…but if it does hurt, take stock and work out why!