Irish Bodhran - It's gone electric - WD adaptation

Bogtrumpet · Post by **Bogtrumpet** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:12 pm

To redress my rather naff earlier posting:-
http://youtu.be/VpQJHVkXLKA

I'm not a bodhran player so go easy... (It is me playing the flute in this clip though).

BT

WaveDrummer · Post by **WaveDrummer** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:44 pm

Hey that's pretty clever!

Are you switching programs during that? I thought I heard a few different ones in there. Not sure what the first one was but then it sounded like #53 Ethno Opera for a bit (I'm working on memory here because I don't a Wavedrum in front of me at the moment) and then the tabla program at the end.

Fun stuff!

Btw, you should post this again in the "Share our playing" thread.

freestok · Post by **freestok** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:17 am

Very nice !!
i love it !

what the stick are there ?, i want to know what you use

what the preset ?, what the strange stick ?

Thank for share

Bogtrumpet · Post by **Bogtrumpet** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:13 am

There are two main ways of playing the bodhran, (pro. Boron) The way I demonstrate here is using a two ended "Tipper" or "Beater" - That's what the Irish call them. The modern "Whizz Kids" just use a single stick, holding from one end and make some remarkable acoustic sounds ( My good friend John Joe Kelly (Jonjo) is probably the best modern exponent of the bodhran proper http://youtu.be/3ChbigufBC8).
I use this method when I play acoustically. For the Wavedrum, just having a smallish head, I use a double ended beater - they are available commercially but are very variable - easy to turn if you know any wood turners.

The video i did has four presets, audio edited into one video take - I just selected them at random. With a bit of thought, editing presets etc, this method could be useful to a serious player (Though JJK appears to get enough variation in an acoustic bodhran)

I think the clever bit (as I've devised it), is the way of adjusting the pressure sensor in the head without having to press the head.

BT

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:50 am

thank you very much for these videos ,
that was so impressive.
I ll get me a beater like this ,soon .

seems the sound is influenced by pressure from the bottom of the drum

to imitate this on a WD
you need to mount a pressure sensitive Ohm resistor
to the bottom side of the WD , (or wherever you want...)
lead a cable to inside the WD and
connect it in parallel to the pressure sensor.(crocodile clip or solder)
when you press the outside sensor ,
with a little bit of experimenting ,finetuning and practising ,
you might get a really good result.
(sorry offtopic ,but I could not resist

)

Prime NL · Post by **Prime NL** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:57 pm

I like to video alot....

Tx for sharing...!

Bogtrumpet · Post by **Bogtrumpet** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:00 pm

WaterDrum wrote:thank you very much for these videos ,
sound is influenced by pressure from the bottom of the drum
to imitate this on a WD
you need to mount a pressure sensitive Ohm resistor
to the bottom side of the WD , (or wherever you want...)
lead a cable to inside the WD and
connect it in parallel to the pressure sensor.(crocodile clip or solder)
when you press the outside sensor ,
with a little bit of experimenting ,finetuning and practising ,
you might get a really good result.
(sorry offtopic ,but I could not resist )

That's a rather a long winded way of going about what I acheived using 150mm of 2mm fishing line and a 12mm nylon washer (and a 2.2mm hole)

http://www.box.com/s/86a7d2bd321a3b7562bf is the sound file of the WD track only, you can easily hear the influence i can exert on the pressure detector from the rear of the WD (sorry for my poor bodhran playing, I will improve in time!)

BT

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:24 pm

a mechanical solution , thats heavy

good tone variations in the mp3

extrafat respectz

thats so great
never thought of something like that ,
and soo simple , cheap , fast + removable .

no evidence , the KBI will never detect this 2.2 mm hole...

picture ?

Gizmo1300 · Post by **Gizmo1300** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:08 am

This is great
I just got back from a folk festival and was wondering myself how I could modify the WD.
Just one question on the technique. On the real drum you push for mute and release for full bass. If you have used fishing line through the WD are you pulling to get bass or pulling to get mute?
An image of the location of the mods would be great

thanks

Bogtrumpet · Post by **Bogtrumpet** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:19 pm

WaterDrum wrote:a mechanical solution , thats heavy
good tone variations in the mp3extrafat respectz
thats so great
picture ?

Pics as requested, It took me 15 mins to do modification, that includes 5 mins to collect my drill from the garage. The nylon line and washer may be slightly larger that I originally claimed (I was guessing)

Bertotti · Post by **Bertotti** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:50 pm

Very cool.

freestok · Post by **freestok** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:51 pm

amazing !

OK !!! now i understand this mécanical system, very ingenious, simple and quick modification

thank you for this tip and trick, very usefull

WaterDrum · Post by **WaterDrum** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:24 pm

thank you for the pictures
now I understand , that you have glued the washer
on top of the transparent "shield"

in your youtube comment I read , that it hurts ,
but a leather strap/sling attached to the fishing line
and going around your hand would certainly make life easier...
the effect comes when you press...
(btw ,whats that reddish colour on the end of the line in pic 3? )

I could imagine that for WD players with a snare stand ,
an extension down to the floor with a sling for the big toe
could allow double handed rolls with effects at the same time.
(not kidding)

your name for this is "FLID (Funny little Irish Drum)" ?
may I suggest a more respectful name ?

The "WaveDrahn"

Bogtrumpet · Post by **Bogtrumpet** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 7:25 pm

It would be possible to extend the legth of the nylon line to reach your foot if you wanted to operate it in that way on a stand. You'd need to have good foot control!

BT

Gizmo1300 · Post by **Gizmo1300** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 11:51 pm

Oh Yehhhhhh
I was wondering if it was worth the mod for the few times I would "go Irish" and play this....but the foot control now there is a simple and brilliant idea.
I am going to make or use a pedal so that I have more control

Thanks all