Today was bodhran treatment day in the Wilson household. I have two bodhran. I bought a small tub of mink oil for treating the heads. Once a year. Every january.

Playing the bodhran is the easiest way I can enjoy my love of Irish Traditional Music. I am learning the whistle, fiddle and uilleann pipes, yes, but they are not quite up to performance quality, yet. Especially for the pipes since don't have a working set, yet.

Bodhran playing is fun, but tiring to the wrist.

Posted - 03/13/2010 :  19:02:02    

I developed my own technique for bodhran, both ends of the beater have equal importance in regard to the pulse, especially with jigs.
Mainly the top end of the beater pumps out the pulse in reels. I gotta try that mink oil, how do you think it would effect Kangaroo Hide?

I also play the bones, a pair in each hand, but they're beef ribs not the tradtional sheeps rib or whale bone.
I seen a Welshman once playing whale bones, 4 in each hand!

Posted - 03/13/2010 :  19:03:38  

Mink Oil is supposed to be good for any natural animal hide. If you are concerned, try it on a small spot and see how it reacts.

Posted - 03/13/2010 :  19:11:44    

Thanks Chad, of course the oil is good for any hide. I just though it was amusing that my bodhran had roo hide and not the tradtional hairy goat skin.

Posted - 03/13/2010 :  19:12:43  

Some people prefer to whack a goat, others prefer to be more exotic! :)