A bodhran can be used to produce lovely music if one knows how to play it properly. There are so many people out there who only buy bodhran beaters for the sake of their desire to join the music. Only seldom do they have the dedication actually to learn how to play a musical instrument.
To play a bodhran flawlessly, you need to have the perfect drum and beaters. The three major things you need to check before you buy a bodhran are skin, a tuning system, and frame.
Bodhran beaters come in many different forms. Some of them are light and small while the others are heavy and large. You need to know what your style is. You also need to understand your comfort zone before buying the wrong stick for yourself.
You need to know that there are different beaters for beginners and professionals. You cannot buy the professional ones before you know how to play and expect to learn quickly from them.
What are the Best Bodhran Beater to Buy?
2) Meinl Percussion FDT3 Frame Drum Tipper, Ash Wood
- Made of Ash Wood
- Designed for use with Bodhrans
- Lightweight
1) Roosebeck Knob Tipper - Sloped Ridge – Mulberry
- Made of fine quality wood
- Comfort and grip for each tipper is unique
- Easy to hold
3) Walton’s Bodhran Beater
- Made of hardwood
- Polished to feel comfortable
- Lightweight
- Cost-effective product
The skin of most drums is made of kangaroo, calf, or goatskin. The curing of the skin decides the quality of the drum. Sometimes, chemicals are used to do this process quickly.
These chemicals are not required if you give it the time it needs to be cured naturally. The skin should be soft. It should not be hard or painted. Taped skin is better than the skin ring outside the drum to keep the skin in place.
The frame should be made of high-quality wood with no sharp edges. Its rim should also be stable. To play a Bodhran well, you need to get the perfect Bodhran beaters for yourself. If you are a beginner, you need to understand a few things before opting to get the perfect beaters for your Bodhran.
12 Best Bodhran Beater Reviews
1) Roosebeck Knob Tipper - Sloped Ridge – Mulberry
Roosebeck is known for creating some of the best tippers in the market. Roosebeck Knob Tipper Sloped Ridhe Mulberry varies from 7 to 9 inches in size, which gives the product a unique variation.
The tipper is also called a bone, beater, or cipin. It also has a sloped ridge through the middle of the tipper that gives it a good grip and helps you make the perfect sound you are looking for. It includes many different kinds of tippers.
Each tipper produces a distinct kind of sound when beaten. It is made of fine quality wood, which makes it a competent beater. The best part about the beater is the ridge on the mid-shaft, which makes it very easy to hold it while playing the drum. The shape of the tipper is perfect for both beginners and professionals.
2) Meinl Percussion FDT3 Frame Drum Tipper, Ash Wood
Meinl Percussion is a famous manufacturer of percussion instruments based in Gutenstetten, Germany. Their Ash Wood FDT3 Frame Drum Tripper is a unique design which is specialized from better hold. They have grooves and lathing, which aid in its balancing properties. Their weight is 10.0lb, which is super light, and they are 9 inches long.
These tippers were made to be paired with Bodhran and have great acoustic properties. They range from thin and light to thick and full-bodied. They are made from ash wood.
One of the most unique things about Meinl Percussion FDT3 Frame Drum Tipper is that different models of the FDT3 tipper paired with the Bodhran give different sounds. This feature adds a lot of value to the product and makes it one of the most desirable tippers in the market.
3) Walton’s Bodhran Beater
Walton is a renowned music company and has always been at the forefront of Irish music. It is tear-shaped from both sides liked the Roosebeck knob tipper. This beater made of hardwood. It is polished, so it feels more comfortable in your hands.
This product has a groove midway through it. It ranges from a number of different sizes according to your ease. This beater is not perfect for beginners. It is more for players who want to experiment with different kinds of instruments.
It does not have a tight grip and may slide if not handled properly. Walton’s Bodhran Beater is light weighted, so it is made for quieter tunes and not very loud ones. It is also a very cost-effective product. You get a lot of value by spending less amount of money.
4) Meinl Percussion FDT2 Ash Wood Frame Drum Tipper
Meinl Percussion FDT2 Ash Wood Frame is a great drum tipper for beginners. It is light weighted and made of ash wood. It has a very balanced style and gives the user a balanced grip as well. It is very handy for fast drumming because of its stable properties.
The knob on the stick helps with the positioning of the hand. The heavy ends make sure you learn how to move the stick in order to learn triplets. The heavier ones in this series are more professional than the lighter ones.
If you choose to start with the heavy ones, you will automatically be comfortable using the lighter ones as well after some time. However, if you have issues with the huge center knob, you should not use this first.
5) Trophy Bodhran 18 in.
Trophy Bodhran is a traditionally styled Bodhran beater. It gives Celtic music and provides a Celtic tinge even in modern times. It is 18 inches long. It is played with a double beater because it is used to play complex rhythms.
One hand is used to play the tunes, and the other hand is used to provide tonal expression to the beat. This tonal expression is added by applying tension on the inner side of the beater head or by muting it. It is light weighted, which makes it easy to handle.
This instrument has great importance in Celtic music. So, if you are Irish or you want to create Celtic music, then this is the perfect product for you. It can be used for both personal and professional use.
6) Walton’s BT-J Bodhran Beater No.J
This series of Bodhran beaters are also suited for every player’s individual style. The Walton’s BT-J Bodhran Beater No. J can be used by both professionals and new users alike. They come in many different sizes and weights. They are made from hardwood.
They are made very smooth material, so you do not have to fear to scrape the skin of your drum. It is best for traditional Bodhran beaters and also for large frame drums.
They are made in Ireland, professional and solid. They are also nicely balanced. Players can select the type of beater they are more comfortable with from this series. Its comfort gives it a really good competitive advantage over other Bodhran beaters on this list.
7) Walton’s Irish Bodhran Drum Beater / Tipper / Stick Bt-K
This type of beater is extremely small. It is approximately the size of your hand. For professional drum beaters, it would seem like a toy. It is well suited for children since they have smaller hands and would be able to hold the stick comfortably.
This beater would be harder for adults to manage with this stick as it is too light as well. It is used for Celtic percussions. It is not used for loud sounds. When it comes to quality, there are very few items that can beat Walton’s Irish Bodhran beater.
It is one of a kind instrument that is known to be perfect for both professionals and amateurs alike. If you are looking for a Bodhran beater that can help you create some amazing music, then this is the product to go for.
8) REMO Irish Bodhran Beater
Another product ideal for creating Irish music. REMO Irish Bodhran beater is a short stick that is composed of two heads. The two-headed stick is a unique product and offers a lot of value to the musician.
It is made of a lathed-turned piece of wood. It is used to play various sizes of Bodhran drums. This instrument is around 8 inches long and is a necessary accessory to accompany your Bodhran drums. R
EMO Irish Bodhran Beater is made up of hardwood, which also adds to the high quality of the beater. It is shaped like a mallet and can be used for all kinds of drums, which can be a great experience in itself. It can also be a great combination with frame drums.
9) Walton’s BT-G Bodhran Beater No G
Walton is known to offer some great Bodhran beaters for both professionals and amateurs. The Walton’s BT-G Bodhran Beater No G is more catered towards the professionals. You should not directly go for it if you are a beginner and try to start with a lighter version and make your way towards this amazing piece.
It is available in many different shapes, weights and sizes to suit the standards of the musician. Therefore, it is able to suit each player’s individual style. This beater is made up of hardwood.
If you are planning to purchase this beater, then you should get the ones of greater sizes and weights. This is why it is not highly recommended for beginners.
10) Roosebeck Knob Tipper 9", Walnut
The Roosebeck Knob Tipper 9” has knob shaped ends from both sides, thus the name. Roosebeck offers other knob shaped tippers as well, but with a length of 9 inches, this is the longest tipper in their series of knob shaped tippers.
The comfort of holding each of these tippers is distinct from the other. Each of these tippers is made of solid wood. Further, the lathe that adds a lot of value to the entire product. Different sounds can be made by using the different types of tippers of this series.
These tippers give the highest range and volume of sound perfect for all types of music. It is good for beginners as well as professionals. However, Roosebeck Knob Tipper is one of the best products in the market.
11) GEWA 822210 Mallet Bodhran Percussion
If you are passionate about music, then you would know that there are many small technicalities involved in musical instruments. Some are catered towards the beginners while others are solely for the professionals.
The GEWA 8222110 mallet Bodhran percussion or tipper is the best beater to use if you are a beginner. You may also use it if you are a professional, but the ease of use makes this product beginner-friendly.
Its shaft is super slim, and it is extremely light weighted. It shows great workmanship. It can be used singularly. This instrument is made of common beech.
With a length of 20 cm, it is an ideal product to have in your arsenal of music products. It is also known for its good quality which adds a lot of value to the product.
12) Walton’s BT-4 Bodhran Beater No 4
Like the series mentioned above, Walton’s BT-4 Bodhran beater no 4 is also available in many different shapes, sizes, and weights. This is for the comfort of the players.
These instruments are the best when it comes to tone, built, and versatility. This is why professionals love to use Walton’s BT-4 Bodhran Beater No 4. They offer a lot of variety, possibly more than any other musical brand. It is their variety that makes them stand out from the rest of the brands.
If you are looking to make an impression, then these are the Bodhran beaters you should go for. The comfortability, excellent quality, and ease of use make Walton’s BT-4 Bodhran beater No 4, one of the best products in the market.
Choosing the Best Bodhran Beater
It is best to learn how to play a musical instrument from a professional player or a music academy. You cannot learn how to play perfectly on your own. You will be out of tune one way or another.
Even if you are good, you will still need to polish your skills. You should always do some warm-up exercises before you start playing. If you do not do those, you will get tired soon and might experience pain in your body after some time.
You could stretch your arms, hands, and shoulders after playing for a few minutes. You can try stretching your fingers one by one of your playing hand and bend each of them backward separately, and then in combinations. You can also twist your wrists hard a few times and twist your arms the same way and around your neck.
2) Meinl Percussion FDT3 Frame Drum Tipper, Ash Wood
- Made of Ash Wood
- Designed for use with Bodhrans
- Lightweight
1) Roosebeck Knob Tipper - Sloped Ridge – Mulberry
- Made of fine quality wood
- Comfort and grip for each tipper is unique
- Easy to hold
3) Walton’s Bodhran Beater
- Made of hardwood
- Polished to feel comfortable
- Lightweight
- Cost-effective product
Learning to play perfectly can be hard and learning to know what suits you best can be a difficult process too. But in doing so, you will feel more driven towards your passion. If you play uncomfortably, you will not enjoy what you are doing and will ultimately not excel in it.
If you are looking for the best Bodhran beaters in the market, then you should definitely check out these Bodhran beaters. You can visit your local music store, or you can check out these Bodhran beaters on Amazon.