How To Make A Bodhrán

[@AG-io5wr]

Purchased a McNeela Bodhran in Ennis in 2015 while on holiday. It is one of my fulfilled bucket list items that I enjoy playing.

[@coronelsakura2841]

The way he places the skin in just one attemp at 6:20 says it all👌

[@sethhurst751]

I live in Kentucky and got this all the way from Dublin in just a few days (faster than i thought) Very nice, easy and fun! Thanks so much

[@AMindInOverdrive]

nice and simple explanation - no fluff - very good!

[@mcneelamusic]

Glad you liked it, Mark!

[@Donegaldan]

Great explanation and enthusiam

[@dancandocomlobos6598]

Wooooooow! Thank you for sharing this! Thank you very much! Amazing video! Greetings from Rio/Brazil.

[@aislingmeehan9862]

It's great to know how he drums are made! My first drum proper was a gift, and it was just tacked. So after a year the skin started rippin away. Now I have one hat's glued and tacked. I like it muh better, and two years in it's still going strong!

[@markkavanagh4457]

This man made my bodhran, I've had it five years and it's just phenomenal. I'm looking to buy a few more off him and maybe a flute or two..

[@kdonovan3129]

I have a shell and skin but I haven't the means to make an outer ring to hold the skin on over the shell

[@kentait66]

Just wondering what the band is made of (or the the initial elastic retaining one)? Brilliant video👍

[@melaniewalsh9938]

Hi , thanks for sharing this great video. Could you please tell me how long you wait after you have glued it for the skin to tauten enough to apply the webbing and pins. thank you

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi Melanie, you should leave the skin and glue to dry overnight or about 10 - 12 hours. Hope that helps!

[@skyricharde6629]

One question about the skin. It looks like you had an already dried skin, which you then wetted to make it pliable. I have a deerskin that I'm wanting to turn into a drum... and I'm wondering if I could make the drum with it and allow it to dry on the drum, or if I could stretch the skin first, let it dry, and then when I'm ready to make the drum, re-soak the skin?

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi Sky, stretch the skin first, let it dry then if it's still too hard, wet and dry it again. Keep doing it until you're happy with the pliability. Hope that helps!

[@LowlanderNurse]

I am curious about the glue, I noticed it is much thicker and less runny than the average wood glue. Is it a specialty for drum building?

[@f-stop8550]

Great video. I'm making your kit now. Can you show how you do the final taping over the top edge in detail? Will black electrical tape work? That is what is readily available in the U.S.

[@mcneelamusic]

Yes, black electrical tape will do the trick - click here to see how it's done - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqWchZx3Z712esU

[@f-stop8550]

Thanks. It worked great!

[@romantea3506]

How tight to you pull the skin to let it dry? I've built a frame drum and pulled the skin as tight as i could by hand and through the drying it got a fairly high pitch. Aiming to build a bass with the next one. Thanks.

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi, thanks for your comment! I'd recommend checking out this article on our site. It goes in-depth on how to treat and tune your bodhrán skin: blog.mcneelamusic.com/top-tips-for-caring-for-your-bodhran

[@LowlanderNurse]

Purchased a 16” skin that I need to soak. How big does the frame need to be when it stretches?

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi Nathan, we'd recommend a 14" frame for a 16" skin - always give yourself an extra 2" on the skin to fit over the frame. Hope that helps.

[@meanolduncleeli904]

What kind of glue should I get?

[@mcneelamusic]

A good wood glue will do the trick, Eli

[@meanolduncleeli904]

Thanks, hopefully my bodhran will be back to normal soon.

[@gabrielstephens8239]

For those looking to make their own frame, you offer both White Goats Skin and Lambeg Skin. Which of these would you recommend for a first time maker?

[@mcneelamusic]

Gabriel, we recommend going for the white goatskin for first timers.

[@jolayoi]

what kind of skin do you use? Goat, deer?

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi Jolanda, we use sustainably sourced goatskin as it gives the best sound.

[@jolayoi]

@@mcneelamusic Thanks for the information !

[@dawidwozniak2393]

What kind of glue did you use?

[@mcneelamusic]

I use wood glue, you can get it in practically any hardware store!

[@SpencerRaybourne]

Are the cross bars necessary?

[@mcneelamusic]

No they're not but are often preferred by players as extra support for the left hand at the back of the skin (right hand if you're left-handed). All of our cross bars are removable

[@daraghbreen9764]

where do u get the skin

[@AlexHorsch]

❤ Super

[@mcspil1710]

Is the water just water? Or is there any borax or preservatives mixed in?

[@mcneelamusic]

Just water!

[@mcspil1710]

Ok thanks! This is a great informational video, I learned so much! Appreciate that you offer a kit, I can’t decide if I should get one premade, or try my hand at putting it together. Your taping video was insightful as well. GRMA

[@mcneelamusic]

@@mcspil1710 Tá fáilte romhat, MC Spil! Try it out - it's great fun

[@matthewmacmaster730]

What is the sticker of the bird for?

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi Matthew, it's the McNeela emblem.

[@matthewmacmaster730]

Thanks, I was wondering because my Drum arrived yesterday. It's one of yours, 16 Inch non tunable, and there is such a big difference from my last one. My last was an 18 inch so doing tonal changes were hard because there was such a distance between my hand and where the tipper was striking at some point of playing so there was hardly any tension. But This has made such and improvement, and the sound is beautiful!(P.S. It said shipping was 7-10 day in Canada, I got in 5, So over all I'm very pleased with your quality and service)

[@mcneelamusic]

That's great Matthew. We're delighted to hear you're happy with your purchase. Enjoy playing!

[@matthewmacmaster730]

DeoWolfe Carriere Sorry But I can not seem to find it, But To where I live in Nova Scotia, it wasn't very bad, I think but don't trust me 100% on it, around 15$

[@Codswallop58]

Bought one of your bodhrans from Custy's in Ennis a month ago, and I am loving it. Thanks so much.

[@jashton8710]

You missed a step; how to make the frame.

[@mcneelamusic]

Hi J, we include the frame with the DIY set, already made.

[@UMBUBA]

What type of glue did you use?

[@mcneelamusic]

I use wood glue, you can get it in practically any hardware store!