The bodhrán is a frame drum. Frame drums are played allover the world, but the playing technique is what makes the drum unique. The drum is either played with the hand or a stick (tipper, cipin), and the other hand dampens the skin on the open side of the drum. This skinhand is also used to alter the sound the drum varying from low bassy sounds to really high pitched sounds. This playing technique has only developed in the last 50 years, and the drum is still in development. This applies to the playing techniques and the making of the drum. It is fascinating to be part of this development.

Bodhráns come in different sizes and formats. The frame is usually made of wood, often plywood, sometime solid wood. Today there is a tendency towards deeper frames and the crossbar is is used seldom. the main element is the skin, and mostly goat skin is used for bodhráns. But they also come with calf, deer, greyhound and even kangaroo and emu. A special type of the skin is the Lambeg skin, coming from the North of Ireland. This is also goat skin, originally prepared for the big Lambeg drums used for parades in the North. Seamus O'Kane started to use these skins for bodhráns and there job extremely well.

The bodhrán is mainly used in the context of traditional irish music. Sometimes, the drum has a bad reputation for being to obstrusive to the music. The main reason seems to be that it looks easier to play a drum than to play a fiddle. But you still need to know the music, its subtle changes and the tunes. Then you need rhythm, musicality and empathy. All these things can be taught and workshops are a good base.
Outside traditional irish music the drum gets more and popular as an easy to carry drum kit substitution.