The Bodhrán

An entire mythology and industry has grown up around the issue of looking after bodhran skin: many a new bodhran player has managed to destroy their bodhrán with some mad and futile exercise in "skin care".....The same rules as given in the sections about other instruements apply here just as efectively: avoid either damp, or dry heat / excessive heat. The use of temperature maipulation is by far the best way to care for the skin of a drum, rather than rudding or waxing it.

Storage:

• keep in a cool dry place - err on the side of coldness.
• if you are in a warm climate or a warm, centrally heated house store bodhrán in its box or cover, and place a small damp seasponge in with it (taking care not to let it lie against skin) This will act as a simple humidifier. re-dampen as needed.
• if you hang bodhrán on wall, place a damp seasponge humidifier behind it or place a bowl of water beneath it, to create a humidifying effect as the temperature rises.

If your skin goes loose it is too cold.

• simply bring into a warm room and warm by rubbing your hands across the skin
• in an emergency, you can pull skin up quickly by placing bodhrán near too but NOT against a safe closed heat source ideally a radiator for ten minutes apx.
• If your skin is too tight (and highpitched) it is too warm
• leave in a cold room til it goes down.
• if very highpitched and tight leavbe overnight in a very cold room/place
• if this doesn't work rub a little beeswax (or beeswax and vaseline) into the skin
• DO NOT RUB ALL OVER SKIN
• rub in a circle 1/4 inch from the rim, on the back of the skin, following the rim all around
• this will maintain the opaque look of the skin, while waxing it sufficiently and also will prevent you from ruining the bodhrán by putting on too much wax.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND:

• rubbing animal fat, lard, grease, hair products, guinness (any other form of alcohol) dripping or similar into the skin.
• wetting with water, rubbing with a damp cloth
• drying with a naked flame, over the fire, or with a hairdryer.

with care and foresight there is no reason why your bodhrán will not give you manny years of playing and enjoyment