Practice Tracks
Practice as often as possible. Don't "binge practice". Ten minutes a day will generate much faster skill development than one two-hour session on the weekend. Frequent and short is superior to long and occasional.
At the outset of learning to play the bodhran you will likely find the tunes move to fast. Software tools exist to slow down the tempo of recorded music without altering the pitch. Some of these tools are free. Get one and use it slow down the tempo on recorded music and begin building your technique.
Below are two helpful links. One is a page that links to freeware that will slow down recorded files. The other is to a set of short recordings of Celtic music you can use as practice material.
At the outset of learning to play the bodhran you will likely find the tunes move to fast. Software tools exist to slow down the tempo of recorded music without altering the pitch. Some of these tools are free. Get one and use it slow down the tempo on recorded music and begin building your technique.
Below are two helpful links. One is a page that links to freeware that will slow down recorded files. The other is to a set of short recordings of Celtic music you can use as practice material.
Below are a few practice tracks you can download. These have been trimmed so that music can loop without skipping a beat. You can load them into a player, hit the repeat button and practice as long as you want. The tracks run about three minutes long.
The reels were recorded at 120 beats per minute (bpm). Reels are usually played between 120 and 140 bpm.
The jigs were recorded a 90 bpm. The count for a jig assumes two beats per measure. That means each beat will span three notes or at least the space for three notes. This way of counting ensures that you get the pulse of a jig. Jigs are generally played between 85 bpm and 100 bpm.
Use the slow down software to increase or decrease the bpm to suit your needs.
The reels were recorded at 120 beats per minute (bpm). Reels are usually played between 120 and 140 bpm.
The jigs were recorded a 90 bpm. The count for a jig assumes two beats per measure. That means each beat will span three notes or at least the space for three notes. This way of counting ensures that you get the pulse of a jig. Jigs are generally played between 85 bpm and 100 bpm.
Use the slow down software to increase or decrease the bpm to suit your needs.
Reel Sets
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Reel Set 1 is: Over the Moore to Maggie - Sgt. Early's Dream - Broken Pledge
Reel Set 2 is: Joe Banes - Rannie MacLellen's Reel
Reel Set 2 is: Joe Banes - Rannie MacLellen's Reel
Jig Sets
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Jig Set 1 is: American Dwarf - Out on the Ocean - Blarney Pilgrim
Jig Set 2 is: Miss William's Delight - Maids of Montgomery - Jenkin's Jig
Jig Set 2 is: Miss William's Delight - Maids of Montgomery - Jenkin's Jig