Reels Patterns on the Bodhran
After mastering the techniques in this class, you will certainly create your own patterns. The five reel patterns below are starting points. Sticking patterns are optional. Alter the sticking patterns to work reliably with your playing style and to support specific tunes. Add or drop hits as desired. All of this patterns are merely starting points. Be creative!
Each pattern is supported by a TUBS chart, two audio files and a lead sheet. All of these may be downloaded. The lead sheet in each pattern is the standard notation of the tune used in the audio demonstration of the performance of the tune.
Each pattern is supported by a TUBS chart, two audio files and a lead sheet. All of these may be downloaded. The lead sheet in each pattern is the standard notation of the tune used in the audio demonstration of the performance of the tune.
Symbology
These TUBS charts for reels use 4|4 time signatures
Unless otherwise noted, each pattern is one,4-beat measure in length
These TUBS charts for reels use 4|4 time signatures
Unless otherwise noted, each pattern is one,4-beat measure in length
• and = an 8th note
• annie = a 16th note
• annie annie = a 32nd note
• O = open = interior hand not on the drum head or very lightly on the drum head
• M = mute = interior hand on the drum head.
• G = Glissando = interior hand slides down or up the drum head changing the tone of the drum head.
• F= flam
• BT = bass tone = interior hand on the head with light pressure to generate lowest possible tone
• HP = high pop = top of the drum, high pressure on the head, strike hard
Hover your mouse over the lead sheet. Select to download or resize the image.
The son clave rhythm takes its name from the "son" style of Afro-Cuban music. But, the rhythm is at least 700 years old. Son clave has supported many styles of music. The ground-breaking rock-n-roller Bo Diddley is credited with bring son clave into American pop music. Listen to him play son clave in this clip.
The infectious son clave rhythm was adopted by other pop musicians including Buddy Holly. Listen to this clear expression of son clave in one of Buddy Holly's songs.
The infectious son clave rhythm was adopted by other pop musicians including Buddy Holly. Listen to this clear expression of son clave in one of Buddy Holly's songs.
One of the most influential bodhran players is Johnny Ringo McDonagh. In 1975 he was a founding member of De Dannan, one of the bands that brought Irish traditional music into pop culture. A key trait of his playing is powerful simplicity. He is not a show-off player. He is an elegant player. Read more about Johnny Ringo in this blog post from McNeela Music.
https://blog.mcneelamusic.com/modern-day-traditional-irish-music-legend-bodhran-johnny-ringo-mcdonagh/
Listen to Johnny Ringo play bodhran as an accompaniment to a song. Listen carefully to his rhythm. It is essentially a Son Clave rhythm. He includes accents in different places and tosses in a triplet here and there. But, the basis of his rhythm is Son Clave. Also note that he is playing the bodhran using the baby grip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAvoJStKbk4
https://blog.mcneelamusic.com/modern-day-traditional-irish-music-legend-bodhran-johnny-ringo-mcdonagh/
Listen to Johnny Ringo play bodhran as an accompaniment to a song. Listen carefully to his rhythm. It is essentially a Son Clave rhythm. He includes accents in different places and tosses in a triplet here and there. But, the basis of his rhythm is Son Clave. Also note that he is playing the bodhran using the baby grip.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAvoJStKbk4
This pattern begins with a triplet pick-up (too man-y). The downbeat on 1 is "Mas". This may be a tricky thing to do at first. Concentrate on the and beat just before the downbeat of the first measure. This pattern works because it creates tension by anticipating the regular sticking pattern that follows.
