Bodhran Notation - Gregg Nardozza 8/2001

Updated 8/2003 

I have developed a form of music notation specific to the bodhran.  I decided to develop this because I could not find any formalized bodhran notation in any books or through any Internet searches that use standard musical notation with no special symbols.  The use of special symbols for notation precludes the use of standard musical notation software packages, such as PrintMusic (www.finalemusic.com).  Formalized notation is necessary for instructors and students to be able to communicate specific sticking exercises and for professionals to be able to transcribe their own parts and those of others.

The center staff line denotes the down stroke.  This stroke is most commonly made with the front of the tipper striking the bodhran in a downward motion starting from a horizontal position.  The center staff line denotes this motion regardless of the tipper angle.  For example, if the tipper is held in a vertical position, the center staff line would denote an outward stroke. 

The line above staff center denotes the up stroke.  This stroke is most commonly made with the front of the tipper striking the bodhran in an upward motion starting from a horizontal position.  The line above staff center denotes this motion regardless of the tipper angle.  For example, if the tipper is held in a vertical position, the line above staff center would denote an inward stroke. 

The line below staff center denotes the double down stroke.  This stroke is most commonly made with the back of the tipper striking the bodhran in an downward motion starting from a horizontal position.  The line below staff center denotes this motion regardless of the tipper angle.  For example, if the tipper is held in a vertical position, the line below staff center would denote an outward stroke with the back of the tipper. 

The top staff line denotes a rim shot.  No particular sticking is implied, although the intended stroke will often be obvious based on the particular stroke preceding the rim shot. 

The bottom staff line denotes a hand slap which is commonly played with the hand that is on the inside of the bodhran.  The hand slap can be played either by itself or coincident with a tipper stroke. 

This notation can be expanded to include other particular sounds, but I have found that all of my needs are covered by what I have outlined. 

As far as the pitch of the bodhran is concerned, I find it best to read the bodhran part along with a flute or fiddle part to know what notes are being played. 

There are six attachments which contain musical representation of my notation along with some practice exercises.  The exercises translated from the Ted Reed "Syncopation" drum book are used by permission from Alfred Publishing (see alfred-permission.jpg).  The Triplets and Sixteenths exercise can be expanded to include many other possible combinations.

UPDATE 8/2003: I added another attachment (bodhran-notation-expanded.jpg) which includes expanded notation.  I found that notation for both a tack drag and a pressed roll were very useful.  The tack drag is played by dragging the end of the tipper across the tacks of the bodhran.  The pressed roll is accomplished by pressing the tipper forcefully into the bodhran head in such a way as to get a short pressed roll sound from both ends of the tipper alternately bouncing off the head.  This takes some practice to master.  An example of what this technique should sound like can be heard 1:56 into the track "E^b Reels"  from the CD entitled Flatfish by the Irish band Flook.  John Joe Kelly plays incredible bodhran throughout this CD.

The attachments are: 

bodhran-notation.jpg – bodhran notation and some examples.  

bodhran-notation-expanded.jpg – expanded bodhran notation (8/2003 update).

syncopation-p14.jpg – translation of "Syncopation", page 14 into bodhran notation.

syncopation-p15.jpg – translation of "Syncopation", page 15 into bodhran notation.

syncopation-p16.jpg – translation of "Syncopation", page 16 into bodhran notation.

syncopation-p17.jpg – translation of "Syncopation", page 17 into bodhran notation.

triplets-sixteenths.jpg – exercises containing some combinations of triplets and embedded sixteenths.

If you own PrintMusic and want the files, click here.

The permission letter from Alfred Publishing is here: alfred-permission.jpg

If anyone has questions or comments regarding this material, please feel free to contact me at bodhran@nardozza.com.

Enjoy!