As a beginner, should I be learning both styles or concentrating on one? The majority of videos online show players using top-end styles. So far I have mostly been learning the Kerry style but is it a dying breed?

Cheers

Glenn

Glenn,

if you are beginning, I would stay with the style you have begun with. No, the traditional ("Kerry") style is not dying off. You see more top-end style performances on youtube because of the timing of youtube as a medium coinciding with the develpment of the top-end style. There are sounds and rhythms that one can not produce in the top-end style that one can produce in the traditional style. However, there are rhythms and sounds that one cannot produce in the trad style that one can produce using the top-end.

I have yet to find a tutorial video (or CD for that matter) that teaches the top-end style of play. That's how new the style is.

The vids you see are mostly vids of solos. Soloing is definately a stage item that doesn't go over well in sessions or other more social settings.

It's my understanding that the top-end style has been developed from a snare drummer approach to playing the bodhran. This is not a traditional approach. However, in the end the results are what matter most. The top-end style of bodhran playing has added a new dimension to playing the bodhran. It requires different muscular skill sets than the more traditional style.

I encourage you to continue to work on your traditional style skills. But I also encourage you to give your trad muscles a break and begin working out some very basic rhythms in the top-end style. This approach will ensure that you develop skill sets that are well rounded. Keep in mind that there are differences in Tipper types that correllate with the difference in playing styles. One can still play in both styles with the same tipper, but one would take this in consideration when choosing the tipper.

Hey Glenn,

As Dain says, neither one or the other is better, just different degrees of the same thing.

I'm not sure that it came from snare drumming however the re is a lot of snare drum stuff that can be instantly applied. You'll probably find the roots of top end with the likes of Mossie Griffin in the 80s& 90s, Junior Davey, Johnjoe and others have really brought it to the fore and Seamus O'Kane's use of thin skins (prompted in some way by Gino Lupari iirc) was the catalyst that made it all come together

In actual use it is most common to see an amalgamation of both - "Top n Kerry" - which is where 'the style' looks like it is going to end up. Vertical hand for high notes & horizontal (almost) for bassier play. My hands tend to stay between 12 O'Clock and about 2 O'clock

The thing that may make difference to a stylistic decision will be your choice of Tipper(s); Johnjoe , Eamon and the like all use Kerry triplets with the upper end of the stick as well as the single ended rolls. Personally I don't like all that upper weight except with skewer tippers, it slows me down and for the majority of the time I play usually with pretty much the entire tipper below the thumb. I use really short tippers though 6-7" normally (actually I use a 3.5" tipper also).

Ralf Siepmann makes superb beech hot rods - heavier than bamboo, better bass impact, better attack and you can use a thinner stick because of the greater weight. My current facve is the version with 7x4mm rods but 7" long cut off just above the thumb, that gives me speed but plenty of bottom end - it took a little time to work up to dealing with the momentum of a heavy stick but when I'm warmed up, I;m as fast on that as I am on the light ones.

80% of the time I'm consciously sacrificing the kerry triplet in preference for an out and out single stroke form of play but that's just me.

I reckon that you are best to develop skills in all areas and see where your natural inclination takes you or where you are inspired to go.

As I said, because you're local Glenn, I'm happy to give you a run-through some stuff at sometime if that may be useful.

I'm not at the session tonight BTW, we've a gig in Millennium Forum Derry.

Cheers

P

Thanks a million guys for your very helpful advice. I've actually made myself a couple of bamboo rod tippers (around 9”) and have found them more enjoyable to use than the purely Kerry Tipper that came with the drum. I’m trying to spend time dabbling with both styles but do tend to like the more traditional sound of the Kerry style triplets (probably because they also sound better than my attempts at single end triplets).

Thanks again to you both. All advice is greatly appreciated. Have a good gig tonight Paul.

Cheers

Glenn

Hi ,Can do the basics Kerry style but top end just isnt happening , How long should I persevere , can be very frustrating but would love to crack top end!!

Huddo,

that is very difficult to say. The answer depends on the player's musical experience, prior muscle skill development, physical age, amount of time practicing, etc. When I work on my Top End playing (I'm a well developed Kerry style player), I isolate basic rudiments and work on accuracy first and then speed using a metronome. I'm using drills without incorporating the rudiments into any music based rhythm cycles. In this way, as my rudiment skills develop, the rudiments "make" their way into my playing rather naturally. Look at Paul's (bodojo's) visual tutorials on this site. They're very helpful. Pick a basic rudiment and begin working it every day for however long you can without making many mistakes (if you keep playing the mistakes over and over, you'll learn the mistakes, so rest when you get fatigued).

It took me a few days to play the basic rudiments accurately at very, very slow speed.

So, how long will it take to get the rudiments up to tempo?

Depends on the player. I'd shoot for accuracy and let the speed develop over a long period of time.