A few weeks ago, I met a young lad who plays a synthetic by Remo. He arrived at my house on a wet, windy, snowy night, carrying his Hran in a cloth bag. It sounded pretty good despite the weather to which it had been subjected.

I have seen threads asking for advice on first purchases. I have seen threads discussing treatments. I have asked others these questions. I now have the answer to pass on to tyros.

The first Bodhran you should buy is a synthetic. Learn to play the Hran on this one. Listen to other players and other Hrans and ask the other players all those nagging questions while you are learning on your synthetic. It is the simplest way to begin and to move forward without the encumberment that comes from all of the questions which cannot, really, be answered. These questions are complex, as we have seen from the various threads.

Besides, synthetics are as cheap as turkey turd beer. If it don't work out, flog it for a few bucks... no harm to the pocketbook. And I am looking forward to taking my new Remo to the woods to play around the campfire without worrying about the weather and the sparks !

No, it doesn't sound as good as my Kearns', but I'm not worried about it.