Which is easier to learn and play, the djembe or the bodhran?

Djembe. I LOVE my Djembe!

I don’t wanna work just wanna bang on the drums all day ;-)

There are some really good cd’s and books to get you off the ground, or find a teacher.

Depends on your skills and your body. Physically: bodhran tough if you have any wrist issues/RSI; djembe tough if you have tender skin or otherwise don’t enjoy smacking things for hours with your bare palms. Musically: with bodhran you will control pitch with your hand as you play, so you need a better ear. With djembe you will not control pitch while you play but will need a great sense of interlocking rhythms with other people. In western countries (esp. USA) many more people play djembe than bodhran, so you may find a great community more easily.

Neither. I think it more depends on your musical background, and your feeling for the instrument. If you have an inclination for Irish music, then go for the Irish instrument. Otherwise, I’d go for the djembe. I don’t really want to get deeply into it, but what I can say is that learning the djembe taught me more about rhythm than anything else I did in life.

I’ve learned African, latin, and western rhythms. I’ve learned to play a lot of 6/8 time, which is useful in Irish music. Of course, it could have gone the other way around, as well. But I really don’t think one or the other would be easier, assuming no health problems. I think the djembe would be more universal, but not by much.

Thanks, all. I’m thinking I might split the difference and play a bodhran with my hand instead of the tipper.

Here’s a group that uses both very effectively: An Dro

I am constantly amazed at the collective breadth of knowledge we have on Fluther. Thanks for introducing me to another subject about which I know nothing!