The steel tongue drum is an easy-to-learn musical instrument that is both portable and enjoyable. It is perfect for beginners who want to try playing music and learn simple melodies.
This article will teach you how to play the steel tongue drum.
But first, let’s get to know the tongue drum!
The tongue drum, steel tongue drum and tank drum are all names for the same musical instrument.
They share many characteristics with the handpan, such as their sound and shape.
However, the tongue drum produces a more metallic and ringing tone, while the handpan has a softer, smoother, and more tender sound.
The tongue drum is an idiophone, meaning its vibrations are created by the instrument itself rather than strings or membranes. It is also a percussion instrument because of the way it is played. Its shape resembles a lens.
Steel tongue drums come in many different sizes, with lamellas ranging from five to ten or more. The smallest one fits in the palm of your hand, while the largest ones are similar in size to a handpan.
They can be made from metal or wood, but nowadays they are mostly made from steel.
The steel tongue drum is a relatively new instrument. It was invented in 2007 by Dennis Havlena, who created the first one by cutting the bottom off a propane tank.
Thanks to its unique, peaceful, calming sound and its wide range of uses, it soon gained popularity.
It is ideal for playing meditation music and for use in yoga and sound therapy sessions.
Don’t worry if you’ve never played an instrument before and have no idea how to play the steel tongue drum.
Learning to play the tongue drum is easy and fun!
You can play with your hands or with mallets/sticks.
It depends on your experience, what you want to achieve and the desired sound and mood.
Why are malletts better?
They produce a clearer, deeper and more resonant sound.
Your tongue drum will sound muchlouder.
Why play the tongue drum with your hands?
You can create more melodic beats.
Playing by hand also helps you develop a deeper connection with your instrument and enjoy more freedom in your playing.
Why shouldn’t you use your hands?
Playing the steel tongue drum with your hands is harder, more technically challenging, and requires more skill.
That’s why it’s generally not recommended for beginners to start with their fingers.
However, if you are an advanced player, feel free to experiment!
With patience and practice, anyone can play by hand.
This is how to play steel tongue drum with your hands
You can use your fingers, palms, or the heel of your hand to play.
If you want a louder sound, you can use rubber finger picks, finger sleeves or finger knobs to amplify it.
These practical accessories also help protect your fingers from injury.
It is important to be in acomfortable and stable position when playing the steel tongue drum.
You can sit on the floor or stand in front of a table, it’s up to you.
Place your tongue drum in your lap or on a flat surface.
If you lay the instrument down, always use its rubber feet to allow it to resonate. Touching the bottom directly can block the vibrations and reduce the sound.
The easiest way to play the tongue drum is to rest it in your lap and strike it with your hands or mallets.
To orient your steel tongue drum, place the lowest note closest to your body.
This setup allows you to move up the scale in a circular order, starting from the left-hand side, which can make it easier to remember the location of the notes.
While playing the drum, you should regulate your breathing in time with the rich melody you are creating. Just as you play with intention, you can breathe with intention, too.
You can also meditate while playing, either by chanting a mantra or harmonizing with your voice.
This form of meditation can bring you peace and insight, helping you to get to know yourself and the world around you better.
Immerse yourself in the world of drumming!
With these simple exercises, you will quickly learn the basics of how to play the steel tongue drum.
Advice before you start
● Practice daily
A short practice session each day is worth more than one long session per week. Regular practice cannot be substituted. By playing frequently, you develop what is known as muscle memory. After enough repetition, you will be able to play chords and note sequences automatically, without conscious thought.
● Have fun!
As a beginner, the most important thing is to enjoy playing your steel tongue drum. Don’t take it too seriously, after all, it’s just music and your hobby. Enjoy playing, especially when you first start.
● Experiment and try things out.
Another important thing is to experiment with different chords on the tongue drum.
It’s no coincidence that we use the same word, ‘play’, for instruments and toys. 🙂 Play and experiment to get familiar with your instrument.
Try it out and play the notes that you like the sound of.
At the very beginning, just try out the tongue drum and listen to how it vibrates. Enjoy playing random notes.
Start by playing all the notes, moving from the lowest to the highest, and then backwards.
You can also play all the notes in a circular order, starting from any note.
Choose notes based on ideas or patterns, for example:
Experiment and make your own patterns! Try different combinations and create an order that feels good to you.
Try different techniques using your hands and mallets to discover a variety of tones.
Simple sound combinations
Choose two notes that you like the sound of when played together, then choose another one on the other side of the instrument.
Play the two notes continuously at the same tempo and rhythm.
After repeating this 3–5 times, start playing the third note with the other hand, either in between or after the first two notes.
We have drawn numbers on the steel tongue drum to make it easier to understand. At first, don’t worry about the exact notes; the aim is to start playing simple sound combinations.
| Hit 1 and 2 with your right hand. Repeat as many times as you like. Then hit 3 after 2 or 1.Repeat the whole session. |
| Variations: Choose a 4th note. Right hand (R): hit 1 and 2R: hit 1 and 2Left hand (L): hit 3 R: hit 1 and 2R: hit 1 and 2L: hit 4 Repeat as many times as necessary to maintain the tempo and clarity of the sound.Don’t worry if you can’t get it right the first time. You need to practise a lot to master it. |
This way, you can create simple patterns yourself and practise as much as you need to.
If you get lost, start over with the first two notes and repeat them. Don’t worry if you get confused with the notes or find that your hands have become tangled. This is totally normal.
Your brain needs time to get used to the new movements and way of thinking.
There are many easy songs you can start with on your tongue drum. You don’t need to know how to read classic sheet music because there is a simplified version designed specifically for the steel tongue drum.
However, you should know the basics of music theory to play.
Tongue drum sheet music uses numbers to mark the notes on the instrument, starting from the lowest note.
When reading the sheet music, you should focus on the numbers rather than the notes.
Once you know which note corresponds to which number, you can easily read the sheet music.
How to play your very first song on the steel tongue drum:
As you can see, the numbers are not in ascending order. This is why you should play alternately with your left and right hand, depending on which side the notes are on. Ideally, the music sheet should also indicate which hand to use for each note. Logically, you should hit the notes on the right side with your right hand, and so on.
Let’s see an example:
The tongue drum has 8 notes:
1: E4, 2: A4, 3:B4, 4: C#5, 5: E5, 6: F#5, 7: A5, 8: B5
This is what the sheet music for a simple lullaby looks like:
If you know the numbers on your steel tongue drum, simply start playing them as shown above.
The steel tongue drum is an ideal starting instrument. It has a beautiful sound, is easy to learn, and a good-quality instrument is not very expensive.
It is said that the tongue drum is a great instrument for preparing to play the handpan or other percussion instruments.
The handpan is more advanced, but it shares all the positive characteristics of the steel tongue drum.
If you are interested in premium quality steel tongue drums, explore our selection:
Or see the full list of MAG handpans here:
