Origin of the tongue drum - history & meaning

In this blog post, you will learn everything you need to know about tongue drums, including the origin of the tongue drum , tongue drum history , tongue drum meaning , and how it works.

The art of music is one of the oldest on the planet. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors built instruments out of logs and sticks, bamboo and even animal bones. Even today, we are still creative and are always finding new ways to produce beautiful sounds. One newly developed instrument is the tongue drum .

Tongue drums are percussion instruments made from propane tanks and are gaining popularity due to their relaxing sounds, portability, ease of playability and unique UFO-like appearance. There are versions of the tongue drum that are made from wood or steel. Wooden tongue drums resemble long, rectangular boxes. They are crafted according to their tongue drum cultural history and are enchanting instruments that can be played by anyone.

They can be found in many different environments, so here we will take a closer look at the history of the tongue drum . You can find them in a therapist's office , in a classroom , or as an accompanying instrument in a mediation session . Now let's finally take a closer look at the origin of the tongue drum !

What do we know about the history of the tongue drum ?

According to archaeological finds, idiophones such as the tongue drum, the handpan and the kalimba are among the earliest types of musical instruments.

Thousands of years ago, our ancestors carved or constructed these instruments from bamboo or wood in Southeast Asia, Africa and Oceania. These "slit drums" look like a small box and have one or more slits on the top. Two examples of this type of instrument are the African Log Drum and the Aztec Teponaztli Drum, the two oldest precursors of the tongue drum. You will be surprised at the continuous tongue drum development that you will learn about today.

So while some tongue drums today are handcrafted from various types of wood, the most popular tongue drums on the market are made of steel or metal alloys. In this respect, tongue drums are more similar to the Caribbean steel drums, the Hank Drums, the Whale Drums, and the Tambiro by Felle Vega.

Origin of the tongue drum and the tongue drum development , examined in more detail here

The predecessor of the tongue drum, the slit drum, appears to have evolved independently among the Aztecs, Africans, Indonesians, and other cultures. The instrument was used for both ritual and communication and was tuned to two or more pitches. Further refinement occurred when tongues were cut at specific pitches, and the drum became known as the wooden tongue drum.

Nowadays, the slit drums have contributed to the creation of the tongue drum and have become more complex. They are called "log drums" or "wood drums" and now contribute to a wide range of acoustic possibilities for the musician. In fact, the wood is now worked in such a way that there are tongues like on a tongue drum to obtain different tones on the instrument. But they retain the characteristic of being made only of wood.

Introduction of metal into the tongue drum History - the invention of the whale drum

It was not until 1990 that the American Jim Doble had the brilliant idea of ​​constructing a kind of slit drum, but out of metal, using large gas cylinders. He cut shapes of different sizes directly into the gas cylinder to produce different sounds. Because the instrument was very large, it produced very deep sounds and also tended to resonate very strongly.

This gave Jim Doble the clever idea of ​​calling the instrument the "Whale Drum" because he compared the sounds of the instrument to the sounds of whales. But unlike the tongue drum, no grades were assigned. The "Whale Drum" was mainly used in kindergartens , where it could be used freely to entertain the youngest children, but you cannot play songs from a music book with it , as is the case with the steel tongue drum.

“Handpan” - an important element in tongue drum cultural history

As it turns out later, the handpan was the impetus for the creation of the tongue drum . The two instruments are very similar, but should not be confused. The main difference is that no cuts were made in the steel shell of the "Hank Drum". Instead, the metal surface is hammered until the desired sound effect is achieved.

The penultimate step and part of the origin of the tongue drum - the Tambiro

In 2005, Dominican-born musician, inventor and percussionist Fellé Vega unveiled a special musical instrument he called the "Tambiro." It is a small gas cylinder with notches of different sizes punched into it so that each notch could produce a different sound when the instrumentalist struck it with his hands. The Tambiro was never subsequently commercialized, but it is very similar to the tongue drum.

The most important step in the development of the tongue drum : The modern tongue drum (2007)

Dennis Havlena was fascinated by the handpan, but since it seemed impossible to get one, he took Felle Vega's concept of tongues on the side of a gas tank and moved them to the top. In reference to the "Hank Drum," Dennis named it the "Hank Drum" and posted his DIY plans freely online. This helped make the 12-inch, eight-note tongue drum, made from a propane tank, the standard that designers now work with around the world.

Analysis of the importance of the tongue drum since the origin of percussion instruments

It is no coincidence that the first musical instruments invented by man were a variety of drums and percussion instruments. If you explore the myths and legends of cultures around the globe, you will find that the rhythm of drums could not only awaken the creative energy of the human soul. It was also the key to the rhythm of the universe. Created by a drummer or shaman, the rhythm could restore order to the universe when disorder began to reign, or heal the human spirit .

Even if we consciously do not want to believe these stories, we unconsciously respond to the myth. We respond to the rhythm of the drum because we recognize that it holds the key to understanding not only the world but also ourselves . Thus, in many cultures, the drum is a sacred tool that connects heaven and earth and maintains the rhythm of the world order. And when tongue drummers practice their art, it is as if they too are changing the world and touching the human spirit through the rhythm of the drum.

Conclusion: The origin of the tongue drum and its development

The tongue drum is a musical instrument that is still very unknown to the general public. It is rare to meet a musician who plays it and it is perfectly normal to want to know the origin of the tongue drum , which produces enchanting sounds . From now on, you will know exactly where the tongue drum comes from and will also be able to say which other instruments it was developed from. This way, you can satisfy the curiosity of your acquaintances who ask you questions about the instrument .

But even if knowing the origin of the tongue drum is a good start, you should have learned that there is nothing more beautiful than playing it, feeling the vibrations of the instrument flow through your body and becoming one with this object thanks to the enchanting melodies. Since tongue drums are not very common, if not non-existent, in classical stores, we have a solution for you .

The German-based company Sonodrum offers a high-quality 8-tongue drum based on Dennis Havelna for sale online , which comes with all the useful accessories to get you started. You should order it here quickly - and at a reasonable price.