Diversity and beauty of the sounds of the tongue drum
Let yourself be enchanted by a sweet, evocative and magical sound that will transport you to a deep state of relaxation and well-being . This is how we could describe the beauty of the sounds, but today we will also talk about the diversity, because the theme is: “Diversity and beauty of the sounds of the tongue drum”.
Tongue drums are high-quality melodic percussion instruments from the family of idiophones (instruments that produce sounds through the vibration of the material itself, without the need for membranes, strings or external resonators). The variety of sounds has to do with the pitch of the tongue drum , the timbre and the resonance of the tongue drum . We will discuss different sound examples for the tongue drum here and mention tongue drum music styles .
Known internationally as the "steel tongue drum", "tank drum" or "steel tongue drum", this instrument was created as a cheaper alternative to the famous "handpan ". The Sonodrum tongue drum has a sweet, warm, even and magical sound that represents the variety and beauty of the sounds of a tongue drum. Put yourself in a deep state of relaxation and well-being.
Tongue drum sound quality : Tongue drum timbre / pitch and resonance
It is always difficult to have to choose a range/scale. This is an important choice because this range will accompany us throughout our musical adventure with our instrument and will greatly influence our playing and the mood we immerse ourselves in while playing. Before you start, you need to know what kind of emotions you want to feel with the tongue drum.
For example, if you like meditative atmospheres that seem introspective, focus on a lower range. If you want to create a more playful and warm atmosphere with the tongue drum, then focus on the upper ranges. And if you are more of a musician who wants to create different emotions, then focus on the multi-range models so that you can change the mood as you wish.
The different tongue drum manufacturers offer us a wide range of tongue drum tones , in all pitches and with a variable number of notes (six for the smallest, 8 for the average user, 9 to 15 tongues for Sonodrum , etc...).
Resonance of the tongue drum / frequencies tuned to 432 Hz
These include a variety of instruments that are characterized by the so-called Verdi tone. This frequency is said to resonate with the universe, Mayan temples, water, etc. The mystical people among us will be thrilled!
- The Akebono drum, an oriental drum ideal for a relaxing or meditative approach in music therapy or solo playing, but can also easily be used for beautiful musical experiments.
- The minor ranges are also highly appreciated by tongue drum users, because the acoustic characteristics of these instruments give them a “sliding” dimension that invites endless introspective journeys , carried away by a gentle melancholy.
Tongue drum pitch/ frequency: 440 Hz
Finally, the main ranges are also represented, especially in the Sonodrum range, with models in the C and D major range. Our music books are geared precisely to these models, which cover these scales and ranges.
Sound examples for the tongue drum - Importance of tongue drum playing techniques
You can find the most beautiful tongue drum playing techniques on various YouTube channels. There you will discover examples of all tongue drum sound qualities and played by unique musicians.
Different tongue drum music styles
Check out these comparisons and then browse around YouTube:
https://youtu.be/BRtrI6nthHk
In this video you could discover Akebono, C major, D major, E minor and so on. You can also see/hear the difference between pentatonic scales and diatonic (heptatonic) ones.
Tongue drum sound quality - importance of music styles and cultures
Tongue drums are relatively new on our planet, but they are an idiophone and thus have many similar ancestors . Here you can learn about the kalimba, handpan , maracas, conga and other similar idiophones and their cultures:
Africa
African instruments are numerous. Below you will find a partial list of the most popular instruments: Algaïta, Antsiva, Kalimba (Calimba, Sanza or Mbira), Chekeré (Sekéré), Conga, Djembé, Gasbâ, Gongoba, Kabosy, Kayamb, Mezoued or Magrouna, Nyatiti, Tama, Zokra.
These instruments vary greatly in size, ranging from small objects that fit in one hand to very complex and large instruments consisting of several dozen or even hundreds of parts.
Most of these instruments are still made of wood and are handcrafted. You can also buy kalimbas from Sonodrum and there are wooden tongue drums on the market. The pitch is duller and the tones are less versatile than with the steel tongue drum.
Europe
In addition to the classic European musical instruments such as piano, violin, guitar, trumpet and saxophone, there are also some European instruments that are less popular but still very interesting.
America
There are about twenty traditional musical instruments from Latin America. Some of them are:
Atabaque, bongo, cajón, conga, maracas, castanets, pan flute, quena, Cuban timbales.
Invented in Peru in the 18th century, the cajón is a world musical instrument that has a rectangular shape, about 50 centimeters high and 30 centimeters wide and deep. The interior is hollow, with an opening at the back to create a resonating box. It is played by hitting this wooden "box" directly with the hands, similar to wooden tongue drums .
The musical instruments originating from North America are the following:
Banjo, Guitar (acoustic, bass and electric), Electric Organ, Synthesizer, Tongue Drum , Ukulele, Waterphone.
Asia
There are many Asian musical instruments. Here is a selection of the most popular ones:
Glockenspiel, Bol Tibetan, Dizi, Gong, Koto, Pungi, Mridangam, Qin, Sarangi,
Shamisen, Sheng, Wood-block.
The gong is a percussion instrument widely used in Asia, consisting of a metal circle struck with a mallet whose size is proportional to the gong. They are often used in Buddhist temples. It is also the predecessor of instruments such as the handpan or the steel tongue drum .
middle East
The Middle East is not a clearly defined geographical area, although it includes countries such as Iran, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and they are culturally similar.
The typical instruments of these countries include the Arabic lute oud, the tombak/zarb (a small drum), and the harpika, a new string instrument invented in Iran in 2022. It is inspired by two other instruments in the world, the harp and the kalimba .
Playing techniques with different tongue drum sound quality
To produce a sound on the tongue drum, you can strike a tongue with your fingers , hands , or a mallet . The drum itself amplifies the sound emitted through the slots of the tongues and the sound hole on the bottom. When you strike more than one tongue at once, it creates a chord. By mixing and matching the notes and chords on the steel tongue drum, you can create beautiful sounding melodies . The best part is that you need little to no experience with musical instruments to make your steel tongue drum sound good!
Important note for playing with your hands
The best and most beautiful sound samples for the tongue drum are obtained by hitting the tongue drum with a soft object. Note that the mallets have rubber tips so that they bounce immediately and allow the sound to resonate without being dampened. The same rule applies to playing with your hands. Try hitting the drum with your soft index finger or the bony inner knuckle of your thumb so that your finger or thumb bounces directly off the tongue. If your finger doesn't bounce, the sound will be slightly dampened. This can be a cool effect if you do it intentionally, but to learn the basic technique, it's good to practice bouncing your finger or thumb.
The tongue drum comes with a pair of mallets, which are recommended for your first contact with this instrument. To hold the mallets correctly and play well, bend your index finger into a curve, put the mallet shaft in the hollow of your index finger and place your thumb against the shaft to hold it in place. Then run the other three fingers that you are not using along the shaft. You should not grip it too high or too low. The idea here is to get as comfortable as possible to maximize your dexterity .
Practice a few notes, not necessarily to play a melody, but just to find your ideal position for the size of your hands and sticks.
Here is a video with different tongue drum playing techniques:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnWJYXj7gXM
As you've probably noticed, some tongue drums have an opening , usually located on the bottom of the instrument, on the other side of the reeds. This opening is usually covered with a plastic cover. If you leave the cover on, the effect of the steel tongue drum's resonator is increased. If you remove it, you will of course reduce it, but you also have the option of covering it completely or partially while playing a melody to create a sound effect called "wah-wah."
You can only perform this technique by placing the Sonodrum drum on your body and using your thigh to block the opening or not. This requires a particular positioning of the instrument and some practice to fully master the technique , but it allows you to add an effect that can enhance your melodies.
Conclusion - The most beautiful sound examples for the tongue drum
To be able to play the tongue drum perfectly, you will need to practice for many hours to master the instrument. But with the various tips you have found here, you will make rapid progress and reach a very good level. Then you can fully develop your steel tongue drum and let those around you enjoy the most beautiful sound examples that the tongue drum produces.
Embark on a special sound journey that you can almost only do with a steel tongue drum as a partner. The possibilities are endless and you should register today .
