HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT STEEL TONGUE DRUM
A QUICK GUIDE
If you're thinking about buying a Steel Tongue Drum, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the wide selection on the market. This guide gives you assistance and points out what is important.
1. Who are Steel Tongue Drums suitable for?
When choosing a Steel Tongue Drum, the first thing to consider is who wants to play the instrument and how pronounced the player's prior knowledge and level of experience is.
To say it in advance: The Steel Tongue Drum is a very low-threshold instrument, played intuitively with mallets or hands. It is easy to learn and sounds beautiful from the first moment. Still, you should give your experience level some consideration when getting a Steel Tongue Drum.
If you are more experienced, you can go for a drum with more tone fields, while beginners prefer to start with a smaller model with fewer tone fields to try out. These are easily accessible to everyone and provide a quick, uncomplicated introduction to the world of sounds and music – regardless of age and previous musical experience.
The Mini and Small Steel Tongue Drums from Meinl Sonic Energy, for example, are affordable options for getting started with playing Steel Tongue Drum. A nice gimmick and an equally nice gift idea is also the Pocket Steel Tongue Drum in cheerful A Major tuning.
2. What size should I choose?
During your research, you will come across a wide variety of sizes of Steel Tongue Drums. Starting from small models specifically designed for children with a diameter of about 5.5", to conventional models with more than double the diameter.
One point that plays a crucial role in the size decision is the intended use.
If you want an instrument that you can always have at hand, whether in the office, at a picnic with friends, or while traveling, smaller models with a diameter of about 3" to 7" are ideal, because they fit in almost any backpack or handbag.
If you for example plan to use the Steel Tongue Drum for solo performances or as part of an ensemble, it is – for reasons of volume – advisable to choose a standard-sized drum.
3. Which tuning should I choose?
The Steel Tongue Drum’s tuning is responsible for the atmosphere when playing the drum. Depending on the mood you want to create with your Steel Tongue Drum, one or another scale is better suited (list not exhaustive).
Minor scales and their variants (e.g. Kurd Minor, Amara, Equinox): Minor scales are often associated with emotions such as tragic, mystical, pensive, dreamy, hopeful, melancholic.
Major scales and their variants (e.g. Sabye, Ashakiran): The sound character of Steel Tongue Drums with major scales is described as upbeat, uplifting and joyful.
Other scale types and mixtures (e.g. Akebono): Other scale types and mixtures of major and minor often sound oriental and exotic to our ears.
Within these scales there are individual tunings, such as C Major, G Minor, A Akebono, etc.
In this context, the two afore-mentioned points, the intended use and your experience level should be considered. The C major scale is the most standard tuning and therefore THE model for beginners. Most people are quite familiar with the C major notes (C-D-E-F-G-A-B). Especially if you are still at the very beginning and unsure which scale is the right one for you, C major is always a good choice!
4. What color variants are there?
Ultimately, of course, the appearance is maybe also relevant for you when buying a new instrument. There is a wide range of different finishes for every taste – with and without patterns, monochrome or multicolored, matte or glossy, in bright or muted colors, in minimalist or eye-catching design., ...
The large collection of Steel Tongue Drums from Meinl Sonic Energy
Meinl Sonic Energy has a wide selection of Steel Tongue Drums in five different sizes, ten different tunings and nine different finishes, for beginners to advanced players.
Meinl Sonic Energy
Mini Steel Tongue Drums
Meinl Sonic Energy Mini Steel Tongue Drums are more compact (6" in diameter, 2.55" high) than traditional Steel Tongue Drums, making them ideal for both, home and travel. They feature six tone fields, all from the same scale. The Mini Steel Tongue Drum by Meinl Sonic Energy is available in three versions: Black (tuned to C Major), Navy Blue (tuned to A Major) and Gold (tuned to B Major).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Small Steel Tongue Drums
The Small Steel Tongue Drums are the middle ground between the Mini Steel Tongue Drums and conventional Steel Tongue Drums. At 7" in diameter, they are extremely space-saving and fit in almost any handbag. The eight tone fields are tuned in minor scales, which are considered as mellow, soothing and melancholy. A perfect gift for any music lover – available in navy blue (tuned to F Minor) and black (tuned to G Minor).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Regular Steel Tongue Drums
These models correspond to a conventional Steel Tongue Drums. They are made with great attention to detail from powder-coated steel and, like the Small Steel Tongue Drums, have eight tone fields. The resonance hole on the underside ensures a particularly long-lasting resonance. Depending on your personal taste, you can choose between four scales (A Minor, G Minor, G Major, A Akebono) and three finishes (black, vintage brown, pearl grey).
Meinl Sonic Energy is a collection of instruments that supports our connection to experience the body, mind and energy, as One. Many practitioners and guides within the health and wellness industry use these instruments therapeutically for stress management, anxiety relief, insomnia, depression, addictive recovery, pain management, etc. They are unique expressions of the vibrations we encounter on a daily basis and when listened to closely, seem to have a language all their own. They invite us to appreciate the definition of all things we find harmonious in our life and through this support, our journey begins toward new peace and restoration. Our collection of beautifully crafted creations makes self-discovery through sound a simple, profound practice.
Customer testimonials
What our customers say about the…
Meinl Sonic Energy Steel Tongue Drum A Minor, Black (STD1BK):
„Went into […] a shop and spontaneously my husband and I both fell in love with this drum. We both play drums, of completely different styles, and have not stopped playing with it since we brought it home. Beautiful sound. Something that anyone could play and enjoy. I do healing work and meditation and I can't wait to try this with a group, it will make a beautiful background for a guided meditation. It is something I can see lasting a lifetime. Definitely worth the investment.“
Meinl Sonic Energy Steel Tongue Drum A Minor, Vintage Brown (STD1VB):
"Good workmanship and a very nice sound. It's a lot of fun for me and also for my son to play on it." (Literally translated)
Meinl Sonic Energy Mini Steel Tongue Drum, A Major, Navy Blue (MSTD2NB):
„These are amazing little drums! The tuning is spot on and the beater have a nice feel in your hands with good bounce off the tongues. The sound is pure and uplifting, you can play anywhere, shove some in a rucksack and off you go! Will be getting more.”
Meinl Sonic Energy
Octave Steel Tongue Drums
The new Octave Steel Tongue Drums with decorative Nylon cord have a flat shape and a diameter of 15.7" (40 cm). They feature a central bass note in the middle plus eight more notes around it. These eight notes consist of two reeds each that deliver the tone in two octaves. This creates a wonderful, meditative sound similiar to the tone of a handpan. Another special feature is the sound hole at the bottom of the drum, which can be closed with a silicon plug to make the sound even more compact.
Our Octave Steel Tongue Drums can be played with mallets or with fingers and are available in the tunings D Kurd (Black, with or without engraved floral design) or D Amara (Navy Blue, with or without engraved floral design).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Octave Steel Tongue Drums
The new Octave Steel Tongue Drums with decorative Nylon cord have a flat shape and a diameter of 15.7" (40 cm). They feature a central bass note in the middle plus eight more notes around it. These eight notes consist of two reeds each that deliver the tone in two octaves. This creates a wonderful, meditative sound similiar to the tone of a handpan. Another special feature is the sound hole at the bottom of the drum, which can be closed with a silicon plug to make the sound even more compact.
Our Octave Steel Tongue Drums can be played with mallets or with fingers and are available in the tunings D Kurd (Black, with or without engraved floral design) or D Amara (Navy Blue, with or without engraved floral design).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Pocket Steel Tongue Drums
Super cute Steel Tongue Drums that can become your constand companion due to their pocket size of only 3" (about 7.6 cm). The six circularly arranged tongues are tuned to A Major and produce joyful and soothing sounds. For an appealing look, the engraved design elements on the top (choose from Lotus Flower, Om, and Venus Flower).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Pocket Steel Tongue Drums
Super cute Steel Tongue Drums that can become your constand companion due to their pocket size of only 3" (about 7.6 cm). The six circularly arranged tongues are tuned to A Major and produce joyful and soothing sounds. For an appealing look, the engraved design elements on the top (choose from Lotus Flower, Om, and Venus Flower).
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT STEEL TONGUE DRUM
A QUICK GUIDE
If you're thinking about buying a Steel Tongue Drum, you can quickly become overwhelmed by the wide selection on the market. This guide gives you assistance and points out what is important.
1. Who are Steel Tongue Drums suitable for?
When choosing a Steel Tongue Drum, the first thing to consider is who wants to play the instrument and how pronounced the player's prior knowledge and level of experience is.
To say it in advance: The Steel Tongue Drum is a very low-threshold instrument, played intuitively with mallets or hands. It is easy to learn and sounds beautiful from the first moment. Still, you should give your experience level some consideration when getting a Steel Tongue Drum.
If you are more experienced, you can go for a drum with more tone fields, while beginners prefer to start with a smaller model with fewer tone fields to try out. These are easily accessible to everyone and provide a quick, uncomplicated introduction to the world of sounds and music – regardless of age and previous musical experience.
The Mini and Small Steel Tongue Drums from Meinl Sonic Energy, for example, are affordable options for getting started with playing Steel Tongue Drum. A nice gimmick and an equally nice gift idea is also the Pocket Steel Tongue Drum in cheerful A Major tuning.
2. What size should I choose?
During your research, you will come across a wide variety of sizes of Steel Tongue Drums. Starting from small models with a diameter of only 3", which fit comfortably in any pocket, to conventional models with more than four times the diameter.
One point that plays a crucial role in the size decision is the intended use.
If you want an instrument that you can always have at hand, whether in the office, at a picnic with friends, or while traveling, smaller models with a diameter of about 3" to 7" are ideal, because they fit in almost any backpack or handbag.
If you for example plan to use the Steel Tongue Drum for solo performances or as part of an ensemble, it is – for reasons of volume – advisable to choose a standard-sized drum.
3. Which tuning should I choose?
The Steel Tongue Drum’s tuning is responsible for the atmosphere when playing the drum. Depending on the mood you want to create with your Steel Tongue Drum, one or another scale is better suited (list not exhaustive).
Minor scales and their variants (e.g. Kurd Minor, Amara, Equinox): Minor scales are often associated with emotions such as tragic, mystical, pensive, dreamy, hopeful, melancholic.
Major scales and their variants (e.g. Sabye, Ashakiran): The sound character of Steel Tongue Drums with major scales is described as upbeat, uplifting and joyful.
Other scale types and mixtures (e.g. Akebono): Other scale types and mixtures of major and minor often sound oriental and exotic to our ears.
Within these scales there are individual tunings, such as C Major, G Minor, A Akebono, etc.
In this context, the two afore-mentioned points, the intended use and your experience level should be considered. The C major scale is the most standard tuning and therefore THE model for beginners. Most people are quite familiar with the C major notes (C-D-E-F-G-A-B). Especially if you are still at the very beginning and unsure which scale is the right one for you, C major is always a good choice!
4. What color variants are there?
Ultimately, of course, the appearance is maybe also relevant for you when buying a new instrument. There is a wide range of different finishes for every taste – with and without patterns, monochrome or multicolored, matte or glossy, in bright or muted colors, in minimalist or eye-catching design, ...
The large collection of Steel Tongue Drums from Meinl Sonic Energy
Meinl Sonic Energy has a wide selection of Steel Tongue Drums in five different sizes, ten different tunings and nine different finishes, for beginners to advanced players.
Meinl Sonic Energy
Mini Steel Tongue Drums
Meinl Sonic Energy Mini Steel Tongue Drums are more compact (6" in diameter, 2.55" high) than traditional Steel Tongue Drums, making them ideal for both, home and travel. They feature six tone fields, all from the same scale. The Mini Steel Tongue Drum by Meinl Sonic Energy is available in three versions: Black (tuned to C Major), Navy Blue (tuned to A Major) and Gold (tuned to B Major).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Small Steel Tongue Drums
The Small Steel Tongue Drums are the middle ground between the Mini Steel Tongue Drums and conventional Steel Tongue Drums. At 7" in diameter, they are extremely space-saving and fit in almost any handbag. The eight tone fields are tuned in minor scales, which are considered as mellow, soothing and melancholy. A perfect gift for any music lover – available in navy blue (tuned to F Minor) and black (tuned to G Minor).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Regular Steel Tongue Drums
These models correspond to a conventional Steel Tongue Drums. They are made with great attention to detail from powder-coated steel and, like the Small Steel Tongue Drums, have eight tone fields. The resonance hole on the underside ensures a particularly long-lasting resonance. Depending on your personal taste, you can choose between four scales (A Minor, G Minor, G Major, A Akebono) and three finishes (black, vintage brown, pearl grey).
Meinl Sonic Energy is a collection of instruments that supports our connection to experience the body, mind and energy, as One. Many practitioners and guides within the health and wellness industry use these instruments therapeutically for stress management, anxiety relief, insomnia, depression, addictive recovery, pain management, etc. They are unique expressions of the vibrations we encounter on a daily basis and when listened to closely, seem to have a language all their own. They invite us to appreciate the definition of all things we find harmonious in our life and through this support, our journey begins toward new peace and restoration. Our collection of beautifully crafted creations makes self-discovery through sound a simple, profound practice.
Customer testimonials
What our customers say about the…
Meinl Sonic Energy Steel Tongue Drum A Minor, Black (STD1BK):
„Went into […] a shop and spontaneously my husband and I both fell in love with this drum. We both play drums, of completely different styles, and have not stopped playing with it since we brought it home. Beautiful sound. Something that anyone could play and enjoy. I do healing work and meditation and I can't wait to try this with a group, it will make a beautiful background for a guided meditation. It is something I can see lasting a lifetime. Definitely worth the investment.“
Meinl Sonic Energy Steel Tongue Drum A Minor, Vintage Brown (STD1VB):
"Good workmanship and a very nice sound. It's a lot of fun for me and also for my son to play on it." (Literally translated)
Meinl Sonic Energy Mini Steel Tongue Drum, A Major, Navy Blue (MSTD2NB):
„These are amazing little drums! The tuning is spot on and the beater have a nice feel in your hands with good bounce off the tongues. The sound is pure and uplifting, you can play anywhere, shove some in a rucksack and off you go! Will be getting more.”
Meinl Sonic Energy
Octave Steel Tongue Drums
The new Octave Steel Tongue Drums with decorative Nylon cord have a flat shape and a diameter of 15.7" (40 cm). They feature a central bass note in the middle plus eight more notes around it. These eight notes consist of two reeds each that deliver the tone in two octaves. This creates a wonderful, meditative sound similiar to the tone of a handpan. Another special feature is the sound hole at the bottom of the drum, which can be closed with a silicon plug to make the sound even more compact.
Our Octave Steel Tongue Drums can be played with mallets or with fingers and are available in the tunings D Kurd (Black, with or without engraved floral design) or D Amara (Navy Blue, with or without engraved floral design).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Pocket Steel Tongue Drums
Super cute Steel Tongue Drums that can become your constand companion due to their pocket size of only 3" (about 7.6 cm). The six circularly arranged tongues are tuned to A Major and produce joyful and soothing sounds. For an appealing look, the engraved design elements on the top (choose from Lotus Flower, Om, and Venus Flower).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Pocket Steel Tongue Drums
Super cute Steel Tongue Drums that can become your constand companion due to their pocket size of only 3" (about 7.6 cm). The six circularly arranged tongues are tuned to A Major and produce joyful and soothing sounds. For an appealing look, the engraved design elements on the top (choose from Lotus Flower, Om, and Venus Flower).
Meinl Sonic Energy
Pocket Steel Tongue Drums
Super cute Steel Tongue Drums that can become your constand companion due to their pocket size of only 3" (about 7.6 cm). The six circularly arranged tongues are tuned to A Major and produce joyful and soothing sounds. For an appealing look, the engraved design elements on the top (choose from Lotus Flower, Om, and Venus Flower).
