Tongue Drum History
The tongue drum is one of the oldest instruments in human history. For thousands of years, the people of Africa, Asia and South America have used it in everyday life. Early tongue drums were made from hollow trees, which people would hit with sticks to create percussive tones.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identification
-
The tongue drum is an idiophone, which produces sound from the material of the instrument itself, without reeds, strings or other external resonators.
Function
-
Throughout its use in early African history, people used the tongue drum for storytelling and as a "battle cry" instrument in warfare. Now it is used primarily for entertainment.
-
Features
-
Tongue drums can be played with mallets or even the tips of your fingers. Today, they are usually tuned to Western tunings. For example, a four-note tuning may include the notes E, B, D, E.
Cost
-
The cost of a tongue drum ranges from about $100 to about $600. Generally speaking, the more notes a drum has, the higher the price.
Famous Ties
-
Lyle Workman, a touring musician with Sting and Beck, plays the tongue drum.
-
References
- Photo Credit Willapalens: Flickr.com
