How to Hit Steel Drums

The steel drum was invented in Trinidad in the 1930s, and while it may look simple, it is a very complicated instrument. The metal drum has several distinct grooves. Each groove creates a specific pitch. Being able to properly hit a steel drum requires a delicate touch and a little practice.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Steel drums
• Rubber-tipped sticks

1. Tap your drum gently around all its various grooves and divots. If your drum is properly tuned, each will produce a different tone. Familiarize yourself with all the characteristics of your drum's sound.

2. Pick one spot on the drum and experiment with your volume level. There will be a level somewhere between the almost inaudible level from gently tapping and the dissonant quality of hitting too hard. This middle ground is where you should always hit the drum.

3. Find the proper level at which to hit your steel drum. Playing your steel drum too hard can cause serious damage to the instrument. Unlike most traditional instruments, there is no way to get a loud volume and a clear sound by striking the drum too hard. There is a level at which the drum will sound proper by hitting it. Find this level and do not go passed it.

4. Inform your fellow players of your volume limitations if you are playing your steel drums in a group. This ensures that the group's sound is even and the steel drum is not lost in the mix.

Tips & Warnings

• Use drum sticks designed for the steel drum. These should have a very soft tip, usually rubber. Using any hard stick can cause permanent damage to your drum.
• Over playing your steel drum can cause it to go out of tune. Unlike a traditional drum, which can be tuned by the player using a tuning key, the steel drum must be pounded back into tune, which can be costly and possibly cause long-term damage to the drum.