How to Play Arpeggios on Steel Drums

The steel drum is a unique percussion instrument. Drummers actually create melodic tones on its steel concavities. Playing the steel drums can be challenging, as players have to combine an instinct for rhythm with knowledge of melody and harmony. The arpeggio is one classic riff on steel drums that demonstrates this dual ability: its four tones represent a major chord across one octave. Here's how to play an arpeggio on a steel drum set.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Pick a key. For any arpeggio, or any melodic structure, you need a key. Named for a first scale note, the key regulates what tones are used within the scale. For the key of C, your major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C, with the second C being the octave note.

2. Find your arpeggio "recipe." For any arpeggio built from a major scale, you'll include the first, third and fifth scale notes as well as the octave. These are the notes you'll be playing on your steel drums.

3. Locate these notes on your steel drum set. You may have to switch between two steel drum units to get all four notes. Most new sets have the notes somehow marked on them; if not, you'll have to go by memory.

4. Play each of the four notes in a quick sequence, and you'll hear the arpeggio sound, a quick scale skipping the dormant scale notes. The sound may be familiar.

5. Try a reverse or double arpeggio by playing back down the abbreviated scale.