15-Note Tongue Drum

You can find sheet music for this format featuring themes from “Titanic,” “Moon River,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and “Spirited Away.” In “Spirited Away,” the melody moves through all the notes in the middle register before descending into the lower octave. The “Titanic” theme has you play the low notes in the verse before moving into the high register for the chorus. Pay attention to the leap between the middle and upper octaves. “Moon River,” a waltz in 3/4 time, also calls for a large leap from low to high notes. For “Spirited Away,” keep the rhythm smooth and flowing from start to finish.

In some sheet music, a ° symbol or an asterisk replaces the octave dot. Sometimes, an apostrophe next to a number indicates the note above, while a comma indicates the note below. You may also see notes written as letters from C to B, sometimes followed by an octave number such as D4 or D5.

Not every arrangement uses all 15 tongues. You can play pieces such as “Ode to Joy” and “Amazing Grace” with just 6 tongues, while “Remember Me” and “A Sky Full of Stars” require 14. Before you begin, check that the numbers and octave dots in the sheet music correspond to notes on your drum.

Yes. For an adult beginner, we think it offers an excellent balance of ease of play and room to grow.

With 15 tongues, you’ll need a little time to memorise where each one is and play the scale without hesitation. Once you do, you’ll be able to tackle many songs.

Some 15-note tongue drums measure 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) in diameter and weigh up to 3.5 kg (7 lb 11.5 oz). Weight varies even at the same diameter: among drums measuring 32 cm (12.6 in), it ranges from 2.5 kg (5 lb 8.2 oz) to 3.3 kg (7 lb 4.4 oz).

To bring out the small, high-pitched tongues on a 15-note tongue drum, strike the centre of each tongue for a clearer sound. Striking near the edge produces a softer sound. Be careful: depending on the drum, a strike on the shell next to a tongue can produce high-pitched overtones that clash with the other notes. To judge a high note, cover the other tongues and play it on its own. A good high note rings clearly.

Yes, absolutely. That’s how arrangements for this format are designed: the low notes provide the accompaniment, while the high notes carry the melody. Your left hand can play the low accompaniment notes (3, 2, and 1) while your right hand plays the melody in the high register on 1, 2, and 3, each marked with a dot above it.

You can add a bass note on the low 1 or 5 with your left hand without interrupting the melody in your right hand, as in “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” A 15-tongue drum also lets you play chords that add depth to your songs. On some drums, three adjacent tongues form a chord you can play with one hand.