13-Note Tongue Drum

Q: How do you read numbered sheet music for a 13-note tongue drum?

To read numbered sheet music, simply match each number on the page to the tongue bearing the same number on your instrument. This notation uses the numbers 1 through 7 for each octave of the diatonic scale. The number 1 represents the tonic—C on a model tuned to C major—while 2 represents D and 3 represents E. The remaining numbers follow the same pattern.Because the instrument has more than seven tongues, a dot is added above or below certain numbers to indicate a higher or lower octave. On a model tuned to C major, the three low notes are generally numbered 5, 6, and 7; the middle notes, 1 through 7; and the high notes, 1, 2, and 3. The dot lets you distinguish low G from middle G. Tuning changes the pitch you hear, but it does not change how you read the numbers: a 1 on the page still refers to tongue 1.Some sheet music also uses letter names for notes. In this system, C represents the tonic of C major. A number after the letter indicates the octave, so a 13-note tongue drum tuned to C major generally ranges from G3 (low G) to E5 (high E), with C4 starting the middle octave.

Q: Can you play chords on a 13-note tongue drum?

Yes. A 12 in (305 mm), 13-note tongue drum lets you play accompaniment chords alongside your melodies. On a model tuned to C major, one hand can play a bass line on the low notes while the other plays the melody. To start, try simple chords such as 1-5 or 1-6, preferably on the strong beats.With 13 tongues, you can also play a note together with its octave. On a model tuned to C major, G, A, and B are generally available in both the low and middle registers, while C, D, and E appear in both the middle and high registers. Playing a note with its octave produces a richer sound without making the arrangement too busy.

Q: What key is a 13-note tongue drum tuned to?

A 13-note tongue drum is generally tuned to C major. In fact, every drum in our selection is tuned to C. On such an instrument, you’ll typically find three low notes starting with low G, followed by the seven notes from C to B in the middle register, then high C, D, and E.If you have a 13-note tongue drum and don’t know its tuning, there’s a good chance it’s tuned to C major. Simply compare its notes with this list to check.

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The 13-note tongue drum offers a full octave plus a few lower and higher notes to enrich every melody you play. Typically measuring 12 in (30 cm) in diameter, it produces sounds that resonate for many seconds. Tuned to C, these tongue drums are available in stainless steel or a steel-titanium alloy, in colors ranging from black to gold.

Tongue drum tuned to 432 Hz

C Major 12 in Stainless Steel

$289

Tank Drum Instrument

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$289

Tank Drum Tongue Drum

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$349

Steel Tongue Drum Percussion

C Major 14 in 440 Hz

$369

Zen Tongue Drum

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$299

Tongue drum 30 cm

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$299

13-Note Steel Tongue Drum

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$319

12-Inch Tongue Drum

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$319

Ethereal Steel Tongue Drum

C Major 12 in 440 Hz

$319

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What does a 13-note tongue drum offer over an 11-note model?

Rear view of a woman playing a 13-note tongue drum

With a 13-note tongue drum, you gain low and high notes around a complete middle octave. On a model tuned to C major, that usually means three low notes below the seven middle notes and three high notes above them, spanning low G to high E.

This range lets you play songs with a wider range without cutting a musical phrase short because a note is missing. Still, most tunes in a songbook written for this format can also be played on an 11-note model. That model is more minimalist. The two extra tongues give you more options for transitions and accompaniment without making the instrument more complex. If you want an even wider range, a 15-note model provides one, though you’ll need to learn where to find more tongues.

Which songs can you play in full on a 13-note tongue drum?

Your instrument lets you play several hundred songs, including many tunes in their entirety: “Scarborough Fair,” “Bella Ciao,” “Drunken Sailor,” “Molly Malone,” “Waltzing Matilda,” and the Largo from the New World Symphony. A songbook designed for beginners brings together 77 tunes playable on any C major tongue drum with 13 or more notes. To get started, you’ll also find arrangements of “Ode to Joy,” “Edelweiss,” “Hallelujah,” “Jingle Bells,” “Amazing Grace,” “Moon River,” and Brahms’s Lullaby. Most are within reach of a beginner. In the arrangements written for this drum, “Castle in the Sky” uses both high E and low A, making it an ideal tune for the instrument. “Hallelujah” moves into the low register for the verse, then rises into the high register for the chorus.

Close-up of a person playing a 13-note tongue drum with their hands

How do you read numbered sheet music for a 13-note tongue drum?

To read numbered sheet music, simply match each number on the page to the tongue bearing the same number on your instrument. This notation uses the numbers 1 through 7 for each octave of the diatonic scale. The number 1 represents the tonic—C on a model tuned to C major—while 2 represents D and 3 represents E. The remaining numbers follow the same pattern.

Because the instrument has more than seven tongues, a dot is added above or below certain numbers to indicate a higher or lower octave. On a model tuned to C major, the three low notes are generally numbered 5, 6, and 7; the middle notes, 1 through 7; and the high notes, 1, 2, and 3. The dot lets you distinguish low G from middle G. Tuning changes the pitch you hear, but it does not change how you read the numbers: a 1 on the page still refers to tongue 1.

Some sheet music also uses letter names for notes. In this system, C represents the tonic of C major. A number after the letter indicates the octave, so a 13-note tongue drum tuned to C major generally ranges from G3 (low G) to E5 (high E), with C4 starting the middle octave.

Is a 13-note tongue drum a good first instrument?

Yes. It’s a great first instrument for beginners and experienced musicians alike. Numbered notation helps you start playing your first songs quickly, and even a beginner can play a 12 in (30 cm) drum by following a songbook. For an even quicker start, the 6-note tongue drum remains the simplest format.

With 13 tongues, you’ll need to remember where each note is to play up and down the scale. The set of stickers included with several of our models can be applied to the tongues to help you remember their positions.

Can you play chords on a 13-note tongue drum?

Yes. A 12 in (305 mm), 13-note tongue drum lets you play accompaniment chords alongside your melodies. On a model tuned to C major, one hand can play a bass line on the low notes while the other plays the melody. To start, try simple chords such as 1-5 or 1-6, preferably on the strong beats.

With 13 tongues, you can also play a note together with its octave. On a model tuned to C major, G, A, and B are generally available in both the low and middle registers, while C, D, and E appear in both the middle and high registers. Playing a note with its octave produces a richer sound without making the arrangement too busy.

What diameter and weight should you expect from a 13-note tongue drum?

A 13-note tongue drum is generally 12 in (30 cm) in diameter; 12 inches is 305 millimeters. Instruments du Monde has selected models that weigh 5 lb 8 oz (2.5 kg).

There are also smaller 13-note models measuring 10 in (25 cm) in diameter. However, a drum advertised as having 13 tongues within a 6 in (15 cm) diameter should raise a red flag.

What key is a 13-note tongue drum tuned to?

A 13-note tongue drum is generally tuned to C major. In fact, every drum in our selection is tuned to C. On such an instrument, you’ll typically find three low notes starting with low G, followed by the seven notes from C to B in the middle register, then high C, D, and E.

If you have a 13-note tongue drum and don’t know its tuning, there’s a good chance it’s tuned to C major. Simply compare its notes with this list to check.