Tongue Drum for Adults

Q: What size tongue drum should an adult choose?

As a guideline for your first instrument, we recommend a size of 10 to 14 in (25 to 35 cm). This is the size adults choose most often, and its tongues are large enough to strike without hitting an adjacent one. It rests comfortably on an adult’s lap. Its full, sustained tone makes it a good choice if you plan to practice regularly. Larger models, however, are best kept at home unless you carry them in a sturdy case.

Q: Can you play an adult tongue drum with your bare hands?

Yes, an adult tongue drum can be played with bare hands or mallets. Playing with your hands produces a softer sound. On a large drum, the tongues are wide enough and spaced far enough apart that you can touch them with your fingers without hitting an adjacent one.Playing with your hands does require a brief strike that lets the tongue vibrate, and it generally takes a few weeks of practice to master. If you’re just starting out, you could begin with mallets before switching to your hands once you know where to strike each tongue.

Q: How should you position yourself to play a large tongue drum for long periods?

To play a large tongue drum for long periods, position it at a height where both hands can reach it without raising your shoulders.Adjustable stands let you play while standing or sitting on a chair or meditation cushion. They support the instrument at just a few points so it can vibrate, while soft pads protect its shell. If you have a heavy model, a sturdy stand will keep it in place without muffling the sound or letting the instrument fall, while keeping it within easy reach and ready to play. Once you’re set up, relax your shoulders and keep your arms at a natural angle.

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Our collection of tongue drums for adults features large steel tongue drums sized and designed for adult players. Their wide diameters produce deep, sustained notes, and their well-spaced tongues can be played with your fingers or mallets. Most models also come in a variety of colors, including black, gold, bronze, silver, navy blue, green, purple, and red.

Best seller

Major Scale Tongue Drum

15 notes C Major 14 in

$379

Tongue drum tuned to 432 Hz

13 notes C Major 12 in

$289

Expert pick

Steel Tongue Drum 440 Hz

15 notes C Major 14 in

$329

Expert pick

Tank drum April Yang

15 notes C Major 14 in

$399

Hank drum

15 notes C Major 14 in

$389

April Yang Tongue Drum

15 notes D Major 14 in

$389

$369

Smart choice

Tongue Drum Percussion

15 notes D Major 14 in

$319

Tank Drum Instrument

13 notes C Major 12 in

$289

Tongue Drum for Music Therapy

15 notes D Major 12 in

$359

15-Note Tank Drum

15 notes C Major 14 in

$389

15 notes C Major 12 in

$319

Vibe drum

15 notes D Major 14 in

$369

Large Tongue Drum

15 notes C Major 14 in

$379

Steel Tongue Drum Relaxation

15 notes C Major 14 in

$359

Tank Drum Tongue Drum

13 notes C Major 12 in

$349

Tank drum Hluru

15 notes D Major 14 in

$379

Steel Tongue Drum Percussion

13 notes C Major 14 in

$369

Zen Tongue Drum

13 notes C Major 12 in

$299

Original Tongue Drum

15 notes C Major 14 in

$599

Blue Tongue Drum

15 notes C Major 14 in

$379

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Can an adult with no musical experience learn to play the tongue drum?

A smiling adult woman playing a tongue drum at home

Yes, an adult can learn to play the tongue drum without any prior musical experience, thanks to numbered sheet music. In most cases, the tongues carry numbers that correspond to the sheet music, so you won’t need to learn traditional music notation. You will still need to practice the order of the notes and the rhythm to play an entire tune: the dots above or below the numbers matter just as much as sustain marks and rests. Stickers and tongue layouts also vary by brand. Two similar-looking models may not use the same sheet music, so check that the numbers on your instrument match those on your sheet music.

For your first few practice sessions, take your time locating two or three tongues that appear often in your sheet music. Strike one lightly, then lift the mallet immediately to let it ring. A short, dull sound often means the mallet stayed on the tongue. Next, slowly alternate between two tongues. If the rhythm is difficult, clap or count quietly before following the beat on a single tongue. Focusing on one thing at a time will help you tell whether you’re having trouble finding the right tongue or keeping the rhythm. Set yourself a small goal, such as playing a short phrase rather than an entire piece.

For many adults, fear of playing poorly delays their first steps into music. Take your time and move at your own pace.

What sets an adult tongue drum apart?

At 12 or 14 in (30 or 35 cm) in diameter, you enter the category of very large models, which offer the deepest sound and longest resonance. A note can last 5 to 7 seconds on these instruments. Musicians therefore tend to choose them for meditation, sound baths, or live performances, where they are best played on a table or stand. On a large 15-note model in C major, the scale may span two octaves. Cutting many tongues into a small drum, by contrast, would leave them narrow and close together. The steel between them would no longer be wide enough to isolate each frequency, and striking one tongue could make its neighbors vibrate enough to muddy the sound. Our selection includes models tuned to 440 Hz or 432 Hz, in C, D, and even E.

You may also want to combine several instruments, such as a large drum and a smaller one with higher notes. A stand will let you play them together.

A woman playing a tongue drum with mallets in the evening

What size tongue drum should an adult choose?

As a guideline for your first instrument, we recommend a size of 10 to 14 in (25 to 35 cm). This is the size adults choose most often, and its tongues are large enough to strike without hitting an adjacent one. It rests comfortably on an adult’s lap. Its full, sustained tone makes it a good choice if you plan to practice regularly. Larger models, however, are best kept at home unless you carry them in a sturdy case.

What benefits can adults get from playing a tongue drum?

Many adults bring out this instrument during yoga or a sound journey. Others use it to create music alone or in a group. Played with the fingertips, it remains soft and quiet enough for evening practice in an apartment. Even with mallets, which produce a louder, clearer sound, its volume remains much lower than that of a drum set or a skin-headed drum, so it will generally cause little disturbance to your neighbors.

What affects the price of an adult tongue drum?

Diameter has a much greater effect on the price of an adult tongue drum than the number of tongues. At 12 in (30 cm) in diameter, the price difference between models with 9 and 15 tongues remains very small.

Special tunings are more common on high-end instruments, while included accessories such as mallets, note stickers, a booklet, or a stand affect the price only slightly.

Can you play an adult tongue drum with your bare hands?

Yes, an adult tongue drum can be played with bare hands or mallets. Playing with your hands produces a softer sound. On a large drum, the tongues are wide enough and spaced far enough apart that you can touch them with your fingers without hitting an adjacent one.

Playing with your hands does require a brief strike that lets the tongue vibrate, and it generally takes a few weeks of practice to master. If you’re just starting out, you could begin with mallets before switching to your hands once you know where to strike each tongue.

How should you position yourself to play a large tongue drum for long periods?

To play a large tongue drum for long periods, position it at a height where both hands can reach it without raising your shoulders.

Adjustable stands let you play while standing or sitting on a chair or meditation cushion. They support the instrument at just a few points so it can vibrate, while soft pads protect its shell. If you have a heavy model, a sturdy stand will keep it in place without muffling the sound or letting the instrument fall, while keeping it within easy reach and ready to play. Once you’re set up, relax your shoulders and keep your arms at a natural angle.