Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Mar 11, 2026
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Have you recently discovered a curious, flying-saucer-shaped instrument called a tongue drum and want to learn more about where it comes from? When was it created, and by whom? What are the surprising origins of the tongue drum?
I’ve known about this instrument for more than 10 years, and I asked myself the exact same questions you’re asking today. After a lot of research, I finally found clear answers, and I’m happy to share them with you in this article.
The tongue drum is a percussion instrument invented in 2007 by American Dennis Havlena. He ran a series of musical experiments, drawing inspiration from other existing instruments, and eventually arrived at the model we know today.
Once you’ve read these few lines, you’ll know:
- Where the tongue drum comes from and its history
- Who invented this instrument and in what context
- Why this object was named the tongue drum
- What other names it has been given
You’ll learn everything there is to know about the origins of this mysterious musical instrument, with its soft, mesmerizing sounds.
Now it’s time to explore the origins of the tongue drum.
Where does the tongue drum come from? What is its history?
Like most modern musical instruments, the tongue drum was inspired by other, much older instruments. Let’s take a look at which ones.
The slit drum, an ancient instrument related to the tongue drum
The history of the tongue drum can be traced back to the slit drum, an instrument crafted from a hollowed-out tree trunk with carved slits. By striking the trunk, the musician produced a sound that could vary depending on where they struck it, much like a tongue drum. It seems that the slit drum was invented in several different places around the world, as traces have been found in Africa, the Philippines, Polynesia, and also among the ancient Aztec people in what is now Mexico. It was then called "teponaztli." That makes this instrument at least 500 years old. Even so, it’s still played today by enthusiasts who keep their cultural heritage alive, as in the video below:
Today, slit drums have evolved considerably and offer musicians even more acoustic possibilities. They are called log drum or wood drum, and the wood is now shaped to include tongues, similar to those on a tongue drum, so players can produce several distinct notes. However, they still retain the characteristic of being made entirely of wood. You can see an overview of the log drum below:
The introduction of metal with the invention of the Whale Drum
It wasn’t until 1990 that Jim Doble, an American, had the idea of creating a kind of slit drum, but made of metal using large gas cylinders. He cut shapes of different sizes directly into the cylinder to obtain different sounds. Because the instrument was very large, the tones it produced were deep and powerful, with lots of resonance. This voice-like sound reminded Jim of whale calls, inspiring him to name his creation the "Whale Drum."
Unlike the tongue drum, it wasn’t tuned to specific notes. The "Whale Drum" was mainly used in kindergartens, where it was left out for free play to entertain young children. You can listen to a prototype of this instrument in the video below:
The handpan, a distant cousin of the tongue drum
In 1999, Swiss couple Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer unveiled a brand new instrument of their own creation called the "Hang drum" or "handpan," which they began marketing in 2001. It consists of two convex shells that have been welded together to form a flying saucer-shaped object that is struck with the hands to produce sounds.
As we’ll see later, the handpan was the catalyst that led to the creation of the tongue drum. These two instruments are very similar, but they should not be confused. The main difference is that on the "Hang drum," no cuts were made in the steel shell. Instead, it was hammered until the desired sound effect was achieved. If you’d like to explore all the differences between the tongue drum and the handpan, check out this article. Finally, for comparison, watch the video below of a handpan player.
The instrument most similar to the tongue drum: the Tambiro
In 2005, musician, percussionist, and inventor Fellé Vega, born in the Dominican Republic, unveiled a unique instrument he called the "Tambiro." It is a small gas bottle with notches of different sizes cut into it so that when the musician strikes it with their hands, a different sound is produced by each notch. The Tambiro was never commercially released, but it is very similar to the tongue drum. You can see Fellé Vega demonstrate the instrument in the video below:
When and by whom was the tongue drum invented?
Finally, we come to the tongue drum, which is credited to Dennis Havlena, an American, in 2007. At that time, Havlena was fascinated by the handpan, the Swiss instrument we discussed earlier. However, there was a problem. Although the handpan had been on the market since 2001, its inventors had not anticipated the enormous success it would enjoy. At first, a handpan sold for around $400, but the price quickly climbed. What’s more, Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer asked prospective handpan buyers to write a short letter explaining their interest, as demand far exceeded supply.
Dennis Havlena recounts an anecdote in which he saw a handpan for sale on eBay for around $10,000 and, unable to afford such a sum, set out to make a more affordable instrument that would be just as satisfying to play. He first turned to Fellé Vega’s Tambiro, which he also redesigned in a slightly larger version—proof that this instrument served as the basis for the tongue drum:
Then, building on that idea, he drew inspiration from the handpan and placed the cutouts not around the side of the gas cylinder but on the bottom, opposite the regulator. After making precise cuts, he achieved eight distinct musical notes, more easily accessible than on the Tambiro, spread across two octaves. To fine-tune the instrument as accurately as possible, he had the idea of placing neodymium magnets under the cut-out shapes—a feature that still allows tongue drum players to adjust the tuning with magnets. The tongue drum was born, and its resemblance to the handpan is unmistakable. Here is the original video of Dennis Havlena’s prototype from February 2007:
Dennis Havlena believed in sharing knowledge, so he distributed the plans for his tongue drum free of charge on specialized forums and on his personal website. Because he did not file any patents, companies soon began producing them more professionally, with additional notes and eye-catching designs. Today, you can easily purchase a tongue drum without building one yourself from a gas cylinder—listen to the possibilities of a modern model below:
Why is this instrument called a tongue drum?
As you can see in the video of Dennis Havlena’s prototype below, the cuts made on the gas cylinder vaguely resemble the shape of a human tongue. As a result, the instrument is now known as a "tongue drum." In French, you could translate this as "tambour à langues," but in practice, French players usually stick with the name tongue drum.
It’s worth mentioning that some tongue drums now feature cutouts that no longer resemble tongues—they can be square, round, or even hexagonal. There’s no real acoustic difference; Dennis Havlena chose the original shape because it was the simplest to make with his limited resources.
What other names are given to the tongue drum?
In fact, tongue drum is not the first name given to this instrument by Dennis Havlena. He says that at first he wanted to call it "tank drum" in reference to the gas tank used in its design. During a conversation on a forum dedicated to handpans, a user with the pseudonym "Cheapbastid" suggested calling it a "hank drum." The word "hank" is a contraction of "Hang," another name for the handpan, and "tank."
On Dennis Havlena’s official website, it is still referred to as a "hank drum" and not a tongue drum. The latter name simply became more popular later on, as it better evokes the instrument, given that tongue drums are no longer made from gas bottles, but generally continue to have tongue-shaped cutouts.
Finally, it also appears that other names have been given to the tongue drum, either by the musicians themselves or by the various brands that wanted to stand out by finding a catchy name. As a result, you may also encounter terms such as vibe drum, zen drum, chakra drum, steel tongue drum, or tine drum. This list is far from exhaustive, as brands love getting creative with their naming.
Discover unique sounds by purchasing a tongue drum
The tongue drum is a musical instrument that is still relatively unknown to the general public. It’s rare to come across a musician who plays it, so it’s only natural to wonder where this enchanting-sounding instrument comes from. Now you know exactly where the tongue drum comes from, and you’ll be able to tell people precisely which other instruments it was inspired by. You can finally satisfy the curiosity of anyone who asks you this question.
However, while knowing the origins of the tongue drum is a great start, there’s nothing quite like playing one, feeling its vibrations travel through your body, and connecting with the instrument through its captivating melodies. Since tongue drums aren’t very common—and are often completely absent from typical music stores—the French company Instruments du Monde offers an 8-note tongue drum, similar to the one used by Dennis Havlena, complete with all the accessories you need to get started.
Get your 8-note tongue drum by clicking on the image below:
Not sure how to apply the stickers to the tongues of your tongue drum? Don’t worry—our dedicated guide on the topic will help you get through this important step with ease. We also recommend reading the complete guide to the tongue drum.
