You may have never heard of steel tongue drums, but it’s an instrument you can enjoy hearing as you play it. There are plenty of percussion instruments, but in terms of the many tones and sounds steel tongue drums can produce, it’s one of the most versatile drum types.
Moreover, these drums are often used for spiritual journeys and meditation. That said, finding a good steel tongue drum that doesn’t bottom out your bank account is easier said than done.
We will review one particular steel tongue drum that is affordable, durable, good-looking, and sounds excellent.
Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum
The Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum is a moderately sized 12-inch drum with 12 tongues. In terms of beginner-friendly instruments, it is up there with the best of them.
Not only is a drum like this easy to play, but it’s also very versatile. If you are looking for a steel tongue drum that is high in quality but won’t cost a lot, this could be a drum for you.
Who is This Product For?
The really cool thing about steel tongue drums like the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum is that they can be used by different people and for many purposes.
As mentioned before, these are very beginner-friendly instruments because each of the tongues is labeled, easy to hit, and it’s easy to produce tones.
Moreover, steel tongue drums can guide you on spiritual journeys, help you meditate, create awesome music, and more. If you like music and percussion specifically, this is a great instrument to check out.
What’s Included?
When you purchase the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum, besides the drum itself, you get a pair of mallets, a mallet bracket, a music book, an alternate scale sticker, and a padded travel bag. For the relatively low price, you get a good deal of value.
Overview of Features
The Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum is made out of high-quality steel, which has many benefits.
First off, steel is excellent in producing vibrations and loud sounds, so you can be pretty sure that this drum should be relatively loud. Moreover, steel is quite durable and can resist impacts, dents, and cracks alike, and it shouldn’t rust.
Although the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum is made out of durable steel, it’s still not too heavy. This drum is 12 inches in diameter; it weighs just 7 pounds, which is not too heavy. It’s not the most portable item, but it’s not too bad either.
In terms of producing loud and accurate tones, the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum has 13 tongues, which can play 13 different notes on the C-major scale.
It is also worth noting is that the tongues on this drum are cut very well, which results in accurate tonal reproduction.
The tongues are all labeled, which makes playing a bit easier for beginners. Finally, the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum comes with 3 small silicone feet to keep the drum steady and stable as you play.
Tutorial
While playing a steel tongue drum like this is relatively easy, it still helps to have some guidance. Here we have included a tutorial video on how to get started with your steel tongue drum.
We have also included a tutorial video on playing a steel tongue drum with your hands.
Pros
- Quite durable
- Rust resistant
- Very easy to play
- 13 notes
- Not too large
- Feet for stability
- Good price
Cons
- The silicone feet are not overly durable
- Slight metallic rattle if you hit it wrong
Alternatives
Suppose the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum is not large enough for you. In that case, something larger with many more tones that can be played is the Rakumi Steel Tongue Drum.
On the other hand, if you would like something smaller and more portable, maybe something ideal for kids, this Regis Steel Tongue Drum would be an excellent option to consider.
Conclusion
Suppose you are looking for an affordable percussion instrument that is user-friendly and can be used for basic musical, religious, and spiritual purposes. In that case, the Happybuy Steel Tongue Drum is an excellent option to consider.
It’s durable, a good size, relatively loud, it can accurately produce many tones, easy to play, and is reasonably priced. It’s one of the better steel tongue drums, and we would recommend checking it out.