Steel Drum

Steel drums are often called steel pans and the musicians who play them are called pannists. The steel drum is a musical instrument originating from Trinidad and Tobago.

Because the steel drum was used by African slaves to communicate with each other, the British colonial government adopted a law which forbade the use of steel drums and the activity called drumming in general. African slaves would also be drumming during Mardi Gras, together with the French who had brought this tradition to the island. Little by little steel drums developed into Tamboo-Bamboos made of bamboo wood and then entire Tamboo-Bamboo bands were formed.

In the beginning steel drums were being made out of used oil barrels. They were between 0.8 and 1.5 mm thick. Nowadays they are made from sheets of metal that are stretched and shaped as a bowl. Like any instrument, the steel drum must be tuned. After it's been used for a long time or after lack of use for a longer period of time it can become out of tune too. The note pattern is usually marked on the surface of the steel pan. The notes can be of different shapes and sizes and they are carefully molded into the surface. After tempering them, the notes are usually softened and tuned. This is the initial tuning. Then someone who is a technician will take care of the sensitive part of the tuning so that the playing areas of the drum are softened enough to make it possible for the player to reach the desired pitch. It is quite complicated and it requires a great deal of skill.

The steel drum is now spread to all corners of the world and this instrument is used by bands which play various kinds of music, not just by steel drum bands. For instance, in the U.S. , the steel drum can even be found in use when it comes to playing country music. The steel drum is often used when playing bluegrass music.