Steel Pan Magic: How It's Made

The steelpan, also known as a pan, steel drum, or steel orchestra, is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. It is played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber, with the size and type of rubber tip varying according to the class of pan being played. Some musicians use four pansticks, holding two in each hand. The steelpan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and is played in steelbands or steel orchestras.

Steel pan creation

Steelpans, also known as steel drums, are musical instruments that originated in Trinidad and Tobago and are considered the national instrument of the country. Steelpans are made from 55-gallon industrial drums and are played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber. The instrument has roots in the talking drums of West African cultures, which were used for long-distance communication.

The modern steelpan was developed in the early to mid-1900s, though its roots go back much earlier. In the 18th century, enslaved people from West Africa brought to Trinidad were deliberately separated from their tribes and forbidden to speak their native languages, in an attempt to erase their traditions. However, they persevered and held underground Carnivals, incorporating masks, feathers, beads, and drumming.

In the 1930s, steelpans began to emerge as frying pans, dustbin lids, and oil drums. They gained popularity in the 1940s and are now a major part of the Trinidadian music scene. The first all-steel band, Alexander's Ragtime Band, was formed in 1939, and by 1940, steelpans had become the preferred carnival accompaniment for young, underprivileged men. The Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) was the first steelband to perform internationally, introducing steelpan and a new music genre to the world at the 1951 Festival of Britain.

Steel pan tuning

Tuning a steel pan is a complex process that requires a lot of skill. It involves softening the metal, adjusting the pitch and timbre, and blending the pan with the other instruments in the steel band. Here is a detailed guide on steel pan tuning:

Coarse Tuning:

The first step in tuning a steel pan is called coarse tuning. This involves softening the metal of the notes and adjusting them to the correct pitch. The tuner uses a hammer to soften the metal by hitting the notes up and down several times. The size and weight of the hammer depends on the size of the notes being tuned. For notes larger than 15 cm, a heavy hammer (about 2 kg) with a large, rounded head is used. For notes between 8 and 15 cm, a lighter hammer (less than 1 kg) with a plastic head is used. Finally, for notes smaller than 8 cm, an ordinary hammer with a rounded head is used.

During the coarse tuning process, the tuner also needs to adjust the timbre or the "colour" of the sound. This is done by controlling the fundamental pitch and the upper partials (harmonics) independently. The tuner listens to the sound of each note and adjusts it to achieve the desired timbre.

Fine Tuning:

The second step is fine tuning, which involves making adjustments to the pitch and timbre while the pan is hanging in its playing position. Fine-tuning is done using a tuning stick or a small hammer and a rubber-tipped tuning stick. The tuning stick may be a regular playing stick, but sometimes a heavier and harder stick is used to generate more harmonics. The tuner alternates between tapping the notes with the hammer and the stick to hear the sound and make the necessary adjustments.

Blending:

The final step in the tuning process is blending, where the pan is finely tuned to produce accurately pitched notes. The pan is also blended with the other pans in the steel band to match the tonal quality and pitches of the other instruments. This step is done using special tuning hammers to tap both the underside and tops of the notes until the correct pitch and timbre are achieved.

It is important to note that steel pans need to be tuned regularly, as frequent use will cause them to go out of tune over time. It is recommended to contact a trained professional for tuning and maintenance to ensure the best sound quality and longevity of the instrument.

Steel pan history

The steel pan, also known as the steel drum, emerged in the 1930s on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. However, its history can be traced back to the enslaved Africans who were brought to Trinidad during the 1700s. They carried with them elements of their African culture, including the playing of hand drums, which became the main percussion instruments in the annual Trinidadian carnival festivities.

In 1877, the British government banned the playing of drums in an effort to suppress aspects of Carnival that were considered offensive. To circumvent this, bamboo stamping tubes, or tamboo bamboo, were used as a replacement for the hand drums as they produced similar sounds when pounded on the ground. These tubes were played in ensembles called tamboo bamboo bands, which also incorporated non-traditional instruments like scrap metal, metal containers, graters, and dustbins.

By the 1930s, these metal instruments dominated the tamboo bamboo bands, and the bamboo tubes were eventually replaced by metal instruments. These early metal pan bands were a rustic combination of various metallic containers and kitchen utensils. Players discovered that the raised areas of the metal containers produced different sounds compared to the flat areas. Through experimentation and ingenuity, the metal pan bands evolved into the steel pan family of instruments.

Several innovators have made significant contributions to the development of the steel pan. Winston 'Spree' Simon is credited with creating the first 'melody pan', which could accommodate an entire melody. Ellie Mannette is known for being the first to wrap the playing sticks with rubber and to sink the surface of the pan into a concave shape, allowing for more pitches. Anthony Williams designed the "spider web pan", which is tuned in a cycle of fourths and fifths and is now the most popular design for tenor pans.

The steel pan faced social stigma when it first emerged as it was associated with the lower classes, violence, and hooliganism. However, over time, the stigma eroded, and the steel pan gained acceptance and respect. It is now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and is a source of great pride for its citizens.

Steel pan standardisation

The standardisation of steel pans has been a complex issue due to the variety of playing styles, tunings, and instrument shapes that have developed over time. Ellie Mannette, for example, pioneered many standard instrumental components of the steel band, but her instruments suffered from what Boldon describes as a "structural weakness": the lack of structural relationship between different types of instrument. This meant that players had to learn each instrument from scratch, even if they were already proficient on another type of steel pan.

In the same article, Boldon proposes that Anthony Williams' "spider web" lead pan should be used as the standardised model for the soprano instrument, due to its advantages in terms of consistency of movement and ease of teaching. Boldon also suggests that Ed Peters' model, which builds on Williams' design, could be used as the logical instrument to follow in a standardised set of steel pans. Peters' model addresses some of the structural weaknesses of previous designs and allows for greater consistency in hand movements when playing different scales, modes, or melodic lines.

Despite these proposals, the standardisation of steel pans remains a challenging task due to the evolving nature of the instrument and the resistance from some players and enthusiasts who argue that "any pan is a pan, [and] a good player can play any type". Additionally, the standardisation process has been slowed by the lack of support from the Trinidadian government, which has not actively promoted the steel pan art form on a global scale.

In conclusion, while there have been calls for standardisation in the steel pan community for several decades, the complex nature of the instrument and the variety of playing styles and tunings have hindered the process. Nonetheless, proposals for standardised models, such as those put forward by Boldon, could serve as a starting point for further discussion and development in the standardisation of steel pans.

Steel pan playing

Playing the steel pan, also known as the steel drum, is a fun and rewarding pursuit. The steel pan is a pitched percussion instrument played by striking its metal surface with beaters. It is an instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago and was traditionally made from oil drums. Modern steel pans are made from high-quality steel.

Setting up the Steel Pan

To get the best sound, it is important to set up the steel pan correctly. The pan should be hung at approximately waist height. This will allow you to play the instrument comfortably and facilitate good playing technique and musical creativity. If the pan is too low, you may have to bend over, causing an ache in your waist and feet. If it is too high, you may lose the natural position of your arms, inhibiting effective playing.

You should stand with both feet firmly planted and your weight evenly balanced between them. Standing with most of your weight on one foot may cause that foot to ache if you play for an extended period. You should also ensure that you are not standing too close or too far from the pan. Your elbows should be kept slightly away from your body so that you can move freely and reach all the notes without your body resting against the pan.

Holding the Mallet

Learning how to grip the mallet correctly is also vital. Different pannists use different techniques according to their preference, but generally, the mallet is held between the thumb and the first joint of the index finger. The remaining fingers are then wrapped lightly around the shaft so that the fingertips gently touch the palm of the hand. Only about half an inch of the end of the stick should protrude below the little finger.

The grip should be fairly loose, but when playing the smaller, higher-pitched notes, the grip should be tightened to maintain the intensity of the sound. The mallets are held the same way in each hand.

Playing the Steel Pan

There are two main strokes used for playing the steel pan: the piston stroke and the flick. For both strokes, the mallet must be moved by the wrist and allowed to rebound off the pan immediately after the hit.

The piston stroke is a down-up hit, where the wrist moves up and then allows the mallet to bounce back up to the starting position.

For the flick, the wrist moves from left to right. The wrist is flicked backward and then rebounds as it aligns with the normal position.

To create a rolling sound that sustains the tone of the steel pan, rapidly alternate between piston and flick strokes. They should be played evenly and quickly. This is probably the most important technique to master to produce the classic steel pan sound.

Tips for Playing

• Keep your hands close to the playing surface at all times.
• Keep your elbows at or a little above waist level.
• Avoid shuffling your feet from side to side while playing. If you have difficulty accessing a note, keep your feet firmly planted and pivot slightly from the waist towards the note.
• When moving the stick from one note to another, keep your hands close to the playing surface so that the sticks appear to be gliding above the notes.
• To get the best sound, allow the notes of the steel pan to vibrate freely. This means that the duration of contact between the mallet and the notes must be as short as possible.
• To produce successive notes, try obtaining a book of scales and playing them on the steel pan.

Frequently asked questions