Steel Pan: Musical Magic

The steel pan (also known as a pan, steel drum, or 'pan') is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s. It is a percussion instrument made from industrial drums, typically recycled from 55-gallon oil drums. The bottom of the oil drum is pounded into a bowl shape, and further shaping and tuning are done with hammers to create distinct sounds. The steel pan is played with hand-held, rubber-tipped sticks and is known for its use in calypso music. The steel pan has become an icon of Trinidadian culture and is now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

History of the steel pan

The steel pan (also known as the steel drum) is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s. However, its history can be traced back to the enslaved Africans who were brought to Trinidad and Tobago in the 1700s.

Enslaved Africans carried elements of their culture with them, including the playing of hand drums. These drums became the main percussion instruments in the annual Trinidadian carnival festivities. In 1877, the ruling British government banned the playing of drums in an effort to suppress aspects of Carnival that were considered offensive. Bamboo stamping tubes, or tamboo bamboo, were used to replace the hand drums as they produced a similar sound when struck. These tubes were played in ensembles called tamboo bamboo bands, which also included non-traditional instruments like scrap metal, metal containers, graters, biscuit tins, oil drums, and dustbins.

By the 1930s, these metal instruments dominated the tamboo bamboo bands, and the bamboo tubes were eventually abandoned and replaced by metal instruments. Metal pan players discovered that the raised areas of the metal containers produced a different sound to the flat areas. Through experimentation, the metal pan bands evolved into the steel pan family of instruments.

In 1939, the first all-steel band, Alexander's Ragtime Band, emerged, and by 1940 steel pans had become the preferred carnival accompaniment of young underprivileged men. The 55-gallon oil drum was used to make steel pans from around 1947. In 1951, the Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) attended the Festival of Britain, becoming the first steel band whose instruments were all made from oil drums. This was also the first time that steel pan music was heard in Britain, and it received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public.

Steel pans are now the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago and are a major part of the country's music scene. They are also popular in the Notting Hill Carnival in the UK, where they are one of the 'five key arts' of the festival.

How to make a steel pan

Steel pans, also known as steel drums, are musical instruments originating from Trinidad and Tobago. They are made from industrial drums, typically 55-gallon oil drums. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a steel pan:

Choosing the Right Oil Drum

Select an empty 55-gallon oil drum with a thickness of 1.2mm. Ensure the drum is made of mild steel and does not have any sharp dents or deep rust to facilitate a smooth playing surface.

Sinking the Oil Drum

Wear protective gear, including gloves, earmuffs, and a marker. Measure 26.6 cm from the rim of the oil drum towards the centre at several points. Using a compass, draw two concentric circles with radii of 10cm and 20cm from the centre. This divides the drum into three parts, making it easier to monitor the shaping process. Using a sledgehammer, start striking the drum along the outer circle, working your way towards the centre in a spiral pattern. Repeat this process until you achieve the desired depth.

Marking the Notes

Use a flexible ruler and a pen to mark the length of the outer notes along the rim of the oil drum. Draw lines from these marks towards the centre. Mark the inner border of the outer notes and draw elliptically-shaped inner notes pointing longitudinally towards the centre, maintaining a minimum distance of 1cm from their corresponding outer notes. Ensure proper placement, as this step cannot be reversed.

Counter-Sinking and Grooving

Use a metal punch and a hammer to create indentations along the marked inner borders of the outer notes, forming a continuous line. Repeat this process for the inner notes, ensuring they remain independent. This technique is known as grooving and helps create an area of 'dead' metal around each note, preventing sound interference.

Setting/Backing

Flatten the area between the notes again to remove any unevenness from the previous step. Measure the skirt (side) of the drum and remove any unwanted portions of the shell using an electric saw or a hammer and chisel. The length of the skirt depends on the type of pan being made and serves acoustic functions.

Tempering

Place the steel pan over a log fire for about 10 minutes, supporting it with bricks. Then, either let it cool naturally or quench it with cold water. Tempering helps the steel pan hold its tuning for longer.

Tuning

Use small tuning hammers to tap the underside and tops of the notes until the correct pitch is achieved. This is a complex process that requires a good musical ear or an electronic tuning device.

Applying a Protective Finish

Add a protective finish to the pan to prevent rusting and enhance its appearance. Common finishes include chrome plating, painting, powder coating, nickel plating, or hardening.

Fine-Tuning and Blending

Fine-tune the pan to ensure all the pitches are in harmony. Blend the pan with other instruments in the steelband to match the tonal quality and pitches. This process will need to be repeated periodically as the steel pan goes out of tune with frequent use.

Types of steel pans

The steel pan, also known as a steel drum, is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. It is typically made from recycled 55-gallon oil drums and played with rubber-tipped sticks. The steel pan family includes a wide range of instruments, each with a different pitch and role. Here are some of the most common types of steel pans:

Tenor Pan

Also known as the lead pan, soprano pan, or single tenor, the tenor pan is the most common type of steel pan and usually carries the melody. It has a pitch range of C4 to E6 or D4 to F6, depending on whether it is a low or high tenor. The tenor pan is played by a single person standing behind the instrument.

Double Tenor Pan

Invented by Bertie Marshall, the double tenor pan is made up of two steel pans with a mezzo-soprano range. The player stands between them, with both mounted on stands side by side. Its main functions include doubling or reinforcing the melody, playing the countermelody, and harmonizing. The pitch range of the double tenor pan is from F3 to C6, distributed between both pans.

Double Second Pan

The double second pan, invented by Ellie Mannette, has an alto range from F3 to C6 spread across two pans. The player stands in the middle of both pans, which are hung on two stands. The double second pan primarily plays the melody, countermelody, and harmony. It may also be used for strumming, depending on the arranger.

Guitar Pan

The guitar pan, invented by Johanathan Francis, is made up of two pans and is mainly used to provide harmonic support through strumming. It has a baritone range from C#3 to F#5 and the player stands in the middle of both pans.

Cello Pan

The cello pan, also invented by Ellie Mannette, is made up of three or four pans and has a baritone range from C3 to B4. It provides harmonic support, countermelodies, and sometimes takes up melody lines. The player's standing position depends on the number of pans, with three cello pans played from behind a single pan and four cello pans played with two pans in front and two on either side.

Quadrophonic Pan

The quadrophonic pan, invented by Rudolph "The Hammer" Charles, is a group of four pans played by a single person. It has the widest pitch range in the steel pan family, from B2 to B flat 5, and is known for being the most difficult instrument to play. The quadrophonic pan can reinforce the melody, play the counter melody, or provide harmonic support.

Bass Pans

Bass pans provide basslines and the harmonic foundation and sometimes play melody lines when given a solo. The most widely used bass pan is the six-bass pan, invented by Ellie Mannette, which consists of six pans arranged in a semi-circle. Other types of bass pans include the tenor bass, nine bass, and twelve bass pans, which are usually used in larger bands for major events.

Playing the steel pan

The steel pan, also known as the steel drum, is a percussion instrument made from industrial drums. It is played using a pair of straight sticks, known as pansticks or pan mallets, tipped with rubber. Some musicians use four pansticks, holding two in each hand. The size and type of rubber tip vary according to the class of pan being played.

The steel pan should be hung at approximately waist height. Hanging the instrument too low or too high can cause physical discomfort and inhibit effective playing. The player should stand with both feet firmly planted and their weight evenly balanced. They should stand at a distance that allows them to play every note without their body resting against the steel pan. Their elbows should be kept slightly away from their body so they can move freely when playing the notes closest to them.

When gripping the pan mallet, the player's thumb and index fingers form a pivot at a point roughly one-third from the bare end of the stick. The thumb and index finger balance the mallet at an approximate 90-degree angle to each other. The remaining three fingers loosely curl around the mallet. It is important not to grip the mallet too tightly, as this inhibits the flexibility required for good playing technique.

When striking the notes of the steel pan, the duration of contact between the mallets and the notes must be as short as possible to allow the notes to vibrate freely and sound properly. One way to achieve this is to imagine that you are striking a hot surface with your bare fingers.

Learning to play the steel pan can be relatively quick, but there are techniques to master. It is important to spend time mastering the basic techniques, or more complex pieces will be difficult to play.

The steel pan today

The steel pan, also known as a steel drum, is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. It is now the national instrument of the republic of Trinidad and Tobago and was declared the national instrument in 1992. In 2023, the United Nations General Assembly declared August 11 as World Steelpan Day.

Steel pans are made from 55-gallon industrial oil drums. The bottom of the oil drum is pounded into a bowl shape, and then further shaped and tuned with hammers to create distinct sounds. The surface is optimised into a number of isolated convex sections called notes. The instrument is usually played with hand-held, rubber-tipped sticks.

Steel bands, or orchestras, include a variety of other instruments such as triangles, bongos, congas, vibraphones, other percussion instruments, and cowbells. The most popular and well-known music played with the steel pan is calypso music.

Steel pan music is traditionally learned through repetition, improvisation, and memory, passed down through generations. The steel pan is now a major part of the Trinidadian music scene and is a popular section of the Canboulay music contests. Steel bands have also spread to non-Caribbean countries such as Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Steel pan music has also been adopted by the pop world. Artists such as The Hollies, Prince, and Spyro Gyra have all incorporated the sound of the steel pan into their music.

Frequently asked questions