Steel Pan: Musical Instrument Originating In Trinidad And Tobago

The steel pan, also known as a steel drum, is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a definite-pitch, acoustic, percussion instrument, made from 55-gallon industrial drums, typically recycled from oil drums. The surface of the drum is hammered to produce a series of dents, each creating a different note depending on their position and size. The steel pan is played with a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber, and is used in popular music from the Caribbean islands, including calypso, soca, reggae, ska, pop, jazz, and Latin music.

The history of the steel pan

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

The African slaves carried with them elements of their culture, including the playing of hand drums. These drums became the main percussion instruments in the annual Trinidadian carnival festivities, which were introduced by French colonists in the 1780s. In 1834, following the emancipation of slaves in Trinidad and Tobago, the celebrations became louder and more colourful, with former slaves joining in using their drums. Nervous about the use of drumming as a means of communication, the British colonial government banned the playing of drums in 1877 (or 1883, according to another source). The natives then replaced their drums with tuned bamboo sticks called Tamboo Bamboo. The larger sticks were stomped on the ground, and the smaller ones were struck together. These tubes were played in ensembles called Tamboo Bamboo bands, which also used non-traditional instruments like scrap metal, metal containers, graters, dustbins, biscuit tins, oil drums, brake drums and spoons.

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 made a different sound to the flat areas. Through experimentation, the metal pan bands evolved into the steel pan family of instruments. Winston 'Spree' Simon is credited with creating the first 'melody pan', which could carry eight pitches and was the first pan that could accommodate an entire melody.

In 1937, steelpans reappeared in Laventille, an impoverished suburb just outside Port of Spain, considered by many to be the birthplace of the steel pan. They had transformed into an orchestra of frying pans, dustbin lids, and oil drums. These steelpans are now a major part of the Trinidadian music scene. In 1939, the first all-steel band, Alexander's Ragtime Band, emerged, and by 1940 steel bands had become the preferred carnival accompaniment of young underprivileged men. The 55-gallon oil drum was used to make steelpans from around 1947 or 1948. The first steel drum with the 12 notes of the Chromatic Scale was developed, and the former convex shape of the steel drums was changed to a concave shape to accommodate more notes. Rubber was also wrapped around the pan sticks to make the sound more mellow, with Ellie Mannette credited with these improvements.

In 1951, the Trinidad All-Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) became the first steel band whose instruments were all made from oil drums. They performed at the Festival of Britain, introducing the steel pan and a new music genre to the world. In 1992, the steel pan became the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.

How to make a steel pan

Making a steel pan is a complex process that requires a lot of practice to perfect. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a steel pan:

Choosing the Right Oil Drum

First, you need to decide what type of steel pan you want to make. This will determine the number and thickness of the empty 55-gallon oil drums you will need. Lower-pitched steel pans, such as the guitar pan or bass steel pan, require thicker oil drums, while most steel pans can be made with oil drums that are 1.2mm thick. It is important to choose oil drums that are mild but not galvanized, as galvanized oil drums can produce inferior tonal quality. Avoid oil drums with sharp dents or deep rust, as they can affect the smoothness of the playing surface and the integrity of the oil drum during the manufacturing process.

Sinking the Oil Drum

The next step is to sink the bottom of the oil drum into a smooth concave shape. This process eliminates the natural vibration of the playing surface, which would otherwise interfere with the clarity of the notes of the steel pan. Before sinking, use a hammer to remove any dents on the rim of the oil drum. To find the centre of the oil drum, measure 26.6 cm from several points on the rim towards the centre. Use a compass and marker to draw two concentric circles with radii of 10cm and 20cm from the centre. This will divide the oil drum radius into three parts, making it easier to monitor the shape while sinking. Using a sledgehammer, strike the oil drum along the outer circle, working your way towards the centre in a spiral pattern. Repeat this process until you achieve the required depth.

Marking the Notes

This step involves marking the placement of the notes on the oil drum. Along the rim of the oil drum, mark the length of the outer notes and draw lines towards the centre. Use a flexible ruler and a pen to mark the inner border of the outer notes. Draw elliptically shaped inner notes, pointing them longitudinally towards the centre, at least 1cm close to their corresponding outer notes. Ensure that adjacent inner notes are at least 1.5cm apart to maintain independence.

Counter-Sinking and Grooving

The area between the note outlines is flattened using special tuning hammers, forcing the notes to protrude slightly and take on a convex shape. This process is known as counter-sinking. Next, indentations are created along the marked inner borders of the notes using a nail punch and hammer. This process is called grooving and helps to create an area of 'dead' metal around each note, preventing sound interference between notes.

Setting/Backing

In this step, the area between the notes is flattened again to remove any bumps or unevenness that occurred during grooving. The skirt (side) of the drum is measured, and unwanted portions of the drum shell are removed using an electric saw or a hammer and chisel. The length of the skirt depends on the type of pan being made and serves several acoustic functions.

Tempering

Tempering is the process of rapidly heating and cooling the drum to help it hold its tuning for longer. 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.

Tuning

Tuning is a complex art that involves using tuning hammers to tap the underside and tops of the notes until the correct pitch is achieved. Pan tuners need to place the correct combination of overtones and fundamentals around each note to ensure the correct pitch and timbral quality.

Applying a Protective Finish

After tuning, a protective finish is added to the pan to prevent rusting and enhance its appearance. Common finishes include chrome plating, painting, and powder coating.

Fine-Tuning and Blending

Finally, the pan undergoes fine-tuning to ensure that all the pitches on the pan are in tune with each other. It is then blended with other pans in the steel band to match the tonal quality and pitches of the other instruments.

Playing the steel pan

The steel pan is a definite-pitch, acoustic, percussion instrument. It is unique in that it is the only hybrid percussion instrument in existence today. It is classified as either a membranophone – striking a stretched surface like a membrane, or an idiophone – solid surfaces striking against each other. The steel pan is typically recycled from a 55-gallon oil drum. The surface is optimised into a number of isolated convex sections called notes. The larger the oval, the lower the pitch. The pans have anywhere from 3 to 30 note ovals.

The steel pan is played in a variety of ways. Pannists can either play one instrument or sometimes they play multiple pans at one time. They usually don't read a musical score and often have to memorise the songs that they play. The steel pan is played in steel bands, which play a variety of music and often cover well-known pieces, including classical compositions. The steel pan regularly features in popular music. For example, the 2016 single "Close" by Nick Jonas prominently features the steel pan.

The steel pan is part of the family of pitched mallet percussion instruments like the xylophone, marimba, orchestra bells, chimes, and vibraphone (called idiophones). The first steel pans were diatonic (associated with a single scale) instruments with a limited range of notes. Today, most pans are chromatic (the pan can play all the white and black keys in a given register/range of the piano) and there are different sizes of pans to accommodate different musical ranges.

Types of steel pans

The steel pan, also known as a steel drum, emerged in the 1930s. The instrument is made from 55-gallon industrial drums, with a series of dents hammered into the shiny metal surface, each one creating a different note. The modern steel pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument.

There are several types of steel pans, including:

High Tenor (Soprano Pan)

The highest-pitched steel drum, with a pitch range of D4 to F#6, up to two octaves and a major third from D above middle C (C4). It is commonly used by pan soloists and can easily play a harmonic role.

Low Tenor

Similar to the High Tenor, with a pitch range from C4 to E6. It has the same function as the High Tenor and is also used by soloists.

Double Tenor

Invented by Bertie Marshall, this steel pan uses two drums and has a pitch range from F3 to B5 or up to two octaves and an augmented fourth from F below middle C. It has a distinctively pleasant sound and is very appealing to soloists. The Double Tenor can be used to carry the melody, a harmonic voice, for counter melodies, or for chords.

Double Second

Invented by Sonny Roach, this steel pan uses two drums, each of which carries the notes of a whole-tone scale. Its pitch range is from F#3 to C#6, two octaves above middle C. The successive notes of the Chromatic Scale alternate between the left and right-hand pans. The Double Second is very versatile and has a unique, floaty tonal quality.

Quadrophonic Pan

The Quadrophonic steel pan uses four pans and has an extensive pitch range, from B2 one octave below middle C to Bb5, one octave above. Each pan contains the three notes of an augmented chord, making it a symmetrical pan. It can be used to provide harmony, low melodic reinforcement, or for counter-melodies.

Guitar Pan

The Guitar Pan uses two pans and is mainly used for strumming, providing the harmony in a band. Its pitch range is from C#3 to F#5, one octave above middle C. It has a mellow and deeper sound due to its longer skirt.

Cello Pan

The Cello Pan uses three pans, each containing the four notes of a diminished seventh chord. The range of this pan goes from C3, one octave below middle C, to B4 above middle C. The longer skirt and the minor-third relationship between the neighbouring notes of each pan give the Cello Pan a deep, mysterious tonal quality. These steel drums are perfect for counter melodies and low harmony.

Tenor Bass

Also called a Bass Steel Drum, the Tenor Bass uses four drums, each containing the notes of an augmented chord. The range is from G2, two octaves and a fourth below middle C, to D4 above middle C. This pan provides the bass function and acoustic projection for the lower-range bass pans.

In addition to the types mentioned above, there are also bass pans such as the six-bass, seven-bass, nine-bass, and twelve-bass, which achieve greater depth with the inclusion of more drums.

The steel pan in Trinidad and Tobago

The steel pan, or steel drum, is a musical instrument originating from Trinidad and Tobago. It is possibly the only instrument made from industrial waste, and has become an icon of Trinidadian culture.

The steel pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from 55-gallon industrial drums. The surface of the pan is hammered into a series of dents, each creating a different note, depending on their position and size. The larger the oval, the lower the tone. The steel pan is played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber.

The history of the steel pan is rooted in the Carnival tradition brought to Trinidad and Tobago by French colonists in the 1700s. Enslaved Africans were barred from participating in the festival, so they created their own parallel festival known as Canboulay, where they continued their traditional drum music. In the 1880s, the British government tried to ban the use of drums and sticks, so the festival-goers turned to bamboo sticks, known as tamboo bamboo. In 1934, the use of tamboo bamboo was also banned, and the people of Trinidad and Tobago turned to metal objects, including car parts, paint pots, dustbins, oil drums, and biscuit tins. These metal objects were originally used as percussion instruments, but eventually, they began to be tuned.

The first steel pans emerged in the 1930s, though the exact date is unknown. The "first pan" or "ping pong" was created when the young people of Trinidad and Tobago discovered that they could change the pitch of metal containers by hammering and stretching them. These early steel pans had enough notes to carry a simple melody. The new instrument was embraced by the poor suburbs of Port of Spain, particularly Laventille, which is said to be the birthplace of the steel pan.

In 1939, the first all-steel band, Alexander's Ragtime Band, emerged, and by 1940, the steel pan had become the preferred carnival accompaniment of young underprivileged men. The steel pan was initially associated with a violent or derelict crowd, and women were prohibited from playing. However, as the instrument became more mainstream, the stigma subsided, and women were allowed to join.

In 1951, the Trinidad All-Steel Percussion Orchestra (TAPSO) performed at the Festival of Britain, marking the first steel pan performance outside of Trinidad and Tobago. The orchestra used 55-gallon oil drums to create their pans, which were left unpainted and unchromed. This performance introduced the steel pan and a new genre of music to the world.

Today, steel pan ensembles are a major part of the Trinidadian music scene and are a popular section of the Canboulay music contests. Steel pan players, known as pannists, now perform a wide range of music, from calypso and soca to pop and classical.

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