Tongue drums are very versatile and can be manufactured with different notes, this book is designed for the most popular and widely used model.

If you have a 13-note tongue drum but are unsure of its tuning, it is likely in C major. To confirm, compare its notes with the chart in the introduction. C major is the most common and popular tuning for tongue drums, and our book is perfectly suited for drums in this key.

The notes are typically G (5), A (6), B (7), C (1), D (2), E (3), F (4), G (5), A (6), B (7), C (1), D (2), E (3).

The tongue drum (also known as a tong drum, tank drum, gluck-o-phone, or hapi drum) and the handpan (also referred to as a hank drum, UFO drum, or zen drum) are percussion instruments designed to help you focus on your emotions, sensations, and body. You don't need formal music training or knowledge of music theory to play them. Their main purpose is to encourage relaxation, meditation, and exploration of your inner world.

In this songbook, we've compiled a collection of traditional English-language songs and ballads from various countries, including England, Ireland, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

The book features 77 songs, all of which can be played on any C-major tongue drum with 13 or more keys. Most of the songs can also be played on an 11-key tongue drum.

All melodies are written in traditional musical notation, but this book is beginner-friendly as well. For those unfamiliar with reading sheet music, we've added corresponding numbers above each note.

The numbering system in this book uses the common diatonic scale, with numbers ranging from 1 to 7 to represent the notes of each octave.

Each page includes QR codes that link to recordings of the songs. While these recordings may not exactly match the traditional versions notated in this book, they serve as useful guides for understanding the melodies and rhythms.

Playing by Numbers

For tongue drums with numbered musical notation, the numbers 1 to 7 represent the notes of the diatonic major scale. Dots above or below the numbers indicate notes from a higher or lower octave, respectively. The songs in this books are adapted for the tongue drums with C-major scale. The number of notes available to you will depend on the range of your tongue drum.

Playing the Tongue Drum

Most steel tongue drums come with mallets, and if you've never played a percussion instrument before, using mallets is the recommended way to start. Mallets make it easy to produce beautiful notes effortlessly, bouncing off the surface to create a clear, resonant sound.

Contents

Alabama Gal
Annie Laurie
Aura Lee
Barbara Polka
Bayou Sara
Beautiful Brown Eyes
Bella Ciao Big Rock Candy Mountains
Blood on the Saddle
Bound for South Australia
Brennan on the Moor
Bridal Chorus
Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
Butcher Boy
Cliffs of Doneen
Come Back Liza
Cotton Eyed Joe
Daddy Fox
Down by the Salley Gardens
Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
Drunken Sailor
Fire In the Mountains
For He Is a Folly Good Fellow
Get Along Little Doggies
Henry My Son
Hi'ilawe
Hopping Dance
I Gave My Love a Cherry
Isn't It Grand, Boys?
Italian Waltz
James Connoly
Land of the Silver Birch
Largo from the "New World Symphone" by Dvorak
Lavender's Blue
Long, Long Ago
Man of Constant Sorrow
Molly Malone
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
My Home's in Montana
My Paddle
My Singing Bird
My Wild Irish Rose
O Christmas Tree
Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be
Oh How Lovely the Evening...