The hang drum is a percussion instrument that produces a soft, beautiful sound. To play this instrument, you need to learn the techniques of striking the hang drum. You must master how to use your fingers on the notes of the hang drum and, with practice and repetition, create your own rhythms and melodies. In this article, I will introduce you to some tips and exercises for learning to play the hang drum.
Tip 1: Familiarize Yourself with the Hang Drum Notes
The hang drum is a percussion instrument with a central note and eight notes around it. Each note has a letter and a number that indicate its name and octave. For example, D3 means the note D in the third octave. You can use special hang drum charts to find the notes on your instrument.
To draw a note chart for your hang drum, you’ll need to draw a circle in the center of a piece of paper to represent the central note. Then, draw eight smaller circles evenly spaced around the central note. Next, you’ll need to write the letters and numbers corresponding to each note inside the circles. Depending on the tuning of your hang drum, you can use different arrangements for the notes. Some tunings are more common than others.
- Pygmy: D3 A3 Bb3 C4 D4 F4 G4 A4
- Integral: F3 A3 Bb3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
- Kurd: D3 A3 Bb3 C4 D4 E4 F4 G4
Tip 2: Striking the Hang Drum
To strike the hang drum, you should use the pads of your fingers. You need to strike the notes of the hang drum with the right speed and force to produce a good sound. You should avoid hard, sharp strikes and listen attentively to the sound of each note. You should pay careful attention to the distance and direction of your fingers and try to strike the hang drum’s surface directly and perpendicularly. You should use both your right and left hands to play various rhythms and patterns.
Tip 3: Practice and Repetition
To master playing the hang drum, you need to practice and repeat. You should play the hang drum for at least an hour every day and practice different patterns. You should choose exercises that are appropriate for your level and evaluate your progress. You should use various resources such as books, videos, podcasts, and music teachers to learn.
