munzieb Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 I've been working on these for a few months and keep coming back to it. I did the larger one first. I found the patterns on the web. The mechanics of making the drums were pretty easy but tuning them was absolute hell. I used a program called Pano Tuner which works well. The problem is actually adjusting the notes. Remove material from the ends to raise the notes and from the base to lower notes. I used a forstner bit for this. I'd get close and then come back and it changes. It may have been the heat and humidity in the garage. I used 3/4" oak for the notes with 3/4" poplar for the box and 1/2" plywood for the base. With out the base, the sound is suppressed so I had to screw and unscrew it each time I adjusted the notes. I had ordered a piece of 3/4" Padauk because it offers a better purity of sound but I'm holding off with another one until I can get the tuning down pat. Mallets are made with "super balls" drilled 1/2 way through with 5/16" dowels and glued with contact cement. One thing I did learn from this project is that my musical ability with percussion instruments is pretty paltry. I included a Youtube video of what a tongue drum sounds like if you are musically talented and know what you are doing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVZtyXJB-rI Scrollcrazy, JimErn, amazingkevin and 2 others 4 1 Quote
JimErn Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 Beautiful work, Love listening to it too munzieb 1 Quote
Scrappile Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 (edited) Those are beauties. I have made several over the years, you are correct, they are difficult to tune. I could only get close, which was good enough for the people I made them for.... they weren't musicians and they sounded good to them! I enjoyed making them because like any instrument I have made, it is really exciting when there is actual sound... Purpleheard made the best sound for me... I found one on Youtube, back when I was making them, that you could tune by screw and such. I always wanted to try making one like that, but could never find plans and never took the time to try without plans: Here I found one like it... Edited July 15, 2019 by Scrappile amazingkevin and munzieb 2 Quote
oldhudson Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 Great job. I've seen plans for these type of drums over the years but never made one. Good thing, I can't carry a tune in a pail, so I'd never get one to sound right. munzieb 1 Quote
teachnlearn Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 Science says a specific length creates a specific wave, ie note. Holds for any struck instrument. Side note, bridges have design formulas so the wind doesn't create a vibration to shake them apart. Somewhere there should be a formula or calculator with length and notes. Cut my forefinger and have a massive band aide, slowing searches RJF munzieb 1 Quote
munzieb Posted July 15, 2019 Author Report Posted July 15, 2019 One of the design web sites showed the formula but you need a Chinese translator to figure it out. I hurts my brain. Quote
Scrappile Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 There is more to it than length,,,,width, thickness, type of wood, a whole lot of varibles. Even the finish could change things. I will stop here because I really know little about it. JimErn and munzieb 1 1 Quote
amazingkevin Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 Nice build and nice sound. munzieb 1 Quote
munzieb Posted July 15, 2019 Author Report Posted July 15, 2019 2 hours ago, amazingkevin said: Nice build and nice sound. Thanks Kevin, I wish I could play like that woman in the video. Quote
Fab4 Posted July 15, 2019 Report Posted July 15, 2019 Hi Bernd: Well made indeed, but this sound would drive me crazy after 10 minutes or so The short video was ok to listen to but that's as far as I go Question: Will you be standing on the street corner in your yellow speedo trying to earn a few extra dollars with this drum? Keep up the great work Fab4 Quote
munzieb Posted July 16, 2019 Author Report Posted July 16, 2019 50 minutes ago, Fab4 said: Hi Bernd: Well made indeed, but this sound would drive me crazy after 10 minutes or so The short video was ok to listen to but that's as far as I go Question: Will you be standing on the street corner in your yellow speedo trying to earn a few extra dollars with this drum? Keep up the great work Fab4 Don't think I'll be on the corner. My grand niece and nephew 11 and 8 will be getting these and can drive my nephews crazy. Fab4 1 Quote
teachnlearn Posted July 16, 2019 Report Posted July 16, 2019 7 hours ago, munzieb said: One of the design web sites showed the formula but you need a Chinese translator to figure it out. I hurts my brain. Spent a good part of my life learning and using math and learning a whole group of weird symbols. Been a few years since I have used some fields of math. I would have to go back to some of my math books to remember and use it. A bit of math is building on what has been learned. Not too far off from woodworking. RJF Quote
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