FAQ

There isn’t one. This instrument goes by many names: tongue drum, steel tongue drum, hank drum, butadrum, hand drum, hank drum etc. As it’s a relatively new instrument, several names exist for it but the exact term would still be Steel Tongue Drum. This word is rather long and difficult to remember so it has been shortened to Tongue Drum despite the existence of a percussion instrument with the same name but made of wood. Be careful not to fool yourself and buy a wood tongue drum instead of a steel tongue drum ;)

The difference between a hang drum (also called a handpan) and the Beat Root steel tongue drum is not only in the manufacturing:
- The hang drum features hammered and distorted strike zones while the Beat Root tongue drum has cut ones.
- A Hang drum is tuned on a single scale that can not be changed afterwards. Our Multiscale tongue drum features 6 interchangeable scales in one tongue drum.
- The hang drum is much larger (24 inches in diameter), while the Beat Root tongue drum is much smaller at 12 inches in diameter, which makes the latter much easier to transport.
- Hang drums are much more expensive, up to 6 times more than our tongue drum (hang drum cost between 1500$ and 3000$, our Multi Scale tongue drum is 496$)
- A hang drum is very fragile because of its light composite material and its hammered strikes zones. It can be detuned after a simple shock. Our tongue drums are made of steel and the notes being laser cut can withstand shocks without detuning.
- Expect to wait up to a year to get a hang drum while Beat Root steel tongue drums are available for immediate use.

Our steel tongue drums measure 12 inches in diameter and 6 inches high. They weigh 11 lbs.

We do not offer custom scales. We assume that our multi-scale tongue drum with its 6 different scales (including the most requested Major, Minor and Pentatonic) covers the spectrum of all the emotions that can be expressed by playing a tongue drum. The 6 scales of our multi-scale tongue drum allow you to play introspective, joyful, meditative, warm and melancholic melodies.

Yes, you can use mallets to play with your Beat Root tongue drum. In fact, this is also the recommended path for anyone who has never played a percussion instrument before. For your information, all Beat Root tongue drums come with mallets. With our mallets, it is very easy to produce beautiful notes without any effort. Our mallets rebound easily on the notes which gives a very clear and deep sound that makes just the charm of our tongue drums. Keep in mind, we strongly discourage playing our tongue drum using hard mallets, such as those for xylophones or drums, which may damage the instrument.

For more experienced people or those who want to deepen the learning of their tongue drum, it is also possible to play our tongue drums with your hands. The grip is a little more technical to be able to make the notes sound correctly but once you get there it brings a sense of freedom in your way of playing that is indescribable. But remember, the technique is secondary! Whether with mallets or with your hands, the most important thing is that you find pleasure playing with your tongue drum!

The quality and thickness of the alloy used in the manufacturing of our Beat Root tongue drum, combined with the heat treatment following tuning, guarantee very stable tunning. There is therefore no need to re-tune the instrument even after years of use!

Thanks to an intuitive and innovative tuning system composed of 3 magnets and color stickers placed under the notes, our Multi Scale tongue drum give you the possibility to switch between 6 different great sounding scales in few seconds only. To switch from one scale to another, simply follow the diagram placed inside your tongue drum. In the diagram you will find the list of scales available with the colors associated with them. To play a scale, you simply have to place the magnets on the colors associated with the scale you want to play. To learn more about our tuning system, check our dedicated explanation page : How to change the scale of your Multiscale tongue drum

If you want to deepen your musical experimentation with our Multi Scale tongue drum, it is possible to compose additional scales using our magnets for even more possibilities. The principle is that by placing a magnet under a tongue, you tune the note a semitone down (not up). Our Multi Scale tongue drum is by default tuned in G major (the Happy scale). From this scale, it is possible to access dozens of different scales by tuning certain notes. Do not hesitate to ask us for advice if you want to embark on this adventure!

Shipping for an instrument in stock usually takes 4 business days.

The only difference between the two versions is the electro-acoustic one has a microphone and 6.3 mm jack, which let you connect it to an amp, mixer, sound card, etc. This is very useful if you want to easily record yourself playing or if you want to play with other instruments as the natural acoustic sound of the tongue drum can be amplify. But be reassure that even if you don't connect your electro-acoustic tongue drum to an amp, you still can enjoy it without needing anything other than your tongue drum to produce a deep and melodious natural sound.

No. If you want to listen to your Beat Root tongue drum with headphones, you have to connect them to a 3.5 mm jack on an amp or mixer connected to your Beat Root tongue drum.

No it is not necessary to have an amp to enjoy the sound of our multiscale or electro-acoustic tongue drum. The electro-acoustic option allows for extra connections, and when it’s not connected, it functions exactly like the acoustic version. The magical sound of our tongue drums comes from their natural resonance chamber. No need for electricity to enjoy the special sound of our instruments. You can play them in nature, in the forest, in the mountains, take it with you on your travels... The electro-acoustic option is only bonus!

Yes of course! The demand for our 432Hz tongue drum being more and more strong, we decided to tune more and more tongue drums in 432Hz. You can find them directly in our online store.