Steel pans

alexthecheese · 24 Oct 2006 at 17:03

Anybody play these or know anybody that does? A guy I work with grew up in the Trinidad & Tobago area and one of his mates recently brought back a steel pan crafted over there as a present for one of his other friends.

I dont know why this appeals to me, but I'd really love to get one of those, or a set, and give it a go. Bizarrely there is a lady that I've found on the internet that teaches steel pan right near by so it would be a good laugh to go and have some lessons too.

I reckon it'd be great fun... imagine bashing out Mario tunes on them! Awesome!

retribution · 24 Oct 2006 at 23:15

Is this the same thing as a "hang"? Looks like a turned-upside-down-wok, and you sort of beat it in different places for different tones? I first came across them this summer in Amsterdam's Vondelpark, it was truly fitting music for the circumstances

. I've since had a look on the net for them and they seem very difficult to find...you can only buy them in Switzerland or something. I'd love to play one though.

Rob.

alexthecheese · 25 Oct 2006 at 11:16

They're also called steel drums. You know, the oil cans bashed into a inverted dome and then each section as a further recess that you bash to get different tunes out of. They give out the caribbean sound.

It sounds like you kinda know what I'm talking about, but I don't understand why you'd only be able to get them in Switzerland!

Jono · 25 Oct 2006 at 11:21

Music teacher at my old school forked out £3k for a full set of these babies. We toured the world with them. Well, around town and the surrounding area on the back of a flatbed trailer towed behind a tractor.