Tank Drum Sound Comparison [HAPI, AQUADRUM, HARMONIC STAR] 

Both the HAPI and the Aquadrum are nicely in tune with the natural resonance of the metal. The Harmonic Star is really dissonant and had a very harsh sound. The higher quality steel tongue drums with slits in the tongues carefully calculate the placement of the slits to cause the tongues to play specific harmonics - usually octaves, but it can also be fifths or multiple harmonics per tongue. I have a HAPI, the original "fat" one, and three Idiopans, including the Dual Tone Idiopan which is set up to play octaves. The Idiopans were the first ones set up specifically to be tunable with magnets, but I have been able to tune the HAPI with the Idiopan magnets as well. Normally it's a D major pentatonic, but I can easily make it a D minor pentatonic. The Idiopans can be tuned to lots of different scales. It looks like you might be able to reach inside that Aquadrum and tune it with magnets as well.

Thank you for the comparison.

Maybe could do a video of all the steel tongue drum playing using a mallet. it will give a different sound perspective also

Very relaxing to listen to. I'd imagine you could create loops with these for things like the relaxing soundtrack music CDs I keep seeing here and there.The HAPI and Aquadrum are more midrange in sound, the Star has more treble frequencies.

These drums are quite interesting. They are reminscent of the Carribean steel drums or the oriental tuned drums from Japan, Korea, China etc. It is like a melding of those rythmic sounds. There are also meditation drums that have the steel drum sound. Thank you so much for sharing. I have always held steel drum music in high esteem after hearing them played in Central Park, Manhattan, NYC. Every weekend their are steel drum bands playing and as you walk through the park you hear various Congas and Bongos and other exotic drums being played. I don't know if that is still going on but it was the way it used to be. Thanks again ! Take care and be safe !

I wonder how different the Harmonic Star would sound on your lap rather than a music stand, based on how big the hole in the bottom is. I wonder if it wouldn't be as harsh.

can you share the link where you got both Hapi and the Acquadrum?

They sound like Jehova’s Witnesses relentlessly ringing my Door bell.