I love the warm, resonant sound of a steel tongue drum, which is a percussion instrument, just as much as the sound of the hang drum (also known as hang, and hand drum)), the gamelan (a metal keyboard-like instrument which is played with mallets) and the steel pan (Originated and developed in Trinidad/Tobago between 1880 and 1937 and has a very happy celebration). 

The steel tongue drum’s exact origin is unknown, but it is thought to have been inspired by a variety of traditional instruments from around the world, including the hang drum, gamelan, and steelpan around the early 2000s not long after the hang drum and is operated with mallets or fingers. So, it is quite a “recent” developed instrument, which is also referred to as a hand pan, tank drum, or hank drum. 

Meanwhile there are a variety of designs, materials, and tuning systems readily available.  The steel tongue drum is a versatile, portable instrument and can be played solo or in a group setting. 

The original steel tongue drums were handcrafted in tiny workshops and had a circular shape, and a succession of tongues or ridges carved into the metal with a torch or another cutting instrument.