Transforming an Oil Drum Into an Instrument - Sounds Like Steel BTS Clip 2

In this video, award winning steel pan maker Jimi Phillip shows the process of making a steel pan from an oil drum, and talks about the development of the instrument over time.
This behind the scenes video was made during the filming of "Sounds Like Steel," a documentary that takes a detailed look into how a steel orchestra is run, and how bands prepare to compete and win in the national Panorama competition.
Sounds Like Steel will release for free online in summer 2023, but until then, I'll be releasing clips and behind the scenes content on KZbin, as well as on my website and social media.
Website: chassheppard.c...
Instagram: / chassheppard

[@chassheppard]

If you enjoyed this clip, check out my feature length steel pan documentary "Sounds Like Steel," available for free on my KZbin channel.

[@IzanSoria]

fantastic documentary!

[@YettiRockmen-oq3zp]

Superb

[@YettiRockmen-oq3zp]

Thank you

[@lurtisha3105]

37:31

[@trompgregorygiovanny492]

⁸ŭ

[@djpanrasdaversiteoldschool8912]

Some tuners would almost NEVER agree to do this. You can tell, he is willing to leave back a legacy!!

[@chassheppard]

I am beyond grateful to Jimi for his willingness to share his knowledge. This documentary project would have been impossible without people like him!

[@Plateaudweller]

By the time you get to this point in a trade career you already realised that there are very few people who have the skill and patience to do what he does. He knows he can teach them and they still aren't going to do it.

[@StuntDummyLives]

@@chassheppard Is there any way we can tip him? I've been waiting my whole life for this lesson.

[@millenialmemoirs]

@@Plateaudweller Cnidaria Dr Essex feed d hi

[@ubahfly5409]

​@@Plateaudweller Accurate.

[@russellyuille3808]

Wow. The man has a whole technique developed over time. A real artist. Great work here Chas. World class.

[@chassheppard]

Thanks :)

[@davemangamer7365]

Yes, the music is beautiful one of my favorite sounds

[@kenrickphillip2754]

This is my very musically blessed brother Jim/Jimi/ Phillip also known as Panman doing what he loves and enjoy doing, creating,making the musical instruments that we call the steelpan

[@Xsiondu]

That's very cool. Have you ever given it a go to make a pan yourself?

[@pijcab]

Your brother is amazingly gifted and talented wow. The knowledge, the ear it must take to do this...

[@shanthageorge7413]

Jimi is talented and gifted. Music is in his blood. It's an honour watching and listening to him in this video.

[@trasingh5562]

SIMPLY STUNNING, HE IS DEFINITELY A """NATIONAL JEWEL""" , A TRUE (((ARTIST/WIZARD))) IN HIS OWN RANK........PLEASE TELL HIM THANK YOU FOR HIS SERVICES & CRAFTSMANSHIPS TO OUR CULTURE, OUR COUNTRY, OUR PEOPLE, THANK YOU !!!!!!

[@associatedblacksheepandmisfits]

He reads the pan like a keyboard! Awesome 😊

[@LogiForce86]

My chemistry teachers tried this once thinking it shouldn't be that hard, but the both of them gave up and had to say hats off to these people. So massive respect!

[@chassheppard]

Yeah, especially tuning a steel pan is an incredibly challenging thing to doo, there are many variables, and the tuning of each note affects the others around it.

[@LogiForce86]

@@chassheppard Indeed, and my teachers found out about that the hard way. They were beating on it for half a year or year (been 25 years since they told me that) and each time they would mess up the tuning somewhere else. They didn't use air tools either, so they really put in the hours of blood sweat and mainly tears I think. The guy who made the first steeldrum must've been a genius and very capable with his hands.

[@foggy7595]

@@LogiForce86 I imagine first steeldrum was just one note, not so bad!

[@CliveBarnettrecluse]

Thanks to Chas for featuring a living master at his craft. Besides tuning, Jimi is a very talented multi instrumentalist. He plays the electric bass, guitar , keyboards, drums including tassa and all forms of percussion and needless to say a " sick " pannist. What really caught my attention after being pulled into Jimi's orbit, was his ability to arrange any piece of music for pan and it sounded like the piece of music as opposed to pan playing a song. I believe I can write a short book about Jimi but I would leave that for the true writers and story tellers and i hope to see such a thing before we move on to higher plains. I forgot to mention that from time to time Jimi has been commisioned by the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Education to teach the craft/art of pan manufacture and tuning. Lawd, I need to stop now before I really end up writing the book on Jimi "Panman" Philip. Don't stop yet Jimi and huge thanks to Chas Sheppard again.

[@Whitguy86]

I'm glad he's putting forth real music and not rap and hiphop.

[@Meeckle]

I want to hear more of his story!!!

[@CliveBarnettrecluse]

@@Meeckle Check this link and you will hear Jimi Light up the club with his pan playing in a live setting.www.youtube.com/@panman10jp

[@bappojujubes981]

Judging from your knowledge of the man and your articulate words, I think you are more than qualified to write that book!

[@RaylaRayV]

Oh my word when he turned the pan over and started reducing the tension you could hear it go thru an octave it was awesome

[@missbelled6700]

Watching him gleefully freehand the markings reminded me a lot of the joy my machine shop teachers would get out of showing us cute setups and old-school ways to line things up by sight. Really cool video.

[@general5104]

I remember one of my machine shop instructors showing us how to sight a 60 degree thread cutting tool in the tool post with an "arrowhead". I had seen my Dad's pitch tool, but had never learned the many uses of it. There's so much to learn, you learn from everybody. Each feller and each gal do the same things different, and the outcome is usually true art! Just because someone else did it one particular way different from your way, take the good parts of theirs and incorporate it into your way and it becomes A BETTER way. Higher quality stuff!

[@andersoncesario26]

I'm speechless every time a see craftsman/musician like Jimi. What a legend!!!!

[@andriebester]

I am astounded by the level of precision that goes into this craft! A very informative video that elicits the highest respect for the talent of this craftsman.

[@Peron1-MC]

exactly. every hammerblow changes the sound :)

[@FernandoAlfonso-pn9xy]

Every steel pan is a masterpiece, because nobody taught him to do that, experience and talent only. Well done man!!!!

[@pepperypeppers2755]

1:18 he says who taught him in the first two minutes

[@FernandoAlfonso-pn9xy]

@@pepperypeppers2755 you are righ, but the explanation is, that some time the island's english is so twisted, I went to that minute, indicated by you, to catch the meaning. Thank a lot

[@CliveBarnettrecluse]

​@@pepperypeppers2755 the man who taught him passed away a few years ago and he was inducted in the pan fraternity. He is another unsung hero and was responsible for fine tuning what is known as harmonics which is the effect each note has on the adjacent note. That man"s name is Austin Wallace.

[@CliveBarnettrecluse]

Pan fraternity Hall of Fame.

[@ConsentDeath]

Like a large language model. Trained all his life

[@drummingriffin]

'The knowing hand and eye'. Knowing exactly where to hit, how hard to hit and having the ear to know when it's right. All learned over many years. Thank you for showing this master at work.

[@corysnyder7273]

Watching this artist at work made this feel shorter than 37 minutes! Incredible talent and dedication to his craft.

[@freestyla101]

It was an honour to watch this man share his skills.

[@nathannichols7306]

27:10 the way he tuned that note in… mind blowing! What an awesome skill

[@5temba]

And the incorporation of technology to refine and enhance. 👌🏾 Passionate and skilled tradesman with a solid process.

[@1974UTuber]

Such a unique sound. I hope this technique never gets forgotten

[@pshhh7856]

The mastery that it takes to craft an instrument like this is remarkable. What a master craftsmen.

[@ingridbaxter5388]

No computer or technology can teach you this. Absolutely amazing this is Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 own yesss!

[@meiliswein]

Ur right! I asked chatGPT and he wanted to use a welding machine to add the notes one by one haha. Then I told it to not use a welding machine and create bubbles instead in the oil can. Then it agreed and wanted me to make soapy water bubbles and tune those to the right notes..

[@rjwilliams4977]

Lol it's kind of a contradictory statement because your using technology/computers to review the information that you may not have seen otherwise without it.

[@trini2DBone134]

​​@Rj Williams us in trinidad already knew about this tho

[@imapaine-diaz4451]

Backstory....during WW2 both the british and american armed forces had large military bases all over the Caribbean , many (perhaps most) of which were tasked to combat the german navy and U-boat threats to north and south america. Almost all of the fuel and oil used to support the aircraft in serving this effort was imported in 55 gallon steel drums. By the end of the war, there were many thousands of these drums laying in dumps all over the islands. the residents picked up and modified these empty drums for many different uses, including this very pleasant one. the making of music😀😀

[@FernandoAlfonso-pn9xy]

A first, in the whole world, sampling of iron drums recic!ing....

[@haffa0905]

where did you learn this?

[@robfinney9289]

I am an engineer and it amazes me the talent this man has for his chosen craft.

[@andyman8630]

now this is true 'pan handling' - amazing skill/craft/art thanks to all involved for sharing this process

[@EricDalton1910]

I can watch artisan craftsmanship videos all day long. Jim Jimi is one of those crafters. I’m hoping he has or has had a few apprentices. Skills like Jimi’s shouldn’t be allowed to die out or be taken over by machines. The sound of a Steel Band is always uplifting, I don’t know if they do sad tunes! Keep up the good work Jimi. Edit: Just noticed the sign above the door. (Steel Pan workshop and school.) That’s encouraging for the future of this art.

[@The88Nomad]

Thank you for sharing. I am a Somali native and I will introduce this musical instrument to Somalia, East Africa. The sight and sound of our beautiful tropical beaches will soon change. You documenting this man's work will undoubtedly change many people's lives. Thank for all your hard work and for sharing with us.

[@5temba]

God, man. What a blessing to able to witness this process. The passion is immense.

[@Ty-bz7zx]

This guy Jimi is awesome. What a great neighbor to have =)

[@20bluebug]

Very cool! I always wondered how they were made.... I love Jim's casual nature yet knowledgeable demonstration.

[@blimolhm2790]

this is what KZbin is made for. This man is a legend

[@florencedolce6392]

The question is: how could the man who created this unique instrument have ideas to say well I want to use a steel drum, do all this he did, find international tuned notes(famous do re mi fa sol la si) and turn it into a masterpiece music instrument?!!!! He is just a genious, period. This dude is enormously talented and enjoys doing this art, you can just feel it!! Respect for you with capital R!!

[@user-vw6bk4pb4l]

The British colonialists banned African drumming. So the locals would be in big trouble if found with African drums. So they used to drum on anything they could find. Especially metal objects. Which could easily remain concealed. They would have drumming competitions on steel barrels to see who could make the louder sound. Eventually, they noticed that the dents in their barrels would make different tones. So gradually they figured out a way to deliberately dent the drum in a way that it could be used as an instrument with several notes. Two names from Trinidad have emerged as the true genius behind this instrument. I can't remember them but a quick Google search will reveal it. Its been a while since I researched this, but there's lots of useful information about the history on KZbin, including plenty of footage by one of the alleged inventors. The instrument isn't that old, it's 20th century, so I think the popular origin story is probably true.

[@williammills1026]

I worked along side this gentleman in Montreal some years ago.

[@panman10jp]

Hi Mr Mills😊

[@allbayfishing9456]

@@panman10jpyou should make your own videos. You are a natural on camera and you could make good money! You are very skilled at your craft! Thanks for the information

[@allbayfishing9456]

@@panman10jphow do you clean the barrel of the oil?

[@leemilica]

​@@panman10jp you sir are a national treasure. Keep doing what you do best, the community appreciates you 😁

[@zexiemarembo]

@@panman10jp I am in Zimbabwe, Africa, came across your video on Instagram and followed it here. It’s been a revelation and marvel watching you do your craft. How can I place an order with you to ship to Zimbabwe?

[@judihopewell2499]

Fascinating program. His talent and skill is awesome. Jimmy Phillips is a treasure. I had always wanted to know how the fine tuning process worked and then to see it actually done right to the ornamental rim start to finish was very generous of him to reveal his process. Thank you…🇨🇦🌹🌹🌹

[@Halkomahooli]

Stumbled on this video by accident but man I got to say I'm happy that I started watching. Awesome work and such a talent 👍🏻

[@chassheppard]

Thanks so much of the support, this video was produced as part of a documentary I'm making on Steel Pan, so there's plenty more coming.

[@intercat4907]

I am taking a World Music class. The teacher did not assign this video - but I am making sure he and everybody in the class hears about it. Thank you for a really happy half hour. (My favorite part was when I realized he was tuning it at the end with a tuning app on his cell phone. 5000 miles away, I use an app for my violin. Great moment.)

[@chassheppard]

Really glad you enjoyed the video :)

[@elebeu]

I will never make, let alone play a steel drum, but it I so enjoy watching a craftsman work and learning the process. Mankind is so imaginative and resourceful.

[@calmgee]

What a great documentation of such a beautiful sound and what goes behind it’s production. Thanks a bunch chas and jimi and the internet for bringing this to my perception.

[@chassheppard]

Thanks so much for the kind words ❤️

[@DadsResale]

Such an interesting video. I always wondered how these were made. And Jim is an awesome human being. Carrying on a tradition and willing to show his hard work and dedication.

[@sputnikalgrim]

I remember hearing these as a kid for the first time, I was enthralled by the sound.

[@AdrianLeal369]

Very intuitive and microtonal facility, this man knows where sound lives.

[@christianheidt5733]

I could listen to this man talk all day, seems like he has a heart of gold 😊.

[@memarks]

It was amazing for me to realize that steel pan makers knew intuitively the techniques that skilled sheet metal fabricators in industry use: Stretch forming; Drawing: (reducing the size of a piece of sheet metal); Flanging; Hemming: Beading: Bulging: Necking: Planishing: Shrinking. And 'nuff physics involved. I'm sure the pan makers/tuners learned some of these terms long after they mastered the skills. The thing is that these skills have traditionally been used to form sheet metal for structural and mechanical components and visually aesthetic shapes. Trini took it one step further to fine tune the skill for, well, fine tuning.😁. Go Trini!👍. (Oh yuh gon a'ready?)

[@darrinlalla9008]

Love his personality! Great craft.

[@russellmcmillian216]

Nice, somebody have to teach somebody, and if the teacher didn't teach, then the pupil would not learn, so good job Mr Philip and thanks for putting Trinidad and Tobago on the map one more time.

[@SteelArtCL]

Thanks for your amazing work! I think it is important to maintain this knowledge and the Trinidad y Tobago culture over time. As Handpan makers we must honor them. Thank you Chas. Best regards from Steel Art Chile 🇨🇱

[@chassheppard]

@@SteelArtCL Thanks guys ❤️

[@kode4420]

Artificial Intelligence can't do that. Keep traditions alive. Thank you for sharing. Thank him as well.

[@oasismike2905]

I'm not a musician, but I listen religiously. There's one song for pan by Cliff Martinez called, "First Sleep," used in the U.S. version of the movie, "Solaris," (or, I think it's pan...it might be baschet cristal). I would like to some day make a pan, and learn that song. I am so grateful to this man for being so open, and complete (and generous) in showing the process. Some day, just a dream...maybe out of reach. Beautiful sounds no matter the genre! Thank you!

[@rogerturley]

Mr. Phillip is one very talented and patient man. Thanks for the video. It's wonderful to see such craftsmanship.

[@kimmyers1543]

Such a talent you don’t learn that overnight that’s years of learning and this man’s got it down pat such a creative person

[@contrail25]

Thanks random youtube suggestion. Very enjoyable to watch an artist like him do what he does. Massive skill there!

[@chassheppard]

Glad you enjoyed it, you can follow the documentary that this is a part of ❤️

[@michaelkiese7794]

This guy is super smart. Like legit high IQ. Very impressive! A true craftsman and engineer! I am left in awe.

[@jlucass8367]

Woawww ! Respect to the man insteresting , because they're contributing to the world. This instrument is really nice .Love his personality!Great craft and this was a fantastic interview /doc..Thank You for sharing. (I'm sorry for my english. )I'm french People of Reunion island créole ) I like the steelpan. I play the double second pan.👍👏🎩🎶🎼🎵🌴🍀Blessing.

[@zillogullu33]

As a Jamaican the Trini Steel Pan is one of my favorite instruments ...

[@damnAmsterdammer]

No shit man! this dude is outstanding. An excellent musician builder. I hope that he passes his craft on to others.

[@bubbleobill267]

Sesame Street has an awesome clip of one being made back in the 70’s. Got me hooked on the cool sound!.

[@robbiemiller5873]

I played a Show on Mother's Day 2000 in Trinidad. A friend took our band to a place that made these pans. Got to see this step by step. I actually bought a small pan and brought it back with me.

[@FlatlandMando]

This is absolutely beautiful!! What a process...science AND art....

[@RutherfordBeehayze-kw2mz]

I could watch this guy work and tune all day

[@371stone]

Jimi is a master of his craft. 👍👍

[@markwunderman9214]

Wonderful video. Jimi Phillip is a great instrument craftsman and it was fascinating to watch him work his steel magic!

[@yannickachamutah9128]

😮 first time seeing this instrument. I'm more than impressed. The man is a legend, his precision and attention to detail is crazy.

[@chassheppard]

I’m so glad I’m able to show off this amazing instrument to new people. A full documentary on pan will come out on this channel in a few weeks.

[@krazmokramer]

FASCINATING! Thank you for sharing.

[@villagelightsmith4375]

One came in when I was working at the dump. I marveled at it ... thought it was a big-ass dog dish. Sold it in a yard sale. Now, I'm making another. How to get the end off the drum? II'm going to try some green Visco fuse and a few ounces of blackpowder for the first edition. Jimi has the right idea. We may question him (and learn) but I'd not want to be the man to doubt him! He knows!

[@joshmyer9]

I really hope this video gets uploaded to the Internet Archive at some point. People will definitely still want to watch this in 20 years, and probably will still want to see how this was done in 200 (if not 2000) years. It's such good documentation of a process that is deep art, with a fantastic flow and clear presentation. The amount of intuition and experience shown here is amazing. I especially love how his responses to analytical, physics-y questions were almost all intuitive (and am glad they got asked, as I had the same questions, and they were gonna bug me). He doesn't have equations for the size of the notes, because he doesn't need them: all the more amazingly human of an art! That's the kind of handiwork that the nerds come along and reverse engineer into equations, but seeing a master working by feel is magic. Thanks for putting this together, and good luck with the upcoming release!

[@CliveBarnettrecluse]

Jimi is so deceiving in his simple and pragmatic approach to life that the casual observer could miss the genius at work in all his endeavors. Getting to know the genius leaves one paying homage to a seemingly ordinary man.

[@thebiggestpanda1]

There is an active attempt to take down the internet archive by international regulators right now.

[@UmbrellaWatch]

Thank You Chas I am an old man just sitting here watching videos and this popped up.. Suddenly not so depressed and down... I had a huge smile.. Much appreciated.. Subbed!

[@chassheppard]

Thanks for the support! Hope you enjoy the rest of the BTS episodes as they come out :)

[@phillipsmith770]

I am blown away. Have always love Steel Drum sounds, now I totally appreciate them!

[@crazycoyote1738]

What a sweet and down to earth person!!

[@ianrobertson3419]

As a pan fanatic, I absolutely loved this video. Thank you Jimmy for taking the time to share with us.

[@chad872]

So great of him to share this…

[@ifatola9405]

I pray that anyone hoping to capitalize on this this man's techniques or the craft gives the proper due and compensation to the art form and its innovators.

[@panman10jp]

Very good thought. Yes, compensation to the art form and it's innovators.

[@SanchElectronixLimited]

Tell the world that you are a true INNOVATOR, Jimi. All the very best for 2024, my dear friend.

[@paulchamberlain3359]

You are truly a master of your love what you do

[@seamuspurcell5065]

i really appreciate , ive been wanting to build drums for years

[@estherrajballi247]

God bless Trini hands ,they invented a the Steelpan gifted people ❤🇹🇹👍

[@barrygrant2907]

Simply amazing! I love listening to the soft sound of steel drums. What a skilled artist!

[@user-or2bw6hh8e]

thank you for the video, that is really cool. the work put into the steel drums actually takes a lot of skill and practice. loved it!!!

[@appleloniahk]

My sweet twin island state gave the world this instrument ❤🇹🇹🇹

[@derekpirie9188]

What a Craftsman. Basic tools. Tuning by ear.

[@jimhood1202]

Happy memories of the pan yards in Trinidad. Thanks for posting.

[@chachaman4980]

This big man: Dedicated to fabricating joy and making the World a happier place.

[@walshy2116]

This gentleman is a national treasure. He must be kept safe at all costs.

[@KimetsuNoYaiba1911]

who threatened him??? ready to save like 😅

[@jaywalker3087]

Back in 1979 I saw this big Rasta guy , hammering away on a drum on a piece of wasteland in Notting Hill, London.. It was a beautiful day and a fond memory.....

[@earlwright9715]

That is amazing. I never thought so much went in to those, beautiful

[@MyYadad]

God Bless you my brothers, over there

[@abdallah344401]

The guy is great and talented. Solute !

[@hopshlooken]

True craftsmanship!

[@fredericrike5974]

Awesome guy, Chas! He must have fantastic hearing! What an art- and all because the US Navy left untold millions of barrels on T&T, which was the shipping make up and transition to over seas fleets from their harbors.

[@stevemcdonald1033]

Beautiful work and a heavenly sound comes forth.

[@erniecamhan]

Very skilled man 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@laurentlungot2148]

Thanks for this nice report, it's very hard and long job, for really beautiful result. Have a nice peace all. ❤❤

[@jreinel1966]

What a great and hard work this gentleman do,incredible...!

[@thefilthygringo9228]

INCREDIBLE craftsmanship!

[@jmkqfnvyl87]

So well presented. Presenting the ancient ways and some of the modern shortcuts. And the reasoning behind every move.

[@chassheppard]

Thanks for the support ❤

[@sjpaul19]

I love this man. Thanks Chas

[@G60syncro]

Wow!! Amazing!! My GF wouldn't agree, but spending a week hammering steel with that guy sounds like a fun vacation!!

[@mcseforsale]

It's funny, I've never been a big fan of the sound of these instruments, but I've always wanted to know how they were made. I'm also a maker, so I appreciate his craftsmanship. Very complicated work, mastered over generations. The geometry is really cool. I hope he's able to find someone willing to learn this craft. Great video!

[@FlatlandMando]

One fall at a small B.C. coastal town ( where I was) a local folk band was invited to play an evening show/ dance & one female musician played a steel drum pan. They all said they were nervous playing for us at first but I remember it as a smash hit of the season with people talking about it weeks after the show. The steel drum pan was used sparingly but added so much.

[@cmusic8013]

love it wish i had one

[@jiritichy6855]

A craftsman of sheetmetal and music fusion!

[@jpjpJPJPG]

This was cool, thank you for filming/uploading and thank you Jimi for sharing with us

[@glenparker234]

The first person to create a steel drum had to be a genius! My hat is off to him and to this fine gentleman who is taking so much time and effort to explain the complexities of creating one of these unique instruments. It has to be a labor of love.

[@williamerentfro9543]

Absolutely awesome!

[@pepsi_max2k]

Many tenor pans (or "soprano" pans) are technically a sopranino range, with a D tenor running up to F6 or higher; above standard soprano range. So, technically, neither Tenor nor Soprano are correct, and both are historical / colloquial names, which speaks to how quickly pan's design has evolved.

[@ibferencdify]

Flexible ruler, my great grandfather actually invented that. It was called a drafting spleen. Sold the parents to Boeing in the late 50s