I tested 5 steel tongue drums for beginners.

I purchased 5 returnable steel tongue drums from you-know-where, in order to choose my instrument as a beginner. I do have a musical ear and didn't want to get stuck with an off-tune instrument (I know one coud tune them, but then you can't return them). I don't think any of them is awfully off-tune, although the wavy sustained overtones from the Aklot hints me that something is off. The 2 Kudout have weaker higher notes. Spoiler alert - the Lomuty sounded the roundest and the most in tune to me, I'll have to learn to live with this weak high E.
I only used the mallet because not much comes out of either instrument when I play with my fingers. I hope this helps someone.
- 6" Hantop - 8 tunes
- 10" Aklot - 11 tunes
- 2x 12" Kudout - 13 tunes
- 12" Lomuty - 13 tunes

[@donna.carroll]

interesting, thanks. I'm thinking of getting the Aklot but the 15 note version, it gets good reviews, fingers crossed it's okay and I like it when it arrives! thank you for posting your video

[@camelCased]

Wondering which one would sound better when played softly, also with fingers. But in my country, I have totally different brand choices - Hluru, Hayman, Sela. Hluru is completely Chinese, lots of reviews. Cannot find reviews of Hayman. The company was UK once and produced real drums, but now they seem to be out of business and Taiwanese are using their brand. Their tongue drums seem to be thicker than Hluru, so very likely will have a deeper, more resonant sound. Hluru might sound "flatter"? Not sure. Cannot try it in local stores, have to buy it online.

[@mariasodo6880]

Thank you very much!

[@mariabentele7909]

Thanks for the informative introduction. I can only find the Lomuty 12” in 11 tunes. I am in Canada. Where did you get yours from?

[@havardfurulund8914]

Isn't this wrong type of club to use for a steel drum? It seems bery hard. We can hear the sound when the club hits the metal?? The sound depends very much on this.

[@MaxWinner]

It seems like type of rubber mallet that comes with these drums, although can get softer coated ones, for softer more harmonic sounds

[@stephanimanikas3293]

❣️ ?Ř????ϻ

[@heatherintheskywithdiamondz]

Thank you!