This virtual steel drum has been created so that you can actualy perform it from your browser by playing it on either your computer keyboard or with a mouse. It’s tuned like an actual steel drum, with the same layout as a tenor pan (lead instrument of a steel drum band). There are no audio driver or software required; simply launch the interface and begin making some music by clicking on the drum surface or pressing the keyboard keys that has been assigned to them.
It has three distinct parts. There is a central dome followed by a ring of 12 notes formed into a circle of fifths. Surrounding this is another ring of the same twelve notes an octave up. On a genuine drum, all these notes produce a smooth sounding melodic run as each one sits perfectly a fifth above or below its neighbor. In the middle of the drum is a high C that adds a bright accent to your phrase.
How to Use the Virtual Steel Drum
Click on any part with the mouse to hear how it sounds. If you want to play a melody quicker then you can use the keyboard. This consist of two rings with the outer one being controlled by the number row at the top of your keyboard. From 1-9 this equates to the first nine notes. These are followed by 0, the minus sign and the equals sign which take care of the last three notes. That means you have the whole chromatic scale mapped out across your fingers.
If you press the corresponding number again but this time hold the Shift key down it will sound the inner ring which is an octave up. This allows you to reach higher registers without reaching for additional keys. The middle dome in the center when pressed makes a note called C, so it’s easy enough to get to the highest note too.
To assist with shaping your sound there are a few controls below the drum graphic. The Island groove and Calypso demo buttons play short pre-recorded melodies that is handy to hear how it’s meant to be used. As they play through you’ll notice the wedges on the drum light up indicating which notes is being struck. Watch what’s happening then attempt to copy it yourself.
The echo button adds a simple delay effect to your playing. When this button is active, every note you hit repeats a little while later to make an atmospheric, spacious sound. It works especially well if you’re trying to make slower melodic lines that want to hang in the air.
Adjust the Master Output Level. You’ll notice there’s a little volume slider here, which you should of use to match the audio output level to your headphones/speakers.
The Fullscreen button expands the widget to take up more of your screen if you are on a smaller device or want to focus on the drum without distractions. The How to play button toggles the help panel you just saw, which shows the same info. Handy in case you forget the keyboard mappings and need a reminder!
If you want to make the best use of this instrument then here are a few tips. Firstly and perhaps most importantly, there is the roll. Musicians play a note quickly using two mallets on a real steel drum producing a kind of shimmering sustain. You can replicate this on the drum by clicking and holding down your mouse button on a wedge. There will be a short wait before it starts to produce the roll. What happens is there is a rapid succession of hits which fills out the sound. It’s essential if you’re looking to play in traditional calypso rhythms. These rhythms often have a sustained chord providing the harmonic background.
The circle of fifths is not only useful for experimenting with harmony but you can use it in this way too. It’s interesting because each note is a perfect fifth away from its neighbors, so if you play two adjacent wedges on the keyboard, they will sound good together. If you tap one outer wedge then its neighbour clockwise you’ll notice how naturaly this harmonises with the tune and suits the melody perfectly. What it does is make adding simple harmonies to your solos quite straight forward with no fear of clashing notes.
Beginners should listen to the demos first. Watch the lighting of the notes and attempt to play them on the keyboard. When you feel confident, do the same without the demos running and see what tune you can create. To add extra depth to your performance use the roll technique on the chords and add an echo effect that adds a delay to your notes. You will soon get used to the keyboard layout. You will be able to jump easily between the upper and lower octaves and across the whole extent of the instrument.
Take a quick trip into the sound of Caribbean music through a simple musical instrument: the virtual steel drum. Free from the complexities of its traditional construction and setup, it brings the distinctive voice of the instrument straight to you. The controls are there to get out of the way so whether you wish to try out a melody, create some harmonies or simply make some nice noise, go ahead. Just take a little time to adjust the volume to suit your speakers, select one of the demos to hear, and begin tapping along in time to whatever rhythm takes your fancy.
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