These online virtual steel drums will give you the bright sound of a steelpan. It’s a 3D model of an instrument on screen which you can zoom in, out and turn around. Real tenor steelpan recordings is used for each note. That is, it isn’t a synthesiser but a genuine instrument that you hear.
You can play with either your fingers (on a tablet or phone) or a mouse. Alternatively, you could use your computer keyboard. You do not need to download anything or sign up.
How to Use the Online Steel Drum
Tap Enable sound at the top of the widget. It loads in the recordings, and you can see the button count up. Tap a note to start the loading process. Next to the Sound on button is a round record button. Tap the question mark to open the help and credits. There’s a Fullscreen button that takes over your entire screen with the pan. Click the same button again (or press Esc) to exit fullscreen.
There are 24 notes that span all semitones from B5 to C4. The outer ring has the lower octave notes in the larger fields. Starting on the nearest side to you, they begin with C4 at the edge. Then the inner ring repeats this but an octave higher. Just inside here is C5. If you follow the ring around, then you’re following the circle of fifths. As you travel round you’ll encounter C, G, D, A, E, B, F♯, C♯, A♭, E♭, B♭ and F. Note names is displayed in each field.
When you hit one of these fields, a virtual mallet taps the note. At the same time, the field illuminates. You can play using multiple fingers simultaneously. To play successive notes, slide your finger along the pan. Each new note it passes over will sound.
Below the pan is the Notes row which presents all 24 notes as pads in order. They are shaded to show sharps and flats. Each pad displays the key. The lower octave sits on A W S E D F T G Y H U J on your computer keyboard. These are laid out like piano keys. The home row plays the natural notes. Above this are the sharps and flats. The upper octave include Z X C V B N M , . / ; ‘. Each of these keys is one semitone higher than the previous key.
The pan lives within its own frame on the page. Before playing from the keyboard, click inside the widget first.
The notes C, G, Am, F, Dm, and Em are played on the Harmonies row. These also are played on the number keys 1 to 6. Two notes are struck simultaneously from the recording. Both mallets hit the pan simultaneously. One tap, two mallets.
Pressing the Space bar will hold a steady, quick roll. You can also use the Roll button. It rolls on the harmony or note you last chose. At normal speed it hits six times a second. While you’re picking another note, it continues to roll. If you want to walk it through a melody, no problem. Just press Space or click the button again to stop it. The square stop button stops everything instantly. So does the Esc key.
The speed goes from 0.5× to 2×, which changes both the song tempo and the speed of the roll. The sound presets Soft touch, Classic pan, and Bright & lively define how hard the virtual mallets hit the instrument. What’s that? Different dynamic layers have been recorded. These vary from soft hits through to strong. The livelier options include some extra room sound.
Volume Slider, located at the bottom of the widget. This controls the overall level. This controls the overall level.
To play tunes, open the Song menu. Select Island breeze, Ode to Joy, Twinkle, Twinkle, Sunset steps or Harmony garden. Harmony garden is not single notes but harmony pads. Hit Listen and you will hear the tune played for you. As each note sounds it lights up on the pan. A counter shows how far through the tune you are. The guide shows what note should be played now and the next three notes. When the tune finishes it says FINISHED. It invites you to try Play along.
The first game is a play-along game. Just tap the green field on the pan, or the green pad. It’s immediate. Don’t rush. What comes next is shown in the Then line. If the same note returns, the target will say AGAIN. You just tap it again. As long as the game is running, other notes won’t play. How far through the tune you’ve got to is shown by the progress bar and counter. When you finish it says LOVELY. At any time you can click End game to stop.
Pressing the round record button starts recording what you play on the instrument. No need for a mic, just press that and you’re away. Press again to end the recording. You’ll see a Save recording link where you can save your performance. The recording will be saved locally on your browser.
Click Explore 3D to look around the pan, then drag the background to turn and scroll to zoom in/out. All the pads and the visible note fields remain playable. Tap Front view to return to normal angle.
These sounds are provided by jSteelDrum v2 by Jeff Learman and are released under the Unlicense. These are dynamic layers covering a range of 24 chromatic notes. Alternate strikes are included. Each note does not sound the same if you repeat it, which is nice. There are two sampled notes for the harmonies. This is a special 3D model made specifically for this player. Rendered using Three.js.
If this is your first foray into the world of the virtual online steel drums then try Twinkle Twinkle. Hit Listen and then Play along. When you’re familiar with the tune press Space to begin the roll. Play it again. A steady roll of notes rings out as you choose them.
