Tongue drum for my kids

Did you have plans for this or was it just something you came up with? My son would love something like this. Does the type of wood matter? Any tips or tricks to it?

-- Josh, South Jordan Utah

Great job! Are those rubber balls (like super balls) on the sticks?

very nice job!

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com

Nice, I love tongue drums. Check out the one in my projects section someday. Looks like yours is made of white oak and padauk, maybe with some walnut banding? What did you use for the bottom material? Someday I would love to properly tune one of these, but it always escapes me.

http://www.deltaportercable.com/uploads/pcd/documents/woodworkingplans/20021113174632drumbox.pdf

-- Randy, Tupelo, MS ~ A man who honors his wife will have children who honor their father.

I used oak because on the sides because it looks nice, is easy to work and it is solid. The top is padauk for the same reasons and it is a nice contrast. The bottom is walnut because of the contrast and I had an extra piece around. Thanks for the link Randy, I picked the dimensions to my preference. The tuning is sort of beyond me. I guess that is why this one sounded really nice and the other was flat sounding.

-- Style is simple, but not my execution of it.

I had one of these when I was a kid. It was lots of fun.

-- Tim, Nevada MO

I really wanna listen to how it sounds! Video pleeeeease!

-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/

Nice work! I’ve been meaning to make one of these. I couldn’t fine the superballs anywhere. I guess kids don’t play with simple stuff anymore. Could you please supply your source?

Thanks!

-- Les, Arkansas, www.woodthatrocks.com

Nice finnish job!

Les and bb71, I went to a percussion music store in Seattle to buy another type of drum for my kids and they had the drum sticks there. If your town doesn’t have one, then you could google them or search tongue drums on this site and read through the comments.

-- Style is simple, but not my execution of it.

Very nice!! I’ve done several of these and my trial and error have found that the only consistent good sounding tops are paduak and mahogany. I really love the way your paduak turned out such deep color love it…

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

hi i’m curious where did you get the balls for the mallets? thanks.

-- Seems that talent only gets you so far... effort makes you successful.

After doing a Google search I found several sites with plans and discussion on tuning.
Google search.= tongue +drums&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=tongue+drums+plans
As well as a few sites dedicated to them.

-- Folly ever comes cloaked in opportunity!

Topspin, since you live within a mile of me here is the store. Johns’s Music in Seattle, 4501 Interlake Avenue North, (206-548-0916). I-5 northbound, 45th exit (UW), west to Interlake which is one block short of Stone Way N then right and you will see it on the left in about 1 block.

-- Style is simple, but not my execution of it.