| Steel Selection |
| We have researched many different steels to find one with the perfect balance of tone and harmonics. Along with great sound one of the benefits of using steel is its environmentally friendly nature. It is one of the most heavily recycled materials in the world. |
| Precision Crafted |
| We press our steel into molds that we have created for our unique shapes. These are not propane tanks. Our patent pending note layouts were painstakingly created. They produce the best sound and supporting harmonics for each note. Each tongue is sculpted into shape using a computer controlled cutter. This give us perfectly clean cuts and accuracy on every drum. We have added additional dampening to the notes and drum body to keep the drum from becoming discordant and “ringy”. Our breakthrough proprietary technique built into each drum provides excellent resonance while supplying the correct amount of dampening. We have carefully chosen an opening port in the bottom of the drum that serves three functions. The bottom hole allows the sound to escape and increases the volume. It releases the tone from the body so that the notes do not overlap each other too much. This is especially desirable for faster playing. It allows the player to open or close the port with their lap and chose different resonance levels for a different effect. |
| Tuning |
| Each note on the drum is skillfully hand tuned using a strobe tuner. The unique tone of the drum is created by a tuned vibrating tongue of steel. The concept is similar to a wooden tongue drum. When a tongue is quickly and lightly struck with the finger or mallet it vibrates creating sound waves. By changing the shape and length of the tongue optimal vibration and perfect tone is achieved. By arranging the notes in our unique way each note when struck excites surrounding notes that are musically compatible with it. This adds to the harmonic spectrum of the tone. Rather than just one tone we can now create a spectrum of supporting sound for each note. The tone is similar to singing bowls or musical bells which create multiple harmonic overtones. The body of the drum acts as a resonating chamber adding depth to the note. |
| Finishing |
| Powder coating is applied to the outside and inside of the drum for a super durable and attractive finish. Our powder coating has a stone like texture for a great feel. It is a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. It emits zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs) unlike common spray and liquid paint. Powder coating over spray can also be recycled so it is possible to achieve 100 percent use. While powder coating is more expensive we feel the benefits outweigh the additional cost. We then add our custom designed isolated rubber feet to the bottom of the drum. These feet make it possible to set your drum on any surface and still get a great tone. The low profile of the rubber feet make it comfortable to play the drum in your lap too. |
| Every step of creating the HAPI drum is done with care and excellence to produce the best steel tongue drum on the market today. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. |
