Email the Author
You can use this page to email Helen Winter about 33 Traditional Native American Songs for Tongue Drum and Handpan.
About the Book
Music is an integral part in the life of the Native Americans, playing a key role in ceremonies, recreational activities, self-expression, and healing. Many different instruments are used in Native American music, including drums, flutes, and other percussion instruments.
This book is suitable for most models of handpan, but if you have a tongue drum, it should have a minimum of 10 keys, because many songs in this book involve more than one-octave notes. The steel tongue drum (aka tong drum, tank drum, gluck-o-phone, hapi, or steeldrum) and the handpan (aka hank drum, UFO drum, zen drum, meditation, healing, yoga, or chakra drum) are percussion musical instruments designed to help you focus on your feelings, sensations, and body.
In musical science, a unique Native American style of singing can be distinguished. It is characterized by rhythmic breathing, a tense voice, and syllabic sounds being more important than lyrics. These technical features helped the shaman achieve a trance state. Although the tongue drum is a modern musical instrument, is perfectly suitable for any tribal song.
Attention: Songs have been transposed for a DIATONIC range. Some melodies might be changed and simplified. If your drum has flat keys, it is recommended that you use the classic sheet music for the piano.
We wrote the note numbers above the notes because our sheet music is aimed at absolute beginners. Just follow numbers and enjoy.
Here you can find traditional songs, handed down from generation to generation: ceremonial (such as corn grinding or moccasin game songs) or healing songs.
Also, we added a QR code to most songs. Follow the link and find this song on YouTube, so that you can listen to the rhythm before beginning to play..
Here, we have collected only simplified diatonic melodies.
About the Author
I'm an early child development therapist and an early development kids center owner. Additionally, I have authored a comprehensive program that utilizes music, activities, and games to promote early childhood development. I develop teaching materials for early solfeggio designed for various musical instruments, with a specific focus on children or beginner adults. Furthermore, I am keenly interested in exploring folk and ethnic music.