58 Easy Love Songs for 11-Note Tongue Drums - Beginner's Guide to Romantic Tongue Drum

Tongue drums are incredibly versatile instruments and can be crafted with various note arrangements. This book is specifically designed for the most popular and widely used models.

Why C Major?

If you have an 11-note tongue drum and are unsure of its tuning, it’s likely in C major. To confirm, check the chart in the introduction to match your drum’s notes. C major is the most common and widely favored tuning for tongue drums, making this songbook a perfect fit for instruments in this key.

The typical notes for an 11-note C-major tongue drum are:

G (5), A (6), B (7), C (1), D (2), E (3), F (4), G (5), A (6), B (7), C (1)

About the Songbook

This collection features 58 traditional English-language songs and ballads from regions including England, Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Australia. Every song is arranged to be played on a C-major tongue drum with 11 or more keys.

All melodies are presented in traditional sheet music, but the book is equally suitable for beginners. For those unfamiliar with reading standard notation, a helpful numbering system is included above each note.

Playing by Numbers

This book uses the diatonic scale's numbering system, where the numbers 1 through 7 represent the notes in each octave. Dots above or below the numbers indicate whether a note belongs to a higher or lower octave. The range of songs you can play depends on the number of notes your drum has.

How to Play

Most steel tongue drums come with mallets, which are an excellent starting point for beginners. Mallets make it easy to produce clear, resonant tones with minimal effort.

- Start by playing with mallets to familiarize yourself with the instrument.

- When you’re ready, experiment with playing by hand, keeping your fingers free of rings or jewelry for optimal sound quality.

- Ensure your fingers briefly touch the drum surface to allow notes to resonate. Quick, light touches produce richer tones.

- Strike near the edge of the tongues rather than the center to enhance the overtones.

- Use your palm for dynamic strikes or to mute notes, and explore freely—there’s no wrong way to play.

QR Code Recordings

Each song page includes two QR codes that provide additional resources:

One QR code links to a recording of the song played on a tongue drum.

The other QR code connects to a YouTube video featuring a professional performance of the song.

These recordings, while not exact replicas of the versions in this book, are valuable tools for understanding the melodies and rhythms.

With this songbook, you can explore 58 timeless tunes and unlock the creative potential of your tongue drum, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player.

Contents

A Beautiful Life

Annie Laurie

Aura Lee

Bayou Sara

Beautiful Brown Eyes

Big Rock Candy Mountains

Botany Bay

Bound for South Australia

Brennan on the Moor

Cliffs of Doneen

Down by the Salley Gardens

Down the Road

Drink to Me With Thine Eyes

Drunken Sailor

East Virginia Blues

For He Is a Jolly Good Fellow

Get Along Little Doggies

Hopping Dance

I Gave My Love A Cherry

James Connoly

Land of the Silver Birch

Lavender's Blue

Leaving of Liverpool

Little Bessie

Man Of Constant Sorrow

Mary, Did You Know

My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean

My Home's In Montana

My Paddle

My Singing Bird

My Wild Irish Rose

New River Train

Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be

Oh How Lovely The Evening Is

Old Folks At Home

Old Jim Slack Grey Horse

Peace Like a River

Salty Dog Blues

Scarborough Fair

She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain

Shenandoah

Skibbereen

Spancil Hill

Sweet Betsy From Pike.

The Galway Races

The Irish Rover.

The Meeting of the Waters

The Northern Lights of Aberdeen

Three Score and Ten

Tom Dooley

Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra

Trees Grow Tall

Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree

Vive L'Amour

Wanderin

Wellerman

Wildwood Flower

Wreck of Old 97