The world of the Caribbean steel drum and purchasing/listening of sample music online.

The Caribbean steel drum also known as the steelpan or simply pan is a musical instrument that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. Before the steel drum was used as a musical instrument, it was used as a call to the gangs to collect and reunite with the other gang members. Since these clash of the gangs always end up in riots and death, the government banned the use of hand drums. Trinidadians, creative as they are, found other means to communicate with other gang members. They used the bamboo which they called "bamboo tamboo" and as they walk on the streets pound the bamboo on the ground to ad intimidation to the rival gangs and they would place machetes inside the bamboo to be used in gang wars. The word tamboo came from the french word "tambeau" meaning "drum". The government also banned the use of these bamboo because of the high incident of injuries even deaths during this gang fights.

Since the Trinidadians were deprived of any rhythmic instruments, in the late 1930's a certain Winston "Spree" Simon was said to be the first person to create a note using the steel drum which was originally convex or dome shaped rather than the dish type we see today. The pans or Caribbean steel drum are pitched percussion instruments tuned chromatically which means it has 12 pitches wherein each is a semitone or a half step apart. While there are also some which are tuned diatonically which means it has 7 notes wherein 5 notes are whole tones while 2 notes are half tone steps. Steelpans, when collectively playing, were called ironbands. The ironband or the pan family is composed of 13 instruments: (i.)soprano, lead or tenor, (ii.)double tenor, (iii.)double second, (iv.)double guitar, (v.)quadrophonic (four pans), (vi.)triple guitar, (vii.)cello - typically made of three to four barrels[8], (viii.)six pan, (ix.)tenor bass (three and four pan variations), (x.)six bass (and numerical variations), (xi.)seven bass, (xii.) nine bass (with numerical variations up to 12), and (xiii.) 12 bass. These instruments when collectively played to produce a rhythmic sound that is soothing to the ears and is easy to listen to. Many samples of the sound of these musical instruments are found online, so chek them out.

As years passed, many different collaboration of instruments were made to produce a unique sound. And more artists mixed the Caribbean steel drum into their genre to give a different vibe and a new sound. The Caribbean steel drum are mostly heard in reggae music but nowadays it can be heard in pop music, rhythm and blues, hip hop and other music genres as well which can all be purchased and downloaded online.

For more information with regards to the Caribbean steel drum please visit: Caribbean steel drum. Steel drum music samples online at: www.caribbeaninspired.com