What is a tongue drum? Discover the origins of the tank drum

The tank drum (or tongue drum) is an instrument which was invented in 2007 by Dennis Havlena, a music lover who traveled the world to feed his passion and to propose recycled material-based instrument making classes. 

Dennis Havlena had the idea of using a gas tank to make a musical instrument during a workshop that he ran in Africa. He was inspired by idiophones to create the first tank drum: the father of the tongue drum.

He generously shared his invention with the whole world by publishing the manufacturing drawings.

Since then, the instrument has considerably evolved, tongue drum manufacturers now offer different models with specific designs, colors and scales.