The drum reinvented: Interesting facts about the glucophone

Percussion instruments seem extremely easy to learn. One of them, the tank drum, is really uncomplicated - even a child can play a melody on it without difficulty. But the visual appearance of this instrument is very unusual - it looks a little like a UFO.

Glucophone consists of two bowls with carved petals, striking on which with special sticks or fingers you can extract harmonious sounds. Even those who are not proficient in playing any instrument will be able to play it - this modernized drum is designed so that every note sounds pleasant to the ear.

Here are some interesting facts about the tank drum:

The sounds of the tank drum are often used as music for meditation. If you search for "music for meditation" on any music platform, you will surely find songs that include this instrument. This fact is not surprising - the tank drum sounds soft and relaxing, the sounds resonate, giving the listener the energy contained in their vibration;

The first recordings of this instrument that appeared in the public domain date back to 2006-2007, when musician Felle Vega introduced the first tank drum. It was made of propane tank, and the petals were placed on the sides instead of on top;

● In 2021, the world's largest tank drum was made in Murmansk, weighing over 600 kg;

Tank drums are not only round. Some models are parallelepipedic in shape;

The best materials for tank drum sticks are felt or rubber, which bounce well off the instrument and produce a clear, moderately loud sound;

●The name tank drum accurately reflects the essence of the instrument. The first instruments were made from gas cylinders.