Get on the bandwagon, because I have been asking that for a while as well. I play steel pan(which is the offical name for the isntrument). What most people here may not realize is that there are many diferent types of steel pans that provide different ranges just like a string ensemble. First, you have the lead or tenor, which is like the first chair vilon. Their role is to play the melody, or the lead vocal depending on the song. They can also play chords, but because the single tenor note's are arranged in the circle of fifths, you really can only use two mallets and end playing double stops (two note chords). This is one of the most common types of pans to play and you'll offten see these played in a group setting or in a solo. Second, you have the double tenor. This kind of pan is like your second chair viloin. The role of the double tenor, which made up of two pans is to either play a counter melody, play the same melody maybe an octave low, the same melody, or chords (most of the time they're double stops). These types of drums are less common than the than the single pan tenor, but can be used in an ensemble an in solo settings and is great if you want to add some extra low notes and learn to play with four mallets instead of two like the single tenor pan. Third, we have the double second. This is also a two pan instrument. The role of the double second can either be to act as the double tenor, and so sometimes the composer will use the double second instead of the double tenor, where it will play a melody along with the lead pans, or manily play chords rolled, syncopated, strummed( liked a guitar), or play arpeggios. These types of pans can be seen played in an ensemble or solo. When played in an ensemble they help layout the chord structure, as they aslo have an extneded range that includes some extra low notes. The double second is kind of like the viola. Fourth, the guitar pan. This is another two pan instrument which as the implies is mainly responsible for strumming chords, while providing a lower end sound to the ensemble and are. You won't typicaly find these types of pans outside of a steel ensemble Fifth we have the cello. There are two types of cellos, the three cello, or triple cello, and the four cello pan, has they eithere come in a set of three or four pans. However, in my band, the cello players really play the guitar pans, but the sheet music written for cello pan. The role of the cello of the cello pan is to either to play help provide the low end of a chord with the double second, again double stops, sometimes play the melody, arpeggios etc. These types of pans are almost always written in the bass celft because they have a very low range, which gives them a nice sweet sound. Last, we have the bass pans. The bass pans are named for exactly what they do, help provide the low end like a bass guitar does, out line chords, play the root not of a chord or whatever the composer wants.

One last thing I want to point is that not all pans have the same range. You can have two pans of the same type and both of them can be a completely different range. For example, in my community band, I play a low c tenor but I have a friend who plays a low d tenor.



Last edited by Islansoul; 02/16/17 07:06 AM.
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plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard,
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