Swirling colours cover the top of this 14 cm steel tongue drum: patches of orange, yellow and red with streaks of purple and blue between them. There is a small Om sign in the centre, and the base is blue. Each tongue cut into the metal gives a different note. It weighs about 0.78 kg and was made in India.
Swirling colours like flowing lava
The pattern looks like marbled paint, as if molten lava were rolling across the top of the drum. That is where the name Volcano comes from. If you like warm, fiery colours, this is the version to choose.
For outings and the garden
It is small and light, so it fits in a rucksack. You can play it in a woodland clearing or at the bottom of the garden. Strike the ends of the tongues briefly with a mallet or your fingertip and let them ring.
No musical training is needed. If you strike two or three neighbouring tongues in turn, you are already playing a simple tune. Strike near the tip for a clear note; near the base it sounds duller.
If there are several of you, pass the drum round: everyone strikes a tongue or two, and the notes become a simple tune you make together. It is a good shared game by a campfire or on a family day out.
Keep it out of the rain
The drum is painted steel. If you use it outdoors, don't leave it in rain or dew, and once you are home, just wipe it dry. Don't strike the painted surface with metal objects, as the paint could chip.
In strong sun the metal gets hot, so play it in the shade in summer, and don't leave it in a parked car.