Course Curriculum

  • 2

    Lesson 1: How To Hold Your Mallets

  • 3

    Lesson 2: Basic Stroke Techniques

    • Basic Stroke Techniques

  • 4

    Lesson 3: How to Roll with Mallets

    • How to Roll with Mallets

  • 5

    Lesson 4: 16th Note Rhythm

    • Lesson 4: How to play a 16th note rhythm

  • 6

    Lesson 5: Blending Notes

    • Lesson 5: How to blend notes together

  • 7

    Lesson 6: Warm Up Exercise

    • Lesson 6: Warm Up Exercise

  • 8

    Lesson 7: Triplet Rhythms

    • Lesson 7: Triplet Rhythms

  • 9

    Lesson 8: Paradiddle Rhythms

    • Lesson 8: Paradiddle Rhythms

  • 10

    Lesson 9: Creating Your Own Song

    • Lesson 9: Creating Your Own Song

  • 11

    Lesson 10: Keep Exploring Your Rhythm

    • Keep Exploring Your Rhythm

    • Tips For Caring For Your Tongue Drum

Course Instructor

Rhythm Practitioner, Founder of Root Rhythm

Alexandra Ray

Alex is a drum instructor based in Saint Paul, MN. She started playing the drums over 20 years ago and has developed an interest in world percussion. She plays many different types of drums and her current practice integrates the rhythms of the drum with mindfulness and gratitude around nature. Alex has been a member of several percussion groups and performance ensembles in Georgia, Texas, and Minnesota. She is the current Director of DrumHeart, a women's performance drum group, and teaches drum classes and workshops at the Women’s Drum Center.

Enroll In Course

Get started with learning the tongue drum basics and begin creating your own songs and rhythms today!

FAQ

  • What materials will I need to take this course?

    You will need access to the internet and your own tongue/tank drum. You can still take this course without owning a tongue drum, but to get the most out of this course it is helpful to have a tongue drum to practice with.

  • What scale does my tongue drum need to be in?

    Any scale! This course focuses on the fundamentals of playing the tongue drum and can be translated to any scale. Even if the design of your tongue drum is different than the one used in this course, most of the lessons can still be adapted to other styles of tongue/tank drums.

  • What level of experience is this course for?

    This course is designed for people in the beginning stages of learning the tongue drum or for people who are looking to get a refresh on the techniques and basic rhythms that can be played on the tongue drum. Students do not need to know how to read music and a background in music is not required.

  • What types of songs will I be able to play after taking this course?

    This course is designed to give students and introduction into how to play the tongue drum. The course lessons are broken down to give students the foundation to creating their own songs-- based off of example rhythms, warm up exercises and sticking techniques. Even though this type of drum can be played intuitively, this course will help players get the best sounds out of the drum and give more dynamic to their playing.

Student Reviews

5 star rating

Great teaching style

Aaron Hargrove

This course is very well thought out with concepts explained in a way that is easy to grasp for a beginner.

This course is very well thought out with concepts explained in a way that is easy to grasp for a beginner.

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5 star rating

Tongue Drum Basics

Candy Filo

Easy to follow, simple enough for very beginners, Very encouraging!

Easy to follow, simple enough for very beginners, Very encouraging!

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5 star rating

tongue drum basics

Lilla Ross

this is an excellent primer for the tongue drum. it's very easy to follow.

this is an excellent primer for the tongue drum. it's very easy to follow.

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5 star rating

16th notes

Bill Dew

sounds beautiful

sounds beautiful

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