Slit drum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An example of a slit drum from the Philippines known as a kagul by the Maguindanaon people
Enlarge
An example of a slit drum from the Philippines known as a kagul by the Maguindanaon people[1]

slit drums are percussion instruments that have parallel slits in one side and one slit across the middle, not always at the center point. Unequal length tongues on the slit drum produces 2 different pitches. The ends of the slit drum are closed so that the shell becomes the resonating chamber for the sound vibrations created when hitting the tongues with a mallet. This is a similar acoustical property to the way an acoustic guitar functions. The resonating chamber increases the volume of the sound produced by the tongue and presents the sound through an open port. If the resonating chamber is the correct size for the pitch being produced by the tongue, which means it has the correct volume of airspace to complete 1 full sound wave for that particular pitch, the instrument will be more efficient and louder.

Contents

[edit] List of Slit Drums

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mercurio, Philip Dominguez (2006). Traditional Music of the Southern Philippines (html). PnoyAndTheCity: A center for Kulintang - A home for Pasikings. Retrieved on June 12, 2006.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links