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Free Tongue Drum Sheet Music: 10 Beginner Songs (Full PDF Download)

📖 Song List (Click to Jump)

Before You Start

  • Universal Notation: These songs use "Jianpu" (Numbered Notation). 1=Do, 2=Re, 3=Mi. It works for 6, 8, 11, and 13-note drums.
  • Complete Songs: We have provided the full melody, not just the first line. Scroll down to play the whole song.
  • Free PDF: Want to print these out? Click here to download the Full PDF Songbook.

Playing the steel tongue drum is about flow and completion. There is nothing more frustrating than learning the first line of a song and then stopping because the sheet music ends.

Below, I have transcribed 10 complete songs. I’ve included the A and B sections for "Twinkle Twinkle," the full chorus for "You Are My Sunshine," and the complete progression for "Amazing Grace." These are designed to be played from start to finish.

DISCOVER ALL OUR tougue drum

1. How to Read This Music

The Numbers: Match the number on the screen to the sticker on your drum.
The Dots:
1 = Mid Octave (No dot)
1 = High Octave (Dot above)
5 = Low Octave (Dot below)

2. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Complete)

This version includes the main theme (A), the middle section (B) played twice, and the return to the main theme (A).

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Full A-B-B-A Structure
1
Twin-
1
-kle
5
twin-
5
-kle
|
6
lit-
6
-tle
5
star
4
How
4
I
3
won-
3
-der
|
2
what
2
you
1
are
5
Up
5
a-
4
-bove
4
the
|
3
world
3
so
2
high
5
Like
5
a
4
dia-
4
-mond
|
3
in
3
the
2
sky
1
Twin-
1
-kle
5
twin-
5
-kle
|
6
lit-
6
-tle
5
star
4
How
4
I
3
won-
3
-der
|
2
what
2
you
1
are

3. Mary Had a Little Lamb

3
Ma-
2
-ry
1
had
2
a
|
3
lit-
3
-tle
3
lamb
2
Lit-
2
-tle
2
lamb
|
3
lit-
5
-tle
5
lamb
3
Ma-
2
-ry
1
had
2
a
|
3
lit-
3
-tle
3
lamb
3
its
2
fleece
2
was
3
white
2
as
|
1
snow

4. London Bridge is Falling Down

5
Lon-
6
-don
5
Bridge
4
is
|
3
fall-
4
-ing
5
down
2
Fall-
3
-ing
4
down
|
3
fall-
4
-ing
5
down
5
Lon-
6
-don
5
Bridge
4
is
|
3
fall-
4
-ing
5
down
2
My
5
fair
3
la-
1
-dy

5. Row, Row, Row Your Boat

1
Row
1
row
1
row
2
your
3
boat
3
Gent-
2
-ly
3
down
4
the
5
stream
1
Mer-
1
-ri-
1
-ly
5
mer-
5
-ri-
5
-ly
3
Mer-
3
-ri-
3
-ly
1
mer-
1
-ri-
1
-ly
5
Life
4
is
3
but
2
a
1
dream

6. Ode to Joy (Full Theme)

The famous Beethoven theme. It has an A-A-B-A structure. We include the bridge part (Section B) which goes a bit lower.

3
3
4
5
|
5
4
3
2
|
1
1
2
3
|
3
2
2
2
2
3
1
|
2
3
4
3
1
|
2
3
4
3
2
|
1
2
5

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7. Amazing Grace

A soul-stirring melody that uses almost the entire range of an 8-note drum.

1
A-
4
-maz-
|
6
-ing
5
Grace
4
how
|
2
sweet
1
the
1
sound
1
That
4
saved
|
6
a
5
wretch
6
like
1
me
6
I
1
once
|
6
was
5
lost
4
but
|
2
now
1
am
1
found
1
Was
4
blind
|
6
but
5
now
4
I
1
see

8. You Are My Sunshine (Chorus)

1
You
5
are
1
my
2
sun-
3
-shine
|
3
My
2
on-
3
-ly
1
sun-
1
-shine
1
You
2
make
3
me
4
hap-
1
-py
|
6
When
4
skies
3
are
2
gray
1
You'll
2
ne-
3
-ver
4
know
1
dear
|
6
How
4
much
3
I
2
love
1
you
1
Please
2
don't
3
take
4
my
|
1
sun-
2
-shine
3
a-
2
-way
1
.

9. Silent Night

5
Si-
6
-lent
5
night
|
3
Ho-
3
-ly
3
night
|
1
All
1
is
7
calm
|
7
all
5
is
5
bright
6
Round
6
yon
1
vir-
7
-gin
6
mo-
5
-ther
3
and
3
child
1
Sleep
1
in
3
hea-
7
-ven-
5
-ly
3
peace

10. Happy Birthday to You

5
Hap-
5
-py
6
birth-
5
-day
1
to
7
you
5
Hap-
5
-py
6
birth-
5
-day
2
to
1
you
5
Hap-
5
-py
5
birth-
3
-day
1
dear
7
friend
6
.
4
Hap-
4
-py
3
birth-
1
-day
2
to
1
you

11. Auld Lang Syne

5
Should
1
auld
1
ac-
1
-quain-
3
-tance
|
2
be
1
for-
2
-got
2
and
3
ne-
4
-ver
3
brought
1
to
|
1
mind
6
.
1
For
5
auld
3
lang
3
syne
|
2
my
1
dear
2
.
1
For
3
auld
4
lang
3
syne
|
2
We'll
1
take
6
a
5
cup
1
o'
1
kind-
1
-ness
1
yet

🎵 Keep Practicing Offline

Save these 10 complete songs to your phone, tablet, or print them out.

📥 Download Full PDF Songbook (Free)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tongue drum a good instrument for meditation?

Yes, it is one of the best instruments for meditation. The long sustain and harmonic overtones help induce a state of relaxation (Alpha brain waves). It is widely used in yoga studios, sound therapy sessions, and stress-relief practices.

Should I play the tongue drum with my hands or mallets?

Beginners should start with mallets. They produce a clear, loud, and pure tone instantly. Playing with hands requires a specific "snapping" technique to get a good sound and takes some practice to master, but it offers a more intimate connection with the instrument.

Is tongue drum suitable for children?

Yes! It is fantastic for kids. It fosters a sense of rhythm and melody without the frustration of complex technique. For small children (under 8), a 6-inch or 8-inch drum is perfect. For older kids, a 10-12 inch drum is better for learning actual songs.

Steel Tongue Drum vs. Handpan: What's the difference?

Handpans are much larger, played strictly with hands, and cost significantly more ($1000+). They have a distinctive "ufo" shape. Tongue drums are smaller, heavier (made of thicker steel), feature cut-out "tongues," can be played with mallets or hands, and are much more affordable and durable.

Should I choose 11, 13, or 15 notes?

For beginners, 11 or 13 notes is the sweet spot. An 11-note drum covers the essential range for most songs. A 13-note drum gives you a wider octave range, allowing for more complex melodies. 15-note drums are great but the tongues are narrower, requiring more precision to play cleanly.

What size tongue drum is best for beginners?

For adults, a 12-inch or 13-inch drum is ideal. It offers the best balance of resonance, volume, and portability. Smaller drums (6-8 inches) have a higher pitch and less sustain, making them better suited for children or as travel companions. Larger drums (14-15 inches) have deeper bass but are heavier.

Can I learn to play the tongue drum easily?

Yes, tongue drums are widely considered one of the easiest melodic instruments to learn. Because the notes within a scale are designed to sound good together, you can start creating pleasant music right away just by tapping the tongues gently with the included mallets or your fingers. It's very intuitive, requiring no complex theory, making it ideal for beginners and for therapeutic, meditative playing.

What is the best scale for a steel tongue drum?

There's no single "best" scale, as it's subjective. However,Pentatonic scales(5 notes per octave, often arranged intuitively) are very popular, especially for beginners, because they sound harmonious easily. Major scales (like C Major) sound bright and happy. Minor scales (like D Minor) sound more introspective or melancholic. Listen to different scales (e.g., Akebono, Pygmy) online to see which mood appeals most to you.

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