Zenko Tank Drum – Presentation

Today, we have a clip prepared in co-operation with Music Center and Avant Drum Shop, presenting a very interesting instrument.

ZENKO is a family of tongue drums, also called tank drums. Originally, they were made from empty gas tanks, hence the latter name. Designed and manufactured in France by the Metal Sounds company, these instruments are made from stainless steel.

The product range includes eight tank drums. Each of them has its own scale comprised of nine notes. The manufacturer has set two goals with regard to ZENKO: the instrument must produce nice, soft tones of ear-friendly characteristics and remain in perfect tune for many years (no tuning is required).

The models featured in our clip are SOLSTICE and IONIAN. We must admit that the sine waves display moderate amplitudes, which makes the sonic characteristics very soothing and nice to the ear. According to producer specs, Zenko Solstice is tuned in open G (D, G, B, D), the note at its centre is B3, which produces a sound rich in low-tones, and the scale is: B3, C#3, D4, F#4, G4, Bb4, B4, D5, F#5. Ionian, in turn, offers a diatonic tuning in A minor, while the note at its centre is A3, and the full scale is: A3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, C5.

The remaining Zenko Tank Drum models are:

PENTA C (A3, C4, D4, E4, G4, A4, C5, D5, E5)

AKEBONO (G3, C4, D4, Eb4, G4, G#4, C5, D5, Eb5)

HARMONY (C4, F4, Ab4, Bb4, C5, C#5, Eb5, F5, G5)

OMEGA (G3, Eb4, G4, Ab4, B4, C5, D5, Eb5, F5)

PYGMY (C4, D4, Eb4, G4, Bb4, C5, D5, Eb5, G5)

EQUINOX (G3, B3, C4, D4, E4, F#4 G4, B4, D5).

Technical specs:

Number of notes in a scale: 9

Material: stainless steel

Diameter: 32 cm

Height: 13 cm