Tinka Tong Slit Drums Log Drums
Tinka Tongs - slit drums with the natural sound of the forest
Discover the core competence of feeltone and Ingo Böhme - since 1982. Our Tinka Tongs combine melody, rhythm and vibration in one instrument. You are enthusiastic about finger playing on drums? Then you should definitely try these slit drums!
Handmade with precision: Tinka Tongs from feeltone
Our Tinka Tongs are made exclusively from air-dried Padouk wood - by far the best tonewood. It is otherwise only used for orchestra marimbas and xylophones. The careful drying process ensures high durability and playing pleasure. In this way, we as instrument makers also make our contribution to sustainability.
Many hours of manual work and a lot of attention to detail go into our Tinka Tongs - from the selection of the right wood to the perfect tuning of the instrument. We decide on the basis of grain and wood growth which piece of wood is suitable for the slotted drums. Once the right material is selected, the basic tunings are worked in. We then glue the lid onto the wooden body made of cherry with its refined interior. After that, each reed is pre-tuned and fine-tuned up to seven times. Only in this way can the Tinka Tong keep its perfect tuning for as long as possible.
Tinka Tongs - the new little finger drums
The little Tinka Tongs were born out of the enthusiasm for finger playing on drums. When the fingers and hands dance on the sounding tongs, the virtuosity and speed surpasses many listening and playing habits. Hand drummers love the interplay of the Tinka Tongs with all rather quiet instruments, such as Frame Drums, Handpans, Sansulas, Monochords or Tank Drums. The small, precisely tuned tongs each reproduce a pentatonic scale. They are especially built for the playing pleasure of all intuitive drummers and musicians, as there are no "wrong" notes.
Tinka Tong Art - harmony in design and sound
At feeltone you can get the "Tinka Tong Art" with 6 or 10 tongues in minor pentatonic. The curved and intertwined tongues create an artistic picture. The scales are not recognizable at first sight, allowing a completely intuitive approach to the tones. Choose between the small Tinka Tong with 6 notes in D minor and the large one with 10 notes in A minor. For each slotted drum of this type we supply you with the matching mallets made of natural rubber directly with it.
Tinka Tong Elements - in harmony with nature
Brand new we build the "Tinka Tong Elements " with 6 tones - now also with a straight reed cut and the easy to follow scale: alternating left and right playing. You get them at feeltone in four tunings:
- Water - Aqua: A, D, F, G, A, D
- Earth - Terra: G, C, E, F, G, C
- Air - Aria: A, C, E, A, B, C
- Fire - Ignis: G, B, D, G, A, B
Like our Koshis, the Tinka Tongs are also associated with the four elements: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. These tunings are currently available in a happy major pentatonic in 432 Hz. The range will be expanded in 2024, so that alternatives in 440 Hz will also be available then. The Tinka Tongs are great to play with the Koshis , the Zenco Elements and the Sansula Elements. With all four Elements tunings you can excellently influence the atmosphere and create completely new melodies alone or in a group.
Playing Tinka Tongs intuitively - discovering sound over and over again
There are a variety of striking techniques that you can try out at will:
- with different mallets in different sizes - mainly made of natural rubber: this also allows fast pegs and tremolos.
- with the hands or the fingers - professionals also play with the fingernails like in Persia
- held at the finger hole on the underside: played one-handed in dance or movement with mallets or fingers
Put together your very own ensemble of small, medium, large and giant slit drums and experience a gamelan-like drum sound that encompasses all sound levels and enables completely new sound experiences. Freely according to feeltone's motto: Feel the sound!
You are enthusiastic about our Tinka Tongs and want to learn more about our specially developed instruments and sound furniture? Then browse through feeltone's online store or visit our YouTube channel. We are also happy to assist you with a personal consultation.