The Steel Pan is considered to be the only new acoustically tuned percussion instrument invented in the 20th century

The Steel Pan was invented in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago about the time of the 1st and 2nd World Wars. The American Navy stationed in the Trinidad discarded the used fifty-five (55) gallon oil drums on the island.

How They Are Made and Played

The drums are cut to various lengths and the tops hammered into a concave shape. The note areas are then chiseled in by hand. The drums are placed in fire to be tempered before being fine-tuned. They are played with rubber tipped wooden mallets.