Tongue Drum in Handpan Look
- Tuning: D Celtic Minor
- Tones: D, A, C1, D1, E1, F1, G1, A1, C2
- Material: 2 mm steel
- Diametre: 51 cm
- Height: 17 cm
- Weight: 5.9 kg
A sonorous instrument
The RAV Vast2 D Celtic Minor is a tongue drum that is visually and sonically reminiscent of classic handpans. This melody and percussion instrument is handcrafted in Russia and comprises two steel bowls joined by a golden brass ring around the edge. As with a handpan, the sound fields are also on the top of the RAV Vast, yet not in the form of hammered domes and dents, but as intricately curved tongues cut into the teal-lacquered body. Struck with the hands or mallets, the RAV Vast delivers relaxing sounds with a long decay time that are precisely tuned to each other on each model. The user-friendly layout enables intuitive playing and lets the player delve into the tongue drum’s sonic world without any prior musical knowledge.
Melodic, rhythmic, complex
The RAV Vast tongue drum should preferably be played while seated and simply placed on the thighs or knees. A wide range of different sounds can be coaxed out of a RAV Vast with different striking techniques, using the fingertips, thumbs, etc. and also by varying the striking point on the tongues: Sometimes bassy and voluminous, sometimes bright and rich in overtones, but always with a very clean, long decay. Moreover, the areas between the sound fields can be used for percussive accents, just like they can with a handpan. Thanks to its wide dynamic range, the RAV Vast reacts to the lightest of touches with clean intonation, but can also really get going with the right playing style. As mentioned at the beginning, the sonic spectrum of this tongue drum can be further exploited by playing with felt and rubber mallets.
Perfect for getting started
The RAV Vast2 D Celtic Minor is the right choice for anyone looking for their first tongue drum. Its harmonic tuning is very beginner-friendly and makes it possible to play perfect melodies even without the ability to read music. It is tuned to the popular D minor scale and has a soothing, relaxing sound without drifting into melancholy. The notes of the tongues are tuned to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th octave, with the note D3 being in the centre. Several conventional chords can be played with the D Celtic Minor, including F major, С major, A minor, D Dorian, and F Lydian. Thanks to their nifty colour coating, RAV Vast tongue drums are durable and robust - and therefore of course also ideal for children's first musical journeys of discovery.
About RAV Labs
The story of RAV Labs begins in 2013, when Russian engineer Andrey Remyannikov stumbled across handpan videos on the internet and was so fascinated by their sound that he was determined to buy one himself. However, handpans were extremely expensive at the time and difficult to get hold of, with waiting times lasting over two years. So, without further ado, Remyannikov set about developing his own model. However, the tuning of handpans is a well-kept secret and, after a few initial failed prototypes, he decided to develop a tongue drum that would sound like a handpan instead, resulting in the birth of the RAV Vast. The concept was successful, global demand grew quickly, and the team grew considerably – and so the company RAV Labs was founded in Perm, Russia. Today, RAV Labs produces tongue drums in over 20 scales as well as classic hand pans (RAV Pans), as well as various accessories.
Take off into creative spheres
Listening to the mystical sound of a tongue drum makes you inevitably think of sound therapy, meditation, and yoga sessions - and indeed the RAV Vast drums are used to musically accompany these kind of activities all over the world. Far from spiritual paths, however, the RAV Vast2 D Celtic Minor can also be excellently combined with other instruments such as guitar, piano, violin, flute, percussion, and vocals. It provides fresh inspiration for songwriting and suits World Music as well as Rock ballads. If you want to expand the playing possibilities at some point and buy a second tongue drum as an addition, you can find further scales in the RAV Vast E Low Pygmy and A Integral models, which harmonise perfectly with the D Celtic Minor.
In the spotlight: RAV Vast and Vast2
The variation in the type designation does not stand for an old and new generation of tongue drums: It indicates a small difference in construction. All models with the simple "Vast" in their name have a playing surface made of 1.5 mm thick steel, while the playing surface of the "Vast2" models is made of 2 mm thick steel. According to the manufacturer, the difference between Vast and Vast2 has no effect on the quality of the instruments. It is simply a variation in the production process, as some scales or tunings sound better with thicker steel, while others benefit from thinner steel.
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