Double Tenor (Alto)
The double tenor pan has a tonal range of two and a half octaves, distributed over two drums with 15-17 notes in each. The layout of the double tenor pan seems to consider playing convenience and tonal range more than acoustical matters. Since the notes are separated by a double groove there might be less need for a harmonic arrangement of the notes than in other steel pan models.
The regular Trinidadian way to hang the double tenor is to use two stands with their supporting arms in line with each other. This has the advantage that double tenors and tenors can be used in the same stands in the steelband set-ups. But it will also mean that both drums will hang at a slight angle, tilted with the back end lower. If you want to play fast this will be a disadvantage, because you have to lift your hands rather high when you move them from one drum to another.
To speed up the playing Rudy Smith and other solo players have turned their stands with the supporting arms almost in parallel with each other. In this way the drums will be tilted towards the point between the drums where the player is standing. Thus the lowest part will be facing the place where you want to move the sticks between the drums while playing. This will presumably be a more common styling in the future. Therefore, the pan shown in the layout figure is a regular (as far as I know) Trinidad double tenor, but it is rotated according to Rudy Smith styling for ease in playing.
Overview of the Double Tenor pan
Special crafting techniques
The notes on a regular Trinidad double tenor are separated by two grooves at a distance of 10 mm. According to some tuners there is no need for this nowadays; they are just there for good "looks". Presumably, there was an acoustic need for them earlier, and then people got used to the look. If this extra distance was to be removed, even more notes could be packed into the double tenor pan. This is presumably what will happen in the future.
The straight inner border of the outer notes on a double tenor in Trinidad style also seems to be just for "looks". The acoustically active dent is shaped in the same way as for the rest of the pans. Making this inner border rounded would presumably make the pan easier to tune and reduce the acoustic interference between the notes.
Measures for the Double Tenor pan
The measured double tenor pan was made by Rudy Smith in 1988. (Smiths left hand set-up was converted to Trinidad right hand style according to tuner Lawrence Mayers.) The measured pan had the inner borders of the outer notes rounded off in the same way as double seconds, etc. The normal distance between the grooves of adjacent notes in the outer ring is 10 mm.
Notes |
Drum |
Groove |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number |
Tonal Range |
Depth of playing |
Length of |
Hole pos. |
Width [mm] |
Radial length [mm] |
End from rim [mm] |
32 |
F3-C6 |
180-195 |
240 |
50 |
2 * 6 |
130 |
50 |
Note |
Position |
Radial length |
Tangential length |
Length along rim |
---|---|---|---|---|
F3 |
Outer left |
155 |
230 |
270 |
F#3 |
Outer left |
155 |
230 |
265 |
G3 |
Outer right |
150 |
225 |
270 |
G#3 |
Outer left |
150 |
225 |
255 |
A3 |
Outer left |
150 |
220 |
255 |
Bb3 |
Outer right |
147 |
210 |
235 |
B3 |
Outer right |
145 |
200 |
230 |
C4 |
Outer left |
150 |
200 |
225 |
C#4 |
Outer left |
150 |
195 |
215 |
D4 |
Outer right |
147 |
187 |
210 |
D#4 |
Outer right |
140 |
175 |
205 |
E4 |
Outer right |
147 |
175 |
200 |
F4 |
Outer left |
145 |
170 |
185 |
F#4 |
Outer right |
140 |
165 |
185 |
G4 |
Middle right |
145 |
103 |
|
G#4 |
Middle left |
140 |
103 |
|
A4 |
Middle left |
139 |
97 |
|
Bb4 |
Outer right |
140 |
120 |
150 |
B4 |
Middle right |
125 |
90 |
|
C5 |
Middle left |
115 |
90 |
|
C#5 |
Middle left |
111 |
85 |
|
D5 |
Middle right |
110 |
84 |
|
D#5 |
Middle right |
105 |
80 |
|
E5 |
Middle right |
97 |
77 |
|
F5 |
Middle left |
96 |
74 |
|
F#5 |
Middle right |
95 |
72 |
|
G5 |
Inner right |
85 |
65 |
|
G#5 |
Middle left |
82 |
63 |
|
A5 |
Middle left |
75 |
58 |
|
Bb5 |
Middle right |
73 |
60 |
|
B5 |
Inner right |
71 |
55 |
|
C6 |
Inner left |
65 |
55 |