More low notes on a Tenor (Lead) Pan

by Poppy
(England)

Does anyone make Tenor (Lead) Pans with notes lower than C4?

I'm sure I'm not the only one frustrated when I have to jump an octave mid-song or have to play the whole song an octave higher, therefore losing out on the warm richness of the lower notes. Sometimes all I need is a Low Bb or B below C4... Please help ...
Thanks
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I share your frustration! I have run out of notes several times and had to change the key of a piece or like you, 'jump an octave mid-song'.

The good news is, it is possible to get tenor (lead) pans that go below C4 (middle C). The lowest I have seen is A3. However these pans are hard to come by.

Your best bet is to speak with a pan tuner and get him to custom make a tenor pan to your specifications. Depending on the diameter of the drum, you may also lose some of your high notes when you add the lower notes.

Another simpler (and cheaper) option is to use an Extended Range Tenor Pan, which simply means you play a tenor and double seconds (alto) pan at the same time. The tenor and the double seconds are played as one instrument.

There is no standardized set up for extended range pans. I usually hang the left half of the double seconds to the left of the tenor and hang the right half of the double seconds to the right of the tenor. In other words, the tenor pan hangs in the middle of the double seconds.

You can create extended range pans using any pans. Another example is playing a double seconds and a guitar pan at the same time.

The major problem with extended range pans is the sticks. Most pannists wrap both ends of their sticks. One end for the high notes and the other end for the lower notes and they flip the sticks as needed. This takes a little practice but is very doable.

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May 24, 2016
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Oct 15, 2015
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by: robertphilps

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Apr 27, 2015
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Apr 27, 2015
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Nov 16, 2010
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Down to A
by: Anonymous

Panyard used to make an extended lead pan that went to A below middle C up to about A above the treble clef staff (actual decent sounding notes). I have one and love it. It's possible they'd make one for you but it probably wouldn't be cheap. I heard from someone who used to work for them that they only made 15 of those pans back in the mid '90s.

Jul 08, 2009
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More notes on Tenor (Lead) Pan reply
by: Anonymous

Thank you so much for your info, I did wonder about using another lower pan (extended pan as you say) only last week, and didn't realise that others were already doing it! It makes sense, a lot of expense though, and carrying about 3 pans (!) Yikes, that would be a challenge on my own! or even having somewhere to put them in the house!

Do you know or can you recommend a pan tuner who would custom make a pan as you suggested?
I would be more than willing to substitute a few of the higher notes for some beautiful low ones.
I wouldnt have a clue who to go to though, and thought they might cost the earth.

I read on the net about a guy in Germany (ECS), but its not being able to hear the tone of the pan first that is such gamble. Do you know anyone who has had a pan from him?

If you have any further info of anyone who would do this I would be grateful.

Oh yeah and the two ended mallets, wow genius idea, I will set about doing this as soon as I'm done typing. Then have fun trying to flip them...

Thanks

p.s. a fantastic site so glad I found it, well done
Thanks

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