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The Domina Songbook

Ten songs for the Idiopan Domina 12 inch, 8 note steel tongue drum, from Amazing Grace and Morning Mood to three originals written for the Domina. Every song has tongue numbers, sheet music and, for most songs, a video lesson. Download the free PDF and play along.

Download the free PDF See the songs
The Domina Songbook for the Idiopan steel tongue drum

How to read the tongue numbers

Every song is written two ways: on a musical staff, and as a line of tongue numbers above it. The numbers tell you which tongue to strike. Tongue 1 is the lowest note, G3, and tongue 8 is the highest, D5.

  • A hyphen (-) holds the note for one more beat.
  • Numbers stacked on top of each other are played together.
  • The tempo mark, such as 70 bpm, sets the speed. A metronome helps.

The songs are written for the Domina as it arrives, in C major pentatonic.

  1. Tongue 1G3
  2. Tongue 2C4
  3. Tongue 3D4
  4. Tongue 4E4
  5. Tongue 5G4
  6. Tongue 6A4
  7. Tongue 7C5
  8. Tongue 8D5
Domina tongue map and notation legend from the Domina Songbook

How to play Old MacDonald Had a Farm on a steel tongue drum

Folk song · 60 bpm · 4/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Old MacDonald Had a Farm played on the Idiopan Domina

Tongue numbers

7 7 7 5 6 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 5 7 7 7 5 6 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 5 5
7 7 7 1 1 2 2 2 5 5 7 7 7 1 1 2 2 2 7 7 7 5 6 6 5 4 4 3 3 2 -

A good first song: mostly single notes and an even beat.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Amazing Grace on a steel tongue drum

John Newton · 70 bpm · 3/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Amazing Grace played on the Idiopan Domina

Tongue numbers

1 2 - 4 2 4 - 8 7 - 6 5 - 1 2 - 4 2
4 - 3 5 - - 5 - 4 5 4 5 4 2 - 5
6 7 7 6 5 - 1 2 - 4 2 4 - 3 2 - - 2 -

Count three beats per bar and let the long notes ring.

Amazing Grace sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Mary Had a Baby on a steel tongue drum

Spiritual · 70 bpm · 4/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Tongue numbers

2 2 2 2 3 4 2 - 1 - 2 2 2 2 3 4 7 6 5 -
2 2 2 2 3 4 6 - 5 4 5 6 5 6 4 4 2 2 4 3 2 -
Mary Had a Baby sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Morning Mood on a steel tongue drum

Edvard Grieg, from Peer Gynt · 90 bpm (eighth note) · 6/8 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Morning Mood played on the Idiopan Domina

Tongue numbers

5 4 3 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 4 6 5 4 3 2 1
5 4 3 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 3 4 3 4 5 4 5 6 4 6 5 4 3 2

Keep the six eighth notes in each bar flowing evenly.

Morning Mood sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Carol, Children, Carol on a steel tongue drum

William Augustus Muhlenberg · 70 bpm · 2/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Carol, Children, Carol played on the Idiopan Domina

Tongue numbers

4 4 4 4 5 4 3 3 3 3 4 - 2 2 2 3 4 5
3 3 4 3 2 7 8 7 6 6 5 5 7 8 7 6 6
5 - 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 3 4 3 2 -
Carol, Children, Carol sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Triumphal March on a steel tongue drum

Giuseppe Verdi, from Aida · 80 bpm · 4/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Triumphal March played on the Idiopan Domina

Tongue numbers

1 2 - - 3 1 3 4 4 4 4 5 2 4 3 2 - 3 4 4 3 2 3 4
4 3 4 4 2 3 3 - - 1 2 - - 3 1 3 4 4 4 4 5 2
4 3 2 - 3 4 4 3 2 3 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 2 - -

Some beats are triplets. Check the sheet for the rhythm.

Triumphal March sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Flea Waltz on a steel tongue drum

Author unknown · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Flea Waltz played on the Idiopan Domina

This one uses two notes played together. Follow the sheet, where the stacked numbers are played at the same time.

Flea Waltz sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Domina Boogie on a steel tongue drum

Roman Falkenstein · 100 bpm · 4/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Domina Boogie played on the Idiopan Domina

Tongue numbers

2 7 2 2 7 2 7 2 2 3 4 7 8 8 7 4 7 8 7 2
4 7 8 8 7 4 7 8 7 4 6 4 5 5 4 6 4 5 4 2
4 7 8 8 7 4 7 8 7 4 2 7 2 2 7 2 7 8 7 6 5 4 - - -

Written for the Domina.

Domina Boogie sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Falling Star on a steel tongue drum

Roman Falkenstein · 60 bpm · 4/4 time · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Tongue numbers

2 8 7 6 5 2 7 6 5 4 2 8 7 6 5 4 1 4 2 -
2 8 7 6 5 2 7 6 5 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 - 5 -

Written for the Domina. Some notes are played together. See the sheet.

Falling Star sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

How to play Music Box on a steel tongue drum

Roman Falkenstein · 90 bpm · Idiopan Domina, C major pentatonic

Written for the Domina. Follow the sheet for the rhythm and notes.

Music Box sheet music for the Domina tongue drum, with tongue numbers Open full-size sheet

Play these on your own Domina

12 inch, 8 notes, arrives tuned to C major pentatonic.

Shop the DominaDownload the free PDF