Beginning Steel Drum [Paperback]

Othello Molineaux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

A complete method for learning to play lead steel drum. World-renowned steel drum artist Othello Molineaux has developed a concise method for the novice or experienced musician. Perfect for individual study or classroom use, this method comes complete with an accompaniment CD and a full-size practice poster.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Warner Bros Pubns (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897249739
• ISBN-13: 978-0897249737
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #328,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Novice Beware!, July 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Beginning Steel Drum (Paperback)

Unless you already know how to play a musical instrument (or at least know how to read music) this book will be of little value to you. Actually, it's not so much a book as it is a pamphlet. The only thing it accomplishes is that it shows you where the notes are on the pan.

After a few introductory words, here is the 6th sentence in the "book":

"The tuning consists of a circle of 5ths or 4ths, there are two circles of a complete octave and one circle of five notes. The range of the drum is from middle C up two octaves and a major third to E."

If that quote doesn't mean anything to you, don't expect to really understand it after reading the pamphlet. Admittedly, the words are, in fact, followed by two diagrams that show what "up a 4th" and "down a 5th" mean. But add that to all the following discussion about scales, and you still have no idea why any of it matters.

The section entitled "Technique" consists of a picture of a hand holding a drum stick and the words: "The stick has to be able to bounce off the notes. There is a slightly tighter grip employed when sticking the higher notes..." Add to that the handy note to play the left side of the drum with the left hand and the right side with the right hand and...well...I guess you're ready to start practicing sticking, because there's not much more info on the subject.

Finally, the CD consists of 30-second clips, not complete songs. Oh yeh, unless you know how to read music, there's no clue as to where even the first note is in any of the "songs".

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Pretty disappointing, March 21, 2002

By 

Joanna "Tropical Lady" (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beginning Steel Drum (Paperback)

Having bought a steel drum, I was all ready to learn how to play it and was excited to have found this book. But I have to agree with the other reviewer that it is pretty disappointing - I know how to read music and know a little about chords, etc., but this book was still not helpful to me. It had some info about playing chords that would be found in any music book, and the info on techniques was very slim - just a sentence or two, as the other reviewer said. The clips are songs you probably wouldn't want to play, and just short little parts of them at that. The author, who really is a great steel drum player, should've given us at least an example of the amazing things that can be done with a steel drum.

Also, the other types of drums - double seconds, basses, etc. are not even mentioned. There is no info on sources of supplies, music, drums, etc., which really is needed for such a relatively rare instrument. You would be better off watching some of the youtube clips that are on the internet now.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but doesn't match...., January 12, 2008

By 

B. Burkhalter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beginning Steel Drum (Paperback)

I bought this book to accompany the Calypso steel drum. The notes and location of the notes on the drum do not match those described in the book.