The Mid-Range Pans Section of a Steelband(Steel Drum Band)

The main function of the steel pans (steel drums) in this section is to provide harmonic support and sometimes countermelodies.

Members:

• Guitar pans
• Cello pans
• Quadrophonic pan

The cello and guitar pans have the same warm and mellow tone and differ from each other only in their range.

Guitar Pans

The guitar pan has the narrowest range and therefore has limited capability for countermelodies. Their main function is harmonic support usually in the form of strumming chord tones.

There are two main types of guitar pans

1) Single Guitar Pan: A single pan played by one person used in single pan bands

2) Double Guitar Pan: A pair of pans played by one person, used in conventional steelbands

Cello Pans

The main function of cello pans is harmonic support usually in the form of strumming chord tones and also countermelodies. There two main types are:

1) Triple Cello Pan: Three drums played by one person, used in conventional steelbands.

2) Four Cello Pan: Four drums played by one person, used in conventional steelbands

Quadrophonic Pan

The quadrophonic pan is a set of four drums played by one person. It has the widest range of the entire steelband family which allows them to perform a variety of functions, including reinforcing the melody, playing countermelodies and providing harmonic support.

It is also one of the hardest pans to play and are used in conventional steelbands.