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1All songs / Down by the Station
Number tabs for the steel tongue drum
Down by the Station
Free number tabs for Down by the Station on the steel tongue drum. 29 notes, C Major scale, Beginner level — play it instantly in the free Tongue Drum Online player.
The tab
2
23
31
11
12
23
31
13
34
45
53
34
45
55
56
65
54
43
31
15
56
65
54
43
31
12
25
51
11–7 scale note• above = higher octave• below = lower octaveabc = key in the app
▶ Play it in Tongue Drum Online
Open the free player on the C Major scale, then tap the petals or press these keyboard keys in order, following the tab above:
123456
"Down by the Station" is a traditional American children's song about early-morning trains pulling out of the station, packed with the anticipatory excitement of a journey about to begin. On a steel tongue drum the steady, ascending opening phrase mimics a locomotive gathering steam, making the story tangible through the music. The step-wise motion, clear repetition, and moderate pace make it a highly satisfying first or second song for young handpan players.
How to play Down by the Station on a tongue drum
The numbers above are the standard tongue-drum number notation. Each digit is a note of the C Major scale, counting up from the lowest tongue. A dot above a number raises it one octave; a dot below lowers it. The small teal letters show the matching key in the Tongue Drum Online player.
Start slowly, one phrase at a time. Let each note ring out fully before striking the next — the long decay is the whole character of the instrument. This is a beginner arrangement and a simplified, single-instrument version of Down by the Station.
About this melody
Traditional American children's song.