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Number tabs for the steel tongue drum
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Free number tabs for Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) on the steel tongue drum. 37 notes, C Major scale, Intermediate level — play it instantly in the free Tongue Drum Online player.
The tab
6
65
53
35
56
67
7•1
87
75
57
7•1
8•2
9•3
0•2
97
7•2
9•1
87
76
67
75
56
67
7•1
8•2
9•1
86
6•1
87
76
65
56
63
35
56
65
51–7 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:
5637890
Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring from Cantata BWV 147 features an endlessly flowing triplet melody that feels almost hypnotic in its gentle forward motion. On a steel tongue drum those triplets create a gentle, rocking pulse, the instrument's overtones blending into something almost sacred. One of Bach's most universally loved melodies and a wonderful showcase for the tongue drum's singing sustain.
How to play Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) 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 intermediate arrangement and a simplified, single-instrument version of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach).
About this melody
Bach.