5
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Number tabs for the steel tongue drum
John Henry
Free number tabs for John Henry on the steel tongue drum. 24 notes, C Major scale, Easy level — play it instantly in the free Tongue Drum Online player.
The tab
5
55
57
76
65
53
35
56
65
53
32
25
55
57
76
65
53
35
56
65
53
32
25
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:
57632
John Henry is one of America's most enduring folk legends — the story of a steel-driving man who raced a steam hammer and won, then died with his hammer in his hand. Its bold, driving melody has a natural heroic quality that resonates powerfully on a steel tongue drum, the instrument's sustain lending weight to every phrase. The clear, predictable structure and moderate range make it accessible for players who want a song with genuine mythological depth.
How to play John Henry 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 easy arrangement and a simplified, single-instrument version of John Henry.
About this melody
American work song.