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Number tabs for the steel tongue drum
Pay Me My Money Down
Free number tabs for Pay Me My Money Down 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
56
65
53
35
55
55
56
65
53
32
25
57
76
65
53
35
56
65
56
65
53
35
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:
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"Pay Me My Money Down" is a traditional work song from the Sea Islands of the American South, later popularized as a folk standard with an irresistible call-and-response hook. The melody's simple, repetitive phrases sit comfortably on a steel tongue drum and allow the instrument's natural resonance to fill in the gaps between notes. Its groove-driven feel makes it a satisfying piece for players who want to work on consistent rhythm and relaxed phrasing.
How to play Pay Me My Money Down 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 Pay Me My Money Down.
About this melody
American Sea Islands work song.