The Engine Room in a Steelband. - Keeping the Rhythm and the Music flowing!

Engine Room is a term used to describe the group of un-pitched percussion instruments that accompany steelbands (steel drum bands).

These instruments provide the timing and rhythmic drive for the entire band and are an important section in steelbands.

This section may not be necessary for all genres of music, but it is a MUST when playing popular Caribbean genres, especially calypsos.

• A pair of conga drums tuned in a standard fourths or fifths tuning, played with rubber tipped sticks.

• Drum kit

• Scratcher (metal guiro)

• One or more irons of different relative pitches and tonal colours. Originally discarded car brake drums played with metal beaters were used as irons. Today, irons players prefer to get their irons specially made and "tuned" to their specifications.

• Toc-Toc (Claves)

• Cow Bell and/or Jam Block struck with a beater

·       Duddup(Pronounced doo doop): a bass pan with two notes used to augment the rhythm section of a pan-round-the-neck steelband. It is made from a smaller drum, supported from around the shoulder and played with one stick.

• Other percussion instruments such as tambourines, shak-shaks (maracas) , tassa drums and cabasa are also used.

The Engine Room is the same for both conventional and single pan bands

However, when single pan bands are mobile, the instruments have to be strapped the player's body. The drum kit and congas are split between two or more players while others are simply played while being held in the player's hands.

Video of an Engine Room in a Steelband - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNd8nR2uUVs

View images of various Steelbands’ Engine Rooms - https://www.panpodium.com/engine-room