Quadrophonic Pan

The recently invented quadrophonic pan covers the largest tonal range of all regular steel pans. The four drums accommodate altogether 36 notes, ranging from B2 to Bb5. The notes are distributed over the drums in a chromatic sequence from left to right, drums numbered 1 to 4 (see figure), beginning with B2 in drum 3. In this way, the smallest tonal interval residing in the same drum will be a major third. The notes in this interval are placed beside each other, resulting in one augmented chord for each drum: C# maj, D maj, D# maj, and E maj, left to right.

Overview of the Quadrophonic pan

Measures for the Quadrophonic pan

Data for the quadrophonic pan was gathered during a research trip to Trinidad in March 1990. Some measurements are still missing, especially the note sizes. The measurements given here are extrapolated from the same notes in guitar pans and double seconds. There is no existing pan with these note sizes, but the real measures should not deviate too far from what is given here. Tangential measures for outer notes are not given, because these are not relevant for panmaking.

Notes		Drum			Groove
Number of notes	Tonal Range	Depth of playing surface [mm]	Length of side [mm]	Hole pos. from rim [mm]	Width [mm]	Radial length [mm]	End from rim [mm]
36	B2-Bb5	150	280	60	2 * 5	130	50

Note	Position	Radial length	Tangential length	Length along rim
B2	Outer 3	175		380
C3	Outer 4	175		380
C#3	Outer 1	175		380
D3	Outer 2	175		380
D#3	Outer 3	170		340
E3	Outer 4	170		340
F3	Outer 1	170		340
F#3	Outer 2	170		340
G3	Outer 3	165		300
G#3	Outer 4	165		300
A3	Outer 1	165		300
Bb3	Outer 2	165		300
B3	Outer 3	160		270
C4	Outer 4	160		270
C#4	Outer 1	160		270
D4	Outer 2	160		270
D#4	Outer 3	155		230
E4	Outer 4	155		230
F4	Outer 1	155		230
F#4	Outer 2	155		230
G4	Outer 3	150		200
G#4	Outer 4	150		200
A4	Outer 1	150		200
Bb4	Outer 2	150		200
B4	Inner 3	128	94
C5	Inner 4	123	90
C#5	Inner 1	118	86
D5	Inner 2	112	82
D#5	Inner 3	108	78
E5	Inner 4	102	74
F5	Inner 1	97	70
F#5	Inner 2	92	66
G5	Inner 3	88	64
G#5	Inner 4	83	62
A5	Inner 1	78	60
Bb5	Inner 2	75	60