How to tune a steel pan
Now, a panmaker uses a tuning device, like a tuning fork or a stroboscope, and carefully hammers at each note. You start from the top, stretching it and smoothing the note area so that it will vibrate precisely. You must tune each individual note on the face of the pan perfectly in relation to the other notes. Otherwise, that individual pan note will not resonate correctly. Tuning one note perfectly might unfortunately detune an adjacent note! Often a panmaker will tune each note several times before the process is complete with the correct ‘blend’ of notes.
Finally, post-tuning you must paint the pans or dip them in chrome to make them shine like silver. The chrome bath detunes the drums slightly, so you will have to tune again after chroming. So each pan can take up to a week of hard work to finish. Considering this and the talent and skill requirements to make a pan makers ask for them is always very reasonable. So, you won’t be ‘spoiling’ yourself if you buy a steel drum for your own personal use!