So, by now you've read my previous blog on "What is the Steelpan?" and if you haven't, then here is the link https://www.publish0x.com/lexlex/what-is-the-steelpan-xkkqzgv
You now know what the Steelpan is but it does not stop there. I would have mentioned that there are various types of steelpans and one such steelpan pan is the Tenor Pan. No this does not have anything to do with the Tenor Voice, it's just one of the names given to this instrument. Why? Well in its early development, it only had a few pitches which were bigger in size and matched the range of the Tenor voice.
Before moving ahead, I want you to think of the various types of steelpan instruments like that of the string family, brass family and woodwind family. They all have there own unique function(s), sound, build, range, playing technique and so forth. It is the same for the steelpan.
One major con with the steelpan instrument is, unlike the other families that I just mentioned, the instrument cannot be tuned by the player and if the player does tune the instrument he/she has been trained to do so, otherwise a specialist is needed for that.
The steelpan family consists of the following:
TENOR PAN
DOUBLE TENOR PAN
DOUBLE SECONDS PAN
DOUBLE GUITAR PAN
QUADRAPHONIC PAN
3 CELLO AND OR 4 CELLO
6 BASS AND OR 7 TO 12 BASS
THE TENOR PAN
This particular instrument goes by many names such as Soprano Pan and Lead Pan. So, what is its function? Well, to literally take the lead in the steel orchestra. Yes, there are steel orchestras. Therefore, this pan plays the melody of any song.
It has a total of 29 musical pitches, with its range going from C4 to E6 (seen in the image below) or D4 to F#6 depending on which style you own. What do I mean by that? 
The tonal quality is bright. Its comparable instrument would be the 1st violin. It only requires a total number of 1 panist to play it. Yes, the name given to the individual playing the instrument is Panist or Pannist. To play this instrument you're going to need an adjustable Tenor Pan stand and a pair of Tenor Pan sticks.
Stay tuned for more!
