In short
Offenbach's "Can-Can" is a lively, playful tune that kids love, and it is great fun on a steel tongue drum. Thanks to our simple low-to-high number layout (1 to 8), you just follow the numbers below, with no music reading needed. It has a bouncy energy that makes practicing feel like play.
The numbers: Can-Can
This is an instrumental piece, so there are no words to sing. Play each part from left to right, one number at a time, pausing briefly between parts.
| Part | Play these numbers |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | 1 2 4 3 2 5 5 |
| Part 2 | 5 6 3 4 2 2 |
| Part 3 | 2 4 3 2 1 |
| Part 4 | 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 |
| Part 5 | 1 2 4 3 2 5 5 |
| Part 6 | 5 6 3 4 2 2 |
| Part 7 | 2 4 3 2 1 |
These numbers come straight from our official songbook and match our numbered steel tongue drums. If you have a different brand with a scattered note layout, the numbers may not line up the same way.
How to play it
A few gentle tips that make this lively piece feel easy:
- Start slowly. The Can-Can is famous for being fast, but it is much easier to learn at a gentle pace first.
- Parts 1 to 3 come back again as Parts 5 to 7, so you learn most of it right away.
- Numbers 1 to 8 run from the lowest note to the highest, so higher numbers are always further along the same direction.
What you need
Any standard 8-note C major steel tongue drum will work. On our steel tongue drums for kids the notes are numbered and color coded, so anyone can follow this piece without knowing a single musical note. This is a simplified arrangement made to fit inside 8 notes.
More easy songs
This tutorial is part of our free Easy Tongue Drum Songs collection, where every song is written out by numbers the same simple way. Other fun pieces to try are "Jingle Bells" and "When the Saints Go Marching In".
FAQ
Is the "Can-Can" hard to play on a tongue drum?
Not when you start slowly. It repeats its opening parts, so once you learn the first few patterns you can play most of it, even as a beginner following numbers.
Do I need to read music to play it?
No. You only follow the numbers on the drum from left to right. No notes, no sheet music, and no prior experience are needed.
