In short
Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" theme is graceful and instantly recognizable, and it plays beautifully on a steel tongue drum. Because our drums are laid out in simple number order from low to high (1 to 8), you just follow the numbers below, with no music reading needed. The theme is short and repeats, so it is a rewarding piece for a beginner.
The numbers: Swan Lake (main theme)
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 | 6 2 3 4 5 6 |
| Part 2 | 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 2 4 2 |
| Part 3 | 6 2 3 4 5 6 |
| Part 4 | 4 6 4 6 4 6 4 2 4 2 |
These numbers match our numbered steel tongue drums exactly, straight from our official songbook. If you have a different brand with a scattered note layout, the numbers may not line up the same way.
Watch the tutorial
Follow along with the short video below. Play it once to hear how the theme should sound, then try it slowly with the numbers above.
How to play it
A few gentle tips that make this famous theme feel easy:
- Learn it in two halves. Part 1 rises up the drum, and Part 2 rocks gently between two notes.
- The whole theme is just two parts played twice, so there is very little to memorize.
- Numbers 1 to 8 run from the lowest note to the highest, so higher numbers are always further along the same direction.
- Play it smoothly and softly to capture the graceful, floating feel.
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 theme without knowing a single musical note. This is a simplified arrangement made to fit comfortably 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 beautiful classical pieces to try are "Ode to Joy" and "The Blue Danube".
FAQ
Is the "Swan Lake" theme hard to play on a tongue drum?
No. The main theme is only two short parts played twice, which makes it a rewarding and manageable classical piece for beginners 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.
What drum do I need for this song?
Any standard 8-note C major steel tongue drum works. Our numbered drums make it especially easy because each note already shows its number and color.
