N
The Daily Insight

Who invented the double tenor pan?

Author

Abigail Rogers

Updated on May 01, 2026

Bertie Marshall
Mr. Williams is also credited with being one of the first in steel pan history to use large 55 gallon drums as starting material for the pans, a tradition that continues to this day. Bertie Marshall – credited with inventing the double tenor pan.

What is double tenor?

The double tenor pan is also called the double lead. It is a pair of pans played by one person. It reinforces the melody and/or harmonizes the melody. They have a brassy tone and can expand the melodic range of the tenor pan if necessary.

Who created the spider web pan?

Because the notes on both the original 4ths and 5ths Spider Web pan, invented by Anthony Williams, and the Double Second pans, invented by Ellie Mannette, were too crowded, Marshall modernized them by increasing the pans’ depths, which allowed more space between the notes.

Who made the steelpan?

Trinidad and Tobago
The steelpan was invented in Trinidad and Tobago and is widely regarded as the only major musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century.

What year was the steel pan invented?

Between 1880-1937Steelpan / Invented

Who made the first steel pan in Trinidad and Tobago?

The steel pan is the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Made from discarded oil drums, it is the only musical instrument invented in the 20th century….DNNGo.DNNGalleryPro.

STEEL PAN or other InstrumentTONAL RANGE
Frontline PansLow Tenor Steel Pan28 to 30 notes Tonal range: C4 and G6

When was the first steel pan invented?

It is the only musical instrument invented in the twentieth century. Created in the 1930’s, the steel pan owes its genesis to the carnival festivals of that era….DNNGo.DNNGalleryPro.

STEEL PAN or other InstrumentTONAL RANGE
Frontline PansLow Tenor Steel Pan28 to 30 notes Tonal range: C4 and G6

When was the steel pan created?

1930s
The steel pan, often referred to incorrectly as a steel drum, emerged in the 1930s. Metal objects including car parts, paint pots, dustbins, oil drums and biscuit tins, were originally used as percussion instruments, but at some point they began to be tuned.

Who is famous for the development of the ping pong better known as the tenor pan?

The modern pan is a chromatically pitched percussion instrument made from 55 gallon industrial drums….Classification.

InstrumentPitchInventor
Single Tenor, or Ping PongSopranoWinston “Spree” Simon
Spiderweb LeadSopranoTony Williams
Invader LeadSopranoEllie Mannette
Double TenorMezzo-sopranoBertie Marshall

When was steelpan invented?

The steel drum therefore was used in the creation of what is known today as the steel pan, and although there have been several competing claims to its invention, it is generally accepted that the steel pan was first made around 1939 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Which Pioneer invented the double second pan?

Classification

InstrumentPitchInventor
Invader LeadSopranoEllie Mannette
Double TenorMezzo-sopranoBertie Marshall
Double SecondAltoEllie Mannette
Double GuitarBaritoneJonathan Francis

What is a double tenor pan called?

Double Tenor Pan. The double tenor pan is also called the double lead. It is a pair of pans played by one person. It reinforces the melody and/or harmonizes the melody. They have a brassy tone and can expand the melodic range of the tenor pan if necessary.

What is the best tenor pan to play?

Low tenors are becoming the most popular style of tenor pans, as they have more notes in the ‘best’ range of the instrument and melodies played on this pan require less transposing. The double tenor pan is also called the double lead.

What is the difference between high tenor and Double Tenor?

The function of this steel pan is the same as that of the high tenor and it is also used by pan soloists. The Double Tenor, which was invented by Bertie Marshall, uses 2 drums and has a pitch range from F3 to B5 or up to two octaves and an augmented 4th from F below middle C.

What is the difference between a single second and double second Pan?

Seconds pans – Single Seconds, Double Seconds The double seconds and double tenor pans are very similar in appearance and range. However the double tenor usually has a shorter skirt and a brassy tone, while the double seconds has a warm tone and a longer skirt. The tenor pan is also called the lead or soprano pan.