Double Second (Tenor)

The double second pan consists of two drums with 15 notes in each. The tonal range is almost two and a half octaves in the same range as the double tenor pan. The sound of the double second is, though, a little deeper than the double tenor due to its longer side.

The note layout of the double second seems to be more consistent than for the double tenor. On a chromatic scale, the notes are positioned in drums left-right-left-etc., which means that the most dissonant intervals - the small seconds - are distributed over two drums. The smallest intervals residing in the same drum - the large seconds - are spaced as far apart as possible. For instance, C and D are almost at opposite sides of the left drum.

For the positioning of the drums while playing, the same reasoning as for the double tenor is valid. It is easier to play fast if the stands are turned so that the lowest ends of the tilted drums are facing the player. Therefore, the layout is shown in this fashion.

Overview of the Double Second pan

According to some sources there is a special "Ellie Manette styling" of the double second, ranging from the ordinary low F#3 up to C#6, that is; two semitones higher than the usual. This is accomplished by making each note a little smaller and moving Bb4 in the left drum and B4 in the right drum from a middle position to the outer ring, making space for the extra two top notes. The outer ring of notes will then contain nine notes in each drum, again a result of the efforts to make the notes successively smaller.

Double second pan according to Ellie Manette's styling. Note the Bb4 and B4 moved to the outer ring and the extra C6 and C#6.

Overview of Double Second pan, Ellie Mannette styling

Measures for the Double Second pan

The left drum of the measured pan was made by Lawrence Mayers during a research project of summer 1989. Measures for right drum were extrapolated by the author, together with some data from a double second built by Rudy Smith 1988.

Notes		Drum			Groove
Number of notes	Tonal Range	Depth of playing surface [mm]	Length of side [mm]	Hole pos. from rim [mm]	Width [mm]	Radial length [mm]	End from rim [mm]
30	F#3-B5	160-165	215	50	5	125	47

Note	Position	Radial length	Tangential length	Length along rim
Note	Position	Radial length	Tangential length	Length along rim
F#3	Outer left	162	235	290
G3	Outer right	160	210	290
G#3	Outer left	160	202	250
A3	Outer right	158	210	250
Bb3	Outer left	158	210	250
B3	Outer right	155	200	245
C4	Outer left	153	200	245
C#4	Outer right	152	180	210
D4	Outer left	150	162	205
D#4	Outer right	148	155	190
E4	Outer left	145	150	185
F4	Outer right	145	147	185
F#4	Outer left	145	143	185
G4	Outer right	140	135	175
G#4	Outer left	140	130	165
A4	Outer right	135	115	165
Bb4	Middle left	125	90
B4	Middle right	118	85
C5	Middle left	112	80
C#5	Middle right	112	77
D5	Middle left	113	72
D#5	Middle right	100	70
E5	Middle left	92	67
F5	Middle right	85	64
F#5	Middle left	80	60
G5	Middle right	78	60
G#5	Middle left	76	61
A5	Middle right	75	58
Bb5	Inner left	74	55
B5	Inner right	74	55