The Talking Drum

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Definition

The talking drum had its origins in Africa. It was a very efficient and versatile device that had a tremendous vocabulary. The vocabulary range was due to the fact that the pitch of the drum could be widely modified. The drum could thus be used to communicate across long distances, with other drums picking up signals and repeating them to other tribes. In the West, radio signals acted as talking drums, carrying various tones from one place to another. Ham Radio operators and hobbyists acted as talking drums when they connected to one another.