Developer Venus Theory has released forms:tongues, a free tongue drum library for Decent Sampler.
This latest release is forms:tongues, a free library based on the tongue drum.
The sound of the tongue drum is easily described as tranquil and hypnotic, but it comes from somewhat comical beginnings.
The tongue drum is the result of Dennis Havlena cutting into a propane tank, somewhere in the early 2000s.
Although the genesis of this modern instrument is somewhat unconventional, there’s no denying that it caters to its target audience perfectly.
The tongue drum looks and sounds a little otherworldly, and, in good hands, it creates an incredibly calming sound.
I should mention that the instrument is also a modern development of the wooden slit drum, but it’s much more fun to think of some guy cutting a propane tank and calling it a Hank Drum (original name) out of nowhere.
Venus Theory placed particular importance on preserving the true tail when sampling the tongue drum, and that painstaking attention to detail yields a much more natural decay and an authentic sound.
Like most things by Venus Theory, forms:tongues is very cinematic, and that might not be something you immediately associate with the tongue drum.
However, forms:tongues inherit the dual-source architecture of the excellent auras series, providing two customizable layers.
Each layer has a dedicated edit page, allowing you to create contrasts in pitch or movement.
The aspects of movement and texture can be enhanced with a built-in resonant filter with an ADSR envelope.
The best thing about the dual-source architecture is the ability to morph between each layer. In this case, the percussive character of the tongue drum that morphs into an extended pad-like layer can be quite powerful.
You can delve deeper into cinematic sound design via the FX tab, with onboard Drive, Chorus, Delay, and Reverb controls.
I know that, for many people, the tongue drum just brings images of meditation or yoga retreats. But it’s a beautiful sound, and with Venus Theory’s touch, it’s another stellar addition to a great collection of freebies.
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Last Updated on April 24, 2026 by Tomislav Zlatic.
