The design of our Tembos is based on a group of instruments called ‘plosive aerophones.’ Plosive Aerophones are a simple idea that makes awesome outdoor musical instruments. These music-making instruments look and sound so intriguing visitors cannot resist having a try when they encounter them. They are so easy and rewarding to play, yet most people have never heard of them.

To play a plosive aerophone, you strike the end of a long tube (traditionally bamboo) to give the air inside a bit of a jolt; this jolt then creates a vibration that makes a distinctive ‘boing’ sound as the air resonates within the tube. The tube length determines the pitch (how high or low the note is), and by making a set and varying the size of the tubes, you’ve created an instrument with a musical scale.

We’ve ditched the bamboo and made the Tembos from stainless steel, which we tune to:

  • C Major Pentatonic (C3-C4)

  • C Major Diatonic (C3-C4) or 

  • Blues Scale (G, Bb, C, Eb, F, Gb, G)

A stylish support structure holds the stainless steel pipes in a vertical orientation, with the tallest standing over 3m, creating a truly visual and audibly stunning experience.