Percussive Harmonic Instrument (PHI)

PHI (pronounced “fie”) is the second innovation to come from the same stable as the G-pan. 

It is an electronic tenor pan, with 3 octaves, based on the fourths and fifths tenor. The notes can be played to give a polyphonic sound and can be re-assigned in any order, to imitate other layout configurations.

Its physical appearance is similar to the acoustic tenor, thus easing the transition from one to another when playing.

PHI is MIDI based and compatible with both Mac and PC computers.

The steelpan sound on PHI is taken from samples of the G-pan.

Such is the expectations for this instrument, a calypso entitled The Magic Drum was composed by Len 'Boogsie' Sharpe. The Magic Drum was played by his steelband Phase II for Panorama in 2009, only a year after it was unveiled.

In 2011, he released a CD in tribute to Slinger Francisco using PHI.