r/handpan • u/Thomas_Mag • 1d ago
r/handpan • u/Ethahlid • Feb 02 '20
Guide to Handpans - Purchasing, Scales, History, etc.
Hey r/handpan! One of our most requested subreddit features is a guide of information about handpans. Rather than iterating on the great material out there, here's a collection guides on general information, history, and how to make a great handpan purchase and avoid scams and subpar quality handpans.
In addition to these resources, I highly recommend the forums at www.handpan.org as an incredible repository of information and discussion, and much of the development of the handpan community is preserved there!
To suggest links for this guide, feel free to message u/Ethahlid
Background
Back in the old days, there used to be only one way to acquire one of these beautiful instruments – to travel to the PanART headquarters and acquire a Hang, or to be lucky enough to find one in a shop in Europe or second hand.
For many years, finding a handpan for sale was next to impossible. However, in time, more began to pick up the hammer and created the many forms that we now know. Now, the market seems to have shifted. For the most part, the lotteries and multi-year waitlists are a thing of the past, although patience is often still key in making a satisfying purchase. For those who want to acquire a handpan, it’s now as simple as choosing a maker, choosing a scale (or “sound model”) and either commissioning a pan or waiting for a flash sale. The second-hand market has also found a life of its own, and it’s possible to acquire top-quality pans for significantly less than their original sale price.
Check out the links below for more on buying, choosing a maker/scale, reputable second-hand groups, and more:
Purchasing a Handpan
Master the Handpan – Buying a Handpan Guide: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/do-you-want-to-buy-a-handpan-heres-all-you-need-to-know
Cool Percussion – Handpan & Tongue Drum Buying Guide: https://coolpercussion.com/hang-drum-for-sale-buying-guide/
Master the Handpan – Seven Marks of a Quality Handpan: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/the-7-marks-of-a-quality-handpan
Mark D'Ambrosio – A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Your First Handpan: https://www.markdambrosiomusic.com/post/buyingyourfirsthandpan
Choosing a Maker and Scale
Master the Handpan: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-scale-of-your-first-handpan
Sylvain Paslier: https://www.sylvainpasliermusic.com/single-post/which-handpan-scale-to-choose
Isthmus Instruments: https://www.isthmusinstruments.com/isthmus-handpan-blog/how-to-pick-a-handpan-scale
Cool Percussion: https://coolpercussion.com/which-handpan-scale-should-i-choose-tips-and-examples/
Choosing a Second Handpan Scale with Mark D'Ambrosio: https://www.markdambrosiomusic.com/post/how-to-pick-the-scale-of-your-second-handpan
Avoiding Scams
Master the Handpan: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/hang-drum-for-sale-11-top-tips-to-avoid-getting-scammed-when-you-buy
Mark D'Ambrosio – 9 Tips For Avoiding a Handpan Scam: https://www.markdambrosiomusic.com/post/9-tips-for-avoiding-a-handpan-scam
Community Swap and Sale
Facebook Swap and Sale: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SwapandSale
Handpan.org Forums: http://www.handpan.org/forum/
Handpan History
Hang Documentary (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do7uU13V_hQ
Sylvain Paslier: https://www.sylvainpasliermusic.com/single-post/the-origins-of-handpans-the-panart-hang
Symphonic Steel: https://www.symphonicsteel.com/handpan-history/
General Handpan Information
Symphonic Steel – Hang Drums and Handpans, What Are They? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTowcbuJ48U
Yatao Music – About Handpans: https://yataomusic.com/about-handpans
Mark D'Ambrosio – Every Name for the Handpan, Explained: https://www.markdambrosiomusic.com/post/every-name-for-the-handpan-explained
Active Blogs
Master the Handpan: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog
Paniverse: http://paniverse.org/paniverse-blog/
Sylvain Paslier: https://www.sylvainpasliermusic.com/blog-en
Mark D'Ambrosio: https://www.markdambrosiomusic.com/blog
Symphonic Steel: https://www.symphonicsteel.com/handpan-blog/
Isthmus Instruments: https://www.isthmusinstruments.com/handpan-blog
Rav Vast: https://ravvast.com/blog/
Cool Percussion: https://coolpercussion.com/category/handpans/
Handpan Lessons
Master the Handpan: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/
Handpan Dojo: https://www.handpandojo.com/
Paniverse: http://paniverse.org/handpan-tutorials/
Mark D'Ambrosio: https://www.markdambrosiomusic.com/learn
Handpan Care
Cool Percussion – Best Oil: https://coolpercussion.com/best-oil-for-handpans-top-choice-examples/
Cool Percussion – Cleaning a Handpan : https://coolpercussion.com/clean-a-handpan/
Master the Handpan – Rust Protection: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/how-to-protect-my-handpan-from-rust
Master the Handpan – Heat/Cold Protection: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/heat-cold-everything-need-know
Recording & Amplification
Cool Percussion – How to Amplify a Handpan: https://coolpercussion.com/how-to-amplify-a-handpan/
Master the Handpan - How to Choose a Microphone: https://www.masterthehandpan.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-microphone-for-the-handpan
Tuning a Handpan – (NOTE, informational only – DO NOT try to re-tune a handpan, send it to an experienced tuner!)
Cool Percussion – Retuning: https://coolpercussion.com/do-handpans-need-to-be-retuned/
Kabecao – Birth of the Ayasa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMQjlVdVmEU
Symphonic Steel – Stabilizing a Note in Under 2 Minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR9ZTMMvtPI
Handpan 360 – Refining Tone By De-Tuning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMohuii-YCY
Last Updated: 4/20/20
r/handpan • u/IceApprehensive1125 • 1d ago
Handpan Community
Texas/Houston area
I recently got into playing the handpan and I have a D Kurd 10. I’m looking to connect with other handpan players in the area!
Would love to find some people to jam with, learn from each other, or just hang out and make music together.
Does anyone know of any local handpan communities, meetups, or anyone who’d be down to play together?
r/handpan • u/MeandThorne • 1d ago
Budget friendly beginner option
Not sure I’ll stay with it so don’t want to go expensive
r/handpan • u/CountrySimple6393 • 1d ago
Recommendations on a beginner handpan
Hi everyone 😊
I’m new to the handpan community and looking for some recommendations on a great beginners handpan.
I completely understand that cheap isn’t the best when it comes to handpans, but at the moment my budget it’s around £450- £500 at a push.😬
From my research I see a D Kurd seems to be best to begin with, but any advice, or other suggestions are great.
Thank you all so much 🤍
r/handpan • u/hmwhatsthatmean • 2d ago
😭 Can someone just help me decide
I really want a Handpan. It will be my first one.
Rather than get a “beginner” one, I’m gonna just splurge for a nice one.
I know they can get $2500+, but I’m looking for something between $500-$1000. I feel like that’s a totally acceptable price range for my first one.
But I am getting so overwhelmed and overstimulated by all the nuances of the chords, the amount of notes, the material, etc. and I really just want some straightforward guidance.
It would be easier if I could go to a store that had a few, try them and see the difference, pick one and just buy it right then and there, but the only place that has them near me only has one brand and it’s the X8 (haven’t researched it yet) and I know that brand isn’t as nice as some others.
Can someone PLEASE, 🙏🏼 just help me pick a good one in that price range and tell me why
Give me the spark notes so I can just frickin buy it and start playing I beg of you
EDIT*** I’m in South Florida!
r/handpan • u/Ancient_Charge_2215 • 3d ago
Anyone with some decent experience with Neotone handpans? Would love to hear some experience from people who are intermediate players.
r/handpan • u/SanseiSaitoSan • 3d ago
RAV Anima or RAV Vast training courses accessibility
r/handpan • u/usualatoms • 3d ago
Looking for a professional handpan tuner in Finland
Hi!
If you know or are someone who can reliably tune a handpan I have a Djangar pan with a slightly off upper D note that's bugging me. Haven't checked fine tuning on all the other notes but at least the one is clearly detuned.
Interested in learning myself as well. I've studied metalwork along with other handcrafts so I'd say I have a bit of potential but also recognise the challenge.
r/handpan • u/_Silly_Goose6 • 4d ago
What do you see?
Press play, close your eyes for some time, then describe what you see when you hear this :)) I love hearing where this kind of music takes us!
r/handpan • u/Business-Wishbone760 • 3d ago
Erfahrungen für Einsteiger
Hi, nachdem ich einen Handpan Workshop gemacht habe, habe ich richtig Lust das Ganze weiterzuverfolgen.
Habt ihr Erfahrungen, die ihr Einsteiger mitgeben könnt?
Wie habt ihr das spielen gelernt? Online Kurse? Könnt ihr welche empfehlen?
Was für eine Handpan mit wie vielen Noten könnt ihr empfehlen? Gibt es Hersteller, die ein gutes Preis-Leistungsverhältnis haben?
Vielleicht habt ihr auch Erfahrungen speziell in Köln?
Bin gespannt! Danke :-)
r/handpan • u/strooder12 • 5d ago
Advice!
I’m a professional violinist and have been playing the Handpan for around a year. I’m currently playing a D minor Celtic Handpan. I’d love to upgrade and find another. I’m looking for ones with exciting and more interesting scales. Would you recommend a F Low Pygmy 14?
Thank you!
r/handpan • u/randomdayofweek • 6d ago
Yatao ember steel pans
Are they made by Ayasa? They description states they are designed and shaped by Ayasa. They're quite a bit cheaper than one straight from Ayasa themselves. I'm wondering what the difference is.
r/handpan • u/KingAltruistic2467 • 7d ago
Atlas Handpan
Hey all! I’d like to hear other people’s experiences. I got an Atlas Handpan stand and it absolutely dampens the resonance on my handpans.
On one of my Handpans in particular that’s a big disappointment because it has a very beautiful sound and it doesn’t sing as well on the Atlas.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I’ve read online I could maybe put a thin silicone barrier between the magnet and the pan.
The stand has a lot going for it but I’m really disappointed in the tonal changes it makes.
r/handpan • u/Thomas_Mag • 8d ago
How many notes does your ideal handpan have?
Do you prefer a smaller layout that's easy to navigate, or a larger one with more notes to explore?
r/handpan • u/LowerCharge6687 • 10d ago
A little handpan practice 🌿
A short clip from a recent practice session. Just wanted to share it with you all. Hope you enjoy listening!
r/handpan • u/Confident_Tip_5572 • 11d ago
Stand for playing vertical handpan
Hi there.
I need a solution to play handpan verticaly (or any angle).
Any solutions ?
Any VESA adaptor ? (I then could attach the handpan to a VESA adaptor, like a tv)
r/handpan • u/Vitus-weiss-Bescheid • 11d ago
The New Ones are there vitusdrums.eu School of Handpan Vienna
r/handpan • u/ambehinstruments • 12d ago
Chill impro on a D Kurd 10 (432 Hz)
Ember steel 1.0mm 🛸
Recorded with Zoom H4 Essential 🎤
r/handpan • u/Thomas_Mag • 14d ago
A little look at the C# Pygmy 17. What would you play on this one?
r/handpan • u/Weary-Ad8366 • 14d ago
Best US based maker for - F# Low Pygmy 21?
I’m looking for an F# Low Pygmy with 21 notes. I’ve looked into European makers, but shipping and tariffs make them too expensive. Which US makers would you recommend for this scale?
r/handpan • u/Similar_Drag_221 • 14d ago
For Those of You Considering Purchasing a Sela Handpan, a Cautionary Tale
instagram.comr/handpan • u/eliashriki • 15d ago
Looking for a Cheap Handpan on Aliexpress!
I've been dreaming of playing this instrument for years now, but cannot afford the 1000-2000 dollars markup by any means. I'm okay with compensating on the sound quality and it going out of tune after a year or two, but I'm still looking. For a basic quality benchmark. Can anyone who bought something specifically on Aliexpress that they can reccomend price and quality wise?
Thank you very much in advance.
4 months with a temu handpan
If you want a cheap handpan just make sure you get one that's stainless. I spent less than $200 on this handpan. Nothing wrong with a cheap Chinese pan to get you started.