r/handpan • • Feb 02 '20

Guide to Handpans - Purchasing, Scales, History, etc.

97 Upvotes

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:

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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

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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

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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/

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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/

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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

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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/

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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

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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

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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

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Last Updated: 4/20/20


r/handpan • • 1d ago

Yatao ember steel pans

5 Upvotes

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 • • 2d ago

Atlas Handpan

3 Upvotes

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 • • 2d ago

How many notes does your ideal handpan have?

1 Upvotes

Do you prefer a smaller layout that's easy to navigate, or a larger one with more notes to explore?


r/handpan • • 4d ago

A little handpan practice 🌿

2 Upvotes

A short clip from a recent practice session. Just wanted to share it with you all. Hope you enjoy listening!


r/handpan • • 5d ago

Stand for playing vertical handpan

2 Upvotes

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 • • 5d ago

The New Ones are there vitusdrums.eu School of Handpan Vienna

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3 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 6d ago

Chill impro on a D Kurd 10 (432 Hz)

6 Upvotes

Ember steel 1.0mm 🛸
Recorded with Zoom H4 Essential 🎤


r/handpan • • 8d ago

A little look at the C# Pygmy 17. What would you play on this one?

18 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 8d ago

Best US based maker for - F# Low Pygmy 21?

3 Upvotes

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 • • 8d ago

Daughter + dog

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9 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 9d ago

For Those of You Considering Purchasing a Sela Handpan, a Cautionary Tale

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5 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 9d ago

Looking for a Cheap Handpan on Aliexpress!

3 Upvotes

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.


r/handpan • • 10d ago

4 months with a temu handpan

124 Upvotes

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.


r/handpan • • 9d ago

Handpan Sheet Music Software

0 Upvotes

What software do you like to use for writing handpan sheet music?


r/handpan • • 10d ago

QUESTION/ADVICE To former drummers now playing handpan - 40 Drum Rudiments | Percussive Arts

7 Upvotes

I've been playing the handpan for almost a year.
Teaching myself and with youtube.

Reacently learned about Percussive Arts and the 40 Drum Rudiments.

So:

Which of the 40 Drum rudiments has transfer value to playing the handpan?


r/handpan • • 11d ago

Is an amazon handpan a good purchase for a newbie?

3 Upvotes

Ive just now decided i wanna get into the handpn but i have a friend who told me i shouldkt get one off amazon snd should get it somewhere else. The privlem is that every handpan ive seen not from amazon is around 500-2000 bucks. But like for someone just starting out do you think that an amazon handpan is good enough if you just wanna play around with it and practice it till your fully dediicated to playing it?


r/handpan • • 11d ago

$1000 budget

1 Upvotes

I’m new to handpans but I am an experienced percussionist, so I’m looking for something a little higher quality for around $1000 if possible. I’d appreciate some recommendations!


r/handpan • • 12d ago

New iPad app for writing handpan sheet music (Handpan Dojo-style notation)

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6 Upvotes

Hi! I'm a handpan player and a developer. I learned the notation from the Handpan Dojo - Master the Handpan (numbers for the tone fields, D/T/K for techniques, black = right hand, green = left) and I wanted to write my grooves that way on the iPad, so I built an app for it:

You can find the app Handpan Sheet Music here: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6816263052

It has quite a lot of features like generating PDFs with the final composition, Apple Pencil support, and customizing the arrangements. It's iPad only, a one-time 1.99 €/$ purchase, no account or ads.

It's a solo project, so I'd really like to know what you'd need to write your own pieces (symbols I'm missing, how you count, anything). Thanks!


r/handpan • • 13d ago

We are giving away this handpan for free. Just drop your email to be entered (Link in comments).

9 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 13d ago

SCHOOL OF HANDPAN VIENNA #handpanplayer unter vitusdrums.eu

1 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 13d ago

Do you prefer playing your handpan alone or with others?

2 Upvotes

It would be interesting to hear which one the handpan community enjoys more. There’s something very different about getting lost in your own playing and finding a rhythm together with someone else.


r/handpan • • 13d ago

Can someone help me ID this song?

3 Upvotes

I was walking around the botanical garden in Melbourne and there was a man playing some really great and calming handpan songs. After some time I wanted to go to him and ask him what songs he played, but he sadly was already gone.


r/handpan • • 14d ago

Grab your handpan and give this groove a try. 👀

29 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 14d ago

Wear your handpan as necklace

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6 Upvotes