Handpan buying guide
Are you looking to buy a Handpan?
Find out everything you need to know about handpans here.
Buying a handpan is an emotional task. Preferences often only emerge after the first listening and comparison.
In this guide you will find everything you need to know about the handpan, to help you make your decision.
A good starting point: Browse our online handpan shop and watch the scale videos of handpans of different manufacturers, materials and scales to get a feel for which ones appeal to you. Compare different handpans and scales to find out, which suits you.
Evolution and Overview
Handpan Market
The handpan market has changed rapidly. In 2012 there were about 30-40 handpan manufacturers, today there are already more than 300. This has made the handpan more accessible and you no longer have to wait years and spend thousands of dollars to own a good handpan. At PanArt, the inventor of the Hang®, you even had to apply for a Hang® - and not everyone was lucky enough to get one.
Despite the rapid increase in handpan manufacturers, there are great differences in quality and price. As you have probably already noticed, almost all handpans are the same in terms of external shape - but not in sound!
Usually handpans from Europe are more expensive than from Asia. Among Asian manufacturers, in addition to many poorly tuned handpan, there are now also some manufacturers who can keep up well with European quality standards. However, it should not be forgotten that a handpan occasionally needs to be repaired or retuned, similar to a piano. This can become more costly if there is no retuning service available locally and the handpan needs to be shipped back and forth (via customs) to Asia.
What are the main quality differences in a handpan or what makes a "good" handpan?
- The most important quality feature of a Handpan is that the notes are well tuned and, if handled properly, the Handpan will not become out of tune for at least 2-3 years.
- In addition to the fundamental, each note has 2 other harmonics tuned to it, the fifth and octave. Thus, a tone field consists of 3 notes.
- There is no crosstalk between notes, i.e. the notes are well "isolated" from each other and one note does not activate the adjacent note. This is to be distinguished from "sympathetic crosstalk", where, for example, a note from a lower octave (e.g. C3) activates the same note in a higher octave (e.g. C4). The sympathetic crosstalk can be perceived as pleasant, while others find it annoying. Sound is a matter of taste!
- Each note on the outer circle should sound the same no matter where you strike it (except in the middle on the "dimple").
- The top and bottom shell of a handpan are glued together: some manufacturers use a quick-drying glue. This one however can come off faster than a softer glue that takes several days to dry, but is more more resistent.
What distinguishes a good handpan from a very good handpan?
- Timbre - Sound: Depending on the manufacturing process and tuning procedure, some handpan manufacturers differ significantly in timbre from others. The origin of the Hang® or the Handpan comes from the steel drums. Steel drums sound very metallic. Therefore, it has become accepted in the handpan scene that a good handpan should not sound metallic, but warm and soft. And, of course, it is an art to create a non-metallic sound from metal! However, sound is subjective and if you like the metallic sound, there is of course nothing wrong with it.
- Dynamics: The sound of a handpan should already be clear and good when played VERY lightly or quietly. When playing harder, the sound fields should not "overdrive" or start to "scream". A very good handpan will give you the widest possible range of dynamics to play very softly and also louder.
- Balance between notes: All notes of a handpan should be "balanced", i.e. attack dynamics, timbre, sustain and sound volume are equally harmonious for all notes.
Why are there such big price differences between different handpans?
- Timbre, sound quality and tuning: Some handpan makers have a unique timbre (sound), very good and stable tuning which also reflects the price.
- Number of notes: The more notes a handpan has, the more expensive it is. A handpan with many notes is more difficult to balance, avoid crosstalk and other annoying interferences - that's why there are only a few manufacturers who build good handpan mutants or handpans with many bottom notes.
- With some Handpan manufacturers, stainless steel Handpan are more expensive than nitrided Handpans, because stainless steel is harder to hammer and shape.
- A handpan with very low notes is more expensive than one that is tuned higher. Lower notes have to be tuned longer, because the tone fields are larger.
- Most manufacturers build on a material thickness of 1.0mm, only a few build on 1.2mm. The thicker material is harder to hammer and therefore usually more expensive. The sound of 1.2mm is less rich in overtones, most feel the sound is softer with 1.0mm steel.
- Unfortunately, the service of many Handpan shops is not reflected in the price - because many online stores and music stores often do not offer a retuning service, should your Handpan go out of tune or need a repair.
Glossary of handpan terms
Structure of the Handpan
The basic shape of the handpan is based on the Hang®. It consists of two circular metal shells, which are joined together. The top consists of a central tone field, called "Ding" (the lowest tone in the center) and usually 7-10 oval tone fields on the outer circle. On most instruments, the "ding" is curved outward/upward and the center of the remaining tone fields the "dimple" inward. In the center of the bottom is the "Gu (hole)" from which the sound comes out.
The notes in the outer circle are arranged in a zig zag pattern from bottom to top
Unlike a piano, where all notes are available, the handpan is limited to a few notes. While the Hang® by PANArt was built with 8 or 9 notes, there are now also manufacturers who build handpans with over 20 notes. On a handpan, the notes are not arranged chromatically like a piano, i.e. one semitone step follows the next, but skip several octaves. How many and which notes are used determines the handpan scale.
You can find everything you need to know about handpan scales here.
Material
The choice of steel
Nitrided steel
Nitrided handpans are better suited for percussive, fast playing, e.g. for drummers, djembe or cajon players. They do not resonate as long and are duller in sound. When playing faster, the notes are more clearly separated or the notes do not "mix" so much, because the sound fades away more quickly after being struck.
Stainless steel
Compared to nitrided steel, stainless steel resonates much longer (sustain), is fuller in sound and more sensitive in touch. For beginners, stainless steel handpans are also easier to play. More and more often they are also used in sound therapy and yoga! Stainless steel is an innovation in handpans, the Original Hang® was built using only nitrided steel.
440 Hz and 432 Hz
The frequency
Almost all handpans are tuned to 440Hz.
So if you decide to use a handpan in 432 Hz, you will most likely not be able to play together with others. That is a fact! The same applies to other instruments, such as piano or instruments that you cannot tune yourself – a handpan in 432 Hz is not compatible with them.
Handpans in 432 Hz are therefore a niche, but if you still decide to buy a handpan in 432 Hz, we can advise you by phone or email.
Setting the mood
Handpan scales & notes
With handpans, there are countless scales, which makes the handpan purchase so difficult or complex. Each handpan is limited to a certain number of notes, which are "selected" by the manufacturer from all possible notes – accordingly, there are exponentially many possibilities for creating new scales. We delve a little deeper into the topic of handpan scales on this page:
They come in all forms
Handpan formats
Mini vs. normal
Most handpans are made with a diameter of 53 - 55cm, a mini measures about 46 - 48cm. Due to the smaller size, even children can comfortably reach all the notes. In addition, a Mini is perfect as a travel handpan.
Mutants
Handpans that have additional notes between the outer edge of the notes and the Ding are called "mutants".
Bottom notes
Bottom notes are additional notes on the bottom of the handpan. They offer more possibilities for playing different harmonies.
Avoid heat
It is IMPORTANT to protect the handpan from direct sunlight, i.e. do not leave it in the sun, as it can get out of tune if the handpan gets too hot. If the handpan does heat up, be sure to let it cool down to room temperature before playing and to checking if it is still in tune.
Fingers only
Do not play with mallets or other objects on the handpan! Only with the fingers!
Ideally, wash your hands before playing, because dirt and sweat are harmful to the instrument and can lead to rust.
Avoid wetness *
Protect the handpan from moisture and high humidity! If your instrument does get wet, wipe it dry immediately with a cloth and oil it afterwards.
* does not apply to stainless steel handpans
No jewelry
Remove rings, watches and other jewelry on your hands to avoid scratches.
Bags only for transport
Do not store the instrument permanently in a bag or backpack, but only use it for transport, otherwise there is a risk of rust.
Maintenance & care
Depending on the manufacturer or material, the handpan must be oiled to protect it from rust.
Right side up
Never place the handpan on the floor with the playing surface (notes) facing down.
Sound
Since handpans are made of steel, the sound may change depending on the temperature. When cold, the metal contracts and the tones become higher; when hot, the metal expands and the tones become duller.
Love
Show your handpan some love, play it regularly and take good care of it.
Transport and protection of your instrument
When buying a handpan, you should also find a suitable case for carrying your handpan. Hard- and softcases are suitable for this purpose. As the name suggests, your instrument is better protected from impacts in a hardcase than in a softcase. The softcase has the advantage of being cheaper, lighter and more comfortable to carry. When making your decision, you should consider how often you will be on tour with your instrument and what "conditions or stresses" it will be exposed to. When hiking, a soft case is much more comfortable, on the plane as hand luggage or in a crowded subway, a hard case would be more suitable due to the better protection.
Browse our handpan cases
The right care
Almost all handpans and steel tongue drums need regular maintenance to protect them from rust. Most manufacturers recommend Phoenix handpan oil, coconut oil or even baby oil. You can find out which care product is most suitable from the manufacturer or from us.
As a rule, you should rub the top and bottom of your instrument with a care product and a microfiber cloth every 2-4 weeks. We also recommend wiping the instrument with the same microfiber cloth after each playing to remove sweat and dirt.
Browse our care products
Retuning of your handpan
Just like a piano or guitar, all handpans need to be retuned sooner or later. The only question is: how often does a handpan need to be retuned? This essentially depends on the "strees" to which the handpan is subjected. The biggest stress is direct sunlight or heat but of course also how hard you play your handpan.
Handpans purchased at Sound Sculpture handpan shop can be retuned directly with us and do not need to be returned to the respective manufacturer. This often saves you time and also unnecessary shipping costs. Of course, your warranty remains!
All you need to know about retuningBrowse & listen
Browse our online Handpan shop and watch the Product videos of different Handpan manufacturers, materials and scales to get a feel for which ones appeal to you.
Buying a handpan is an emotional thing. Preferences often emerge only after the first listening and comparison.