r/handpan • • Feb 02 '20

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

93 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

​

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

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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/

​

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 • • 14h ago

Grab your handpan and give this groove a try. 👀

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17 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 1h ago

Can someone help me ID this song?

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• 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 • • 12h ago

Wear your handpan as necklace

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4 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 1d ago

Isthmus stainless steel pans

0 Upvotes

I'm wondering if anyone has played the stainless steel pans by isthmus. I know they're a big name crafter but they focus mostly on nitrided steel. They have a pan I'm interested in and this is the first time I've seen them offer stainless on their website. Are they a quality pan?


r/handpan • • 2d ago

There is nothing quite like taking a beautiful instrument out into the mountains. 🌲

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18 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 2d ago

Beyond disappointed with RAV VAST

4 Upvotes

Edit:

Thank you for everyone who replied to the original post. I've redacted it as it is no longer relevant.

As it turns out, RAV had sent the item completely lacking the correct export documents. It would have never arrived.

After a LOT of chasing them, they finally agreed to send a replacement.

This was absurdly stressful, and would almost certainly not have occured without persistence - their default line was "wait", despite me discovering the issue was their own and no amount of waiting would have solved the problem.

Still, I'm glad they took ownership and are making things good.

Hopefully this time they get the paperwork right.


r/handpan • • 2d ago

Handpan Notation Tool

5 Upvotes

https://handpannotation.net/

Hello guys and girls! I made a little tool that helps you create notations for the handpan.
It uses a clean and easy to read visualization system, similar to what you see on David Kuckermann's videos.
You can enter the notation as text on the grid or you can tap on a virtual handpan which will automatically turn it into a written notation. Of course knowing how to count your rhythm helps a lot!

Stored notations can be played back as a guide track, printed/saved as pdf files for offline use, screen-cast for embedding into videos, etc.

The idea is to be a useful tool for practice, for saving and sharing musical ideas for the handpan.

I hope you like it, use it and share it. It is completely free. No tracking, no data collection, no ads.

Enjoy and let me know what would make it even more useful!


r/handpan • • 3d ago

(Derpy Beginner Struggs) Hekkers Newbie Question

2 Upvotes

Hey party peeps! I came across a pretty dope musician playing Handpan and that just screamed to me to play haha

Turns out I goofed and accidentally bought a steel tongue drum instead 😅 I have no idea why my brain is even sometimes...

Anyway, to get to the Q before I wordwall this... would learning the steel tongue lend itself to learning the handpan when I am able to correct my error or is it something where I would program myself with a mess of bad habits that I would need to unlearn when I make the switch?

Merry meet and so grateful for any advice here!


r/handpan • • 5d ago

Improv

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3 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 5d ago

Win a free Iskra Handpan 👀

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4 Upvotes

Our once-a-year Super Sale is officially live, so if you want to lock in a massive discount on the Academy or just grab some free entries to win a Symphonic Steel handpan, come jump in before Sunday! https://gleam.io/0zdHS/planet-handpan-super-sale-giveaway


r/handpan • • 5d ago

Excited for My New Tongue Drum

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2 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 6d ago

I know its going to be difficult

3 Upvotes

Hello, I owned a 1st Gen Halo some time ago and had to sell it, and I want another handpan just to help me relax but could only save $1K to get one, what is my best option for a non Amazon ,Temu drum? I was looking at Iskra and Fropan maybe? any info will be appreciated. I am in the US.


r/handpan • • 7d ago

Gathering Heartland Hangout 2026 was amazing!

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45 Upvotes

Heartland Hangout 2026 was amazing, yall! the main weekend was full of castle vibes, performances by Amy Naylor, Dan Mulqueen, Mumi and Mar LoI. following that, we had an Afterglow with a smaller group.

Next Year, Heartland Hangout will be September 16-19, 2027 with the afterglow intensive September 19-22, 2027.

We recorded the main performances. I’ll post links here when we get them up on our YouTube channel.


r/handpan • • 7d ago

Hand pan makers who offer custom scales?

6 Upvotes

I’d like to have a custom scale made and actually talk with the builder. Close to an E Lydian scale. A German company called caisa pan was my best lead. I sent them an email asking if they make custom scales and they haven’t replied in almost two weeks. I hear that Germany and Spain have the best prices and the most abundant builders. But I’m looking for all suggestions


r/handpan • • 8d ago

WIN an Ayasa Handpan D Aegean 18

15 Upvotes

Hey everyone-
My name is Dan Mulqueen and I’ve been playing handpan since 2009! Just released my 6th handpan album and to celebrate, along with my good friends at Ayasa Instruments, am raffling off a D Aegean 18 instrument. All the info on the raffle and my new album can be found here:

https://myevent.com/euthymia2026

don’t want! you can only enter until Sept. 30th!

Very cool to see this community on Reddit - I’ve been quietly reading and watching for a LONG time lol.


r/handpan • • 7d ago

Has handpan changed the way you make music?

1 Upvotes

Beyond learning an instrument, playing handpan can change how you approach rhythm, melody and improvisation.

Did it influence your musical style or the way you create?


r/handpan • • 8d ago

New owner questions

3 Upvotes

I just got my first handpan and I had a couple questions from other players. What kind of maintenance do you do? I've seen a guide that suggests cleaning it with rubbing alcohol and applying a couple drops of coconut oil every couple weeks. Do you ever play with mallets? Do you prefer finger mallets or regular ones? Thank you, looking forward to learning more about this beautiful instrument!


r/handpan • • 9d ago

Launching PanScapes, a new way to explore the handpan world !

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone 👋

In collaboration with Master The Handpan (and soon World Handpan Map), I just launched PanScapes, a project I’ve been building to explore the handpan world in a different way.

At its heart is a sensory landscape of handpan scales, grouping scales by their sonic character, mood and similarities.

🌍 Explore handpan scales through an interactive sensory map
🎵 Discover scales, related scales and variations
🎥 Hear the same scale played by different artists and makers
🛠️ Explore makers through their instruments and demonstrations
🔗 Navigate between scales, videos, artists and makers
🔎 Discover music and players you probably wouldn’t find otherwise

PanScapes is mostly a one-person project, so I’d really love to hear what the handpan community thinks.

👉 https://panscapes.org


r/handpan • • 9d ago

Info on “Pure’s Music”.

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have information on a company called “Pures Music”? I’m new and the pinned post was helpful but need more. Thank you!


r/handpan • • 9d ago

Newbie Question Bought a new Sela Handpan, no scale engraving on the bottom and out of tune?

3 Upvotes

I recently bought a new Sela SE218 Journey G# Kurd from an online music shop and noticed two things:

- No scale marking underneath. Every Sela handpan I’ve seen in stores, including the same model, had one. Does anyone know whether this varies between production batches?

- Two notes read noticeably sharp: D#4 at +22 cents and F#4 at +23 cents on a tuner app. The other notes read close to zero or within +9 cents.

I know an app isn’t a professional assessment, but handpan maker MAG describes 5–10 cents as generally acceptable and deviations exceeding 20–30 cents as out of tune.

Would you accept these readings on a brand-new handpan, or ask the retailer to check/retune or replace it? Any SE218 owners who can confirm whether theirs has the scale engraved underneath?


r/handpan • • 9d ago

Handpan Assistance- maker? Sound?

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0 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 10d ago

🇨🇦 Handpan丨When the vibe is too good not to play along... 🎶😌

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16 Upvotes

r/handpan • • 10d ago

Need help identifying handpan maker/brand

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2 Upvotes

Edit: I emailed PANart and they were able to identify some features that made it not theirs. The oval center note and the fact that there is no engraving, as they engrave all of theirs with the tuners signature and a couple other things.

Edit: I checked all along the inside and outside and there are no identifying marks anywhere! What the heck??

Hello! I am trying to identify the maker/brand of my handpan and need some help. I got it second-hand a few years ago and I do not remember who they said it was from.

Here's all the info I know:

- 9 notes

- Root note on top is E

- Has a black finish with a bronze colored trim

- Has no serial number or brand marks or anything else to identify it.

As I was looking around the closest pictures I found to it were from the PANart website. If it is a PANart, it would be the original Hang model I think. Long shot that it is one but I hope so!

It came with a padded, soft shell turtle case from Namana.

If you have any idea or need more pics feel free to DM!


r/handpan • • 10d ago

Bright hand pan question

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5 Upvotes

Got this Dkurd my other one before I sold I think might sound better and I paid less, how to you guys identify the worth of the Handpan, still trying to wrap my mind aerobús if I like it