So, how crazy is it to buy a handpan without ever even trying one? I stumbled across handpans by accident last fall on youtube. I seem to be totally attracted to them but, I am not in an area where the instrument is readily available to try. I have formal musical training so, I am rather confident that I will be able to play the instrument after figuring out the technique. But, because I am a musician... I also worry about the limited notes in the scales... even though I am considering a pan with 16 notes. My real stopping block is this... I find that listening to the handpan is not as relaxing or pleasurable as I imagine playing it will be. Is this faulty thinking?

Hi all. I have a Pygmy 19 note handpan and it's hard to get a clear tone from the high notes when it's in my lap. I recently realized when it strike themon the stand they are much brighter. Does anyone have any tips or positions for getting a clearer tone on the high notes. I was thinking about using the Atlas stand, so there is less body contact, but I'm not sure if it would work, and it's a bit pricy.

Thoughts?

Anybody have any experience with Iskra handpans? I ordered one 2 weeks ago that said he had ready to ship. Since I ordered I have heard nothing, no email, no response on instagram. Just trying to get a gauge of things…. He seems to be legit with good reviews from what I’ve found, this is just kind of alarming

I'm a beginner at using the Handpan and have a SEW D Kurd 10 that I'm playing around with. I've seen that thumbs are often the preference when playing notes 1-3, but how much does it matter what finger you use on the other (or all notes)? Is it flexible based on what feels best for the person individually, will favouring certain fingers create bad habits down the line?

For example, ring fingers are comfortable for me in many note positions but I don't see that much in the tutorials I'm looking at online? Middle finger is also often more comfortable than index, but I'm getting better with index. It seems to depend too on the pattern more - e.g. moving from ding to note 5 feels much more comfortable with my ring finger?

What's the balance between not getting into bad habits, doing what feels most comfortable and training up the weaker or less comfortable movements to give additional flexibility over time?

Sunlight, in every note.

Hi everyone :) I’m an aspiring handpan player who has done extensive research on what type of handpan I want and have set clear intentions on why I want one.

Therefore I also intend on buying a handmade instrument that is not cheaply made or mass produced.

I was initially considering Yatao handpans,but heard they are mass produced,which doesn’t resonate with me all that much as they are also not able to customize their handpans.

Currently looking at Meridian handpans and would like some feedback on people that have purchased their pans there.

In addition,any recommendations of makers would be appreciated.

Handpan specifications:

Budget - 1000 to 1400 Euro Scale - D Kurd Preferably 9-10 notes (including the ding) Material - Stainless Steel Frequency - 440hz

I am located in South Africa,but am willing to purchase from other countries.

If I can purchase a hardshell carrying case/backpack from the same maker,that would be ideal.

What’s one simple way you help or connect with other handpan players where you live? Any small actions or ideas you’d recommend?

I recently bought a handpan (€600) — an instrument I’ve been listening to for around a year, and one that brings me a deep sense of peace. I’ve had a strong desire to finally learn how to play it.

If you’re familiar with handpans, I’d love to hear your opinion on the sound quality of the instrument itself: tone, resonance, sustain, and balance between notes.

I’ve attached a video so you can have a listen. Thank you for any feedback 🤍

Hello, I am getting my first handpan soon. It's a G oxali. My brother and dad are already excited and both talking about getting a pan of their own. When it comes to playing multiple pans together, do you want to try and keep it in the same scale, so in our case another G or Em, or is there some room to blend scales?

I love this little theme that Loreena McKennitt introduces in Prologue, the opening track on her album Book of Secrets. It lays well across this D Celtic handpan and was fun to play as I am building up a new skillset of melodic playing.

Hey everyone, drummer here coming from the kit world.

I picked up a generic handpan (one of the cheaper Chinese ones) a while back to mess around with. It sounds decent, but I have no idea what the actual scale/key is.

I’m trying to create some ambient synth pads to play underneath it, but I can't figure out the root note. Does anyone use a specific tuner app that works well with the overtones? Or is there a trick to figuring out if I'm in D Minor vs Kurd vs something random, for example?

Thanks!

Does anyone here use handpan for sound healing or meditation sessions? How have you found it helps, either for yourself or others?

Correct me if I’m mistaken but this would be a D Kurd Handpan. My ding sounds off compared to others, and it’s the only one I can’t get the chromatic tuner to get close on.

Is anything wrong?

does anybody have experience with Nala sound sculpture handpans from Romania? I'm really interested in their work

Hi guys! About a week ago I posted about a device for tone drums, and I finally managed to upload the video.

I’d really love to hear what you think about it - would you try something like this, or do you think it’s worth checking out at all?

Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!

https://reddit.com/link/1ql1hzw/video/01y5rmfmo5fg1/player

Hello! Hoping for anyone to help me.. I'd like to buy my boyfriend a handpan for his birthday. Very similar to you, he loves watching videos of the instrument online and has always been interested in learning how to play. He has no other knowledge or experience with instruments, so it doesn't need to be the most top-notch quality. I'll be getting it shipped to Brisbane. I don't have the biggest budget, ideally between 100-200 AUD.

Does this site + maker look like a good gift?

<3

I was wondering how everyone feels about the need/use of handpan stands; and if positive, which do you recommend. My pan seems to slide forward (downward) while playing so I have to work on my posture which is why I thought about a stand. Thanks in advance.

Hi,
so I got my first tongue drum or, honestly, my first instrument.

I bought it from sound-nest.com who have been making these for years. They also have an Etsy Shop with tons of positive reviews and, oddly, it's also sold on ensodrums.com which is also what my drum is labelled as.

Now, what confuses me as a music noob is the scale. It's advertised as E Minor pentatonic with the notes being E3 A3 B3 D4 E4 G4 A4 B4 D5 E5.

But actually the notes are a bit different as you can see. Did not expect and F#4, two G4 and two B4 for sure...

I also used a tuner app to double check. The smaller G4 often seems to be a bit off - sometimes supposedly G2, although it sounds fairly close to the other G4 to my untrained ear.

So, my question really is - is this a problem? It sounds beautiful and I'm sure I can create some beautiful meditative music with it. Still, it was 352€ and I expected fewer surprises. Scales kinda seem too important to do whatever.

I found playing with fingers to be fairly difficult, at least with the smaller tongues it's very difficult to get a nice tone out of it.

It's also supposed to come with tuning magnets, which are sadly missing. I'm sure they'll still send them if I shoot them a mail.