Beginner's Guide- How to Find the best Handpan? | NovaPans Handpans (2024)

FAQs

What is the best scale for a beginner handpan? ›

Celtic / Amara:

The Celtic Minor or Amara is based on the scale that is common in traditional Celtic music. The absence of the sixth makes this scale even more intuitive and harmonious. Suitable for every beginner.

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.

Difference between D-Celtic Minor / D-Amara and D-Kurd Minor

As already mentioned, about 70% of all handpans are tuned in D-Minor.

For a solid handpan with a standard number of notes (7-8) from a good maker: you should probably expect to pay no less than $1,000-$2,500 (new). For a 'top-shelf' make and/or for more notes: you're looking at around $3,000-$4,000 (new). For anything rare or custom: you can expect to pay more.

There is hardly any instrument that can be learned as easily as playing the Handpan. After learning the touch technique, which usually takes between 20-30 minutes, you can intuitively start playing right away.

In contrast to other instruments the Handpan is a very easy-to-learn instrument. This is true for experienced musicians as well as for anyone who thinks he is unmusical or untalented. Because of the comparatively few tones on a handpan and the characteristic of "being in tune", one cannot hit the wrong notes.

What scale should I learn first? Well the most common scale to learn first is the Minor Pentatonic Scale. That's the one that I recommend that you start with and it is included in my beginners course. Once you have that one down (and can use it) then you should explore the Major Scale.

In our opinion, a handpan should only have as many notes as the best sound quality warrants! Most handpans are built with 8 or 9 total notes on the top, and that would be our recommendation. Anything more can very quickly risk handpan sound quality.

As a rule of thumb, we believe that a Handpan should remain in tune for 3 years when played properly and does not suffer any major damage (such as being dropped on the floor or being thrown around a lot).

The reason why a handpan goes out of tune is because steel also moves and changes due to external influences. In particular, temperature fluctuations and the attacks when playing cause a permanent change in the molecular structure of the material. This also changes the tension of the tone fields.

How to shop for a handpan? ›

Some handpan scales are common, others are more typical, such as the Hijaz scale (an oriental scale often found in the handpan) or the Akebono scale (a Japanese-sounding scale). Take the time to listen to the ranges offered by the manufacturers or available in the shops to make your choice.

A typical handpan has 8 or 9 notes. If that sounds limiting... remember that each handpan note holds at least 3 frequencies (the fundamental note, the octave and the compound fifth on a 1:2:3 ratio). That rich layered sound is what makes handpans so satisfying.

A handpan is very easy to play with hands, it took me just a few moments to learn how to get a perfect sound out of it. However, I must warn you that handpan playing is addictive!

In contrast to other instruments the Handpan is a very easy-to-learn instrument. This is true for experienced musicians as well as for anyone who thinks he is unmusical or untalented. Because of the comparatively few tones on a handpan and the characteristic of "being in tune", one cannot hit the wrong notes.