Handpan buying guide: Things to consider before buying a Handpan (2024)

FAQs

Handpan buying guide: Things to consider before buying a Handpan? ›

What are the main quality differences in a handpan or what distinguishes 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.

What are the main quality differences in a handpan or what distinguishes 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.

The number of notes: If you're a beginner, choose a design with few notes. A 9-note or 10-note handpan will be perfect, as it will enable you to master the whole instrument very quickly. Once you're comfortable enough with your instrument, you can move on to a design with more notes.

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.

A high-quality handpan not only offers better sound quality and playability, but also longer durability and greater enjoyment of making music. If you want to buy a handpan, you should not only pay attention to the price, but above all to the quality of the instrument.

‍Trust your fingers: Ideally, you should always try before you buy. Visit festivals, ask handpan friends, put a call-out on forums for local players and/or contact reputable makers to see if you can arrange a visit. A good handpan should be easier to play and make sense of, even as a beginner.

If your handpan ever becomes wet make sure to dry it immediately inside and out then clean and treat the surface if necessary.

How long does my handpan retain its tuning? Depending on the manufacturer and processing method, the mood usually remains stable for two to five years. This primarily applies to high-quality manufacturers, such as those we have carefully selected for our Handpan.

If you mainly want to play together with other people, a "D minor" Handpan is recommended. Classical scales are "Kurd", "Amara" or "Celtic Minor", "Mystic". This key is very popular and widespread in Western Europe, which makes it easy to play together.

If you live near the ocean, it is a good idea to oil your handpan at least once per month, perhaps more often than that. You will need to keep an eye out for small rust spots and if you see any, then it is time to re-apply oil!

Is learning the Handpan hard? ›

For beginners:

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.

The most common scale

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

The 440Hz frequency is standardly used in the Western music world for tuning musical instruments. If you want to use your handpan for making music in the Western world, especially with other classical instruments, the 440Hz frequency is the right choice.

The most common scales for a first instrument are:AmaRa (minor), Kurd (minor), Magic Voyage (minor), AnnaZiska (minor), Equinox (minor) and Pygmy (minor). The lowest center note (the ding) commonly found on these scales are: AmaRa: C # or D.

STANDARD TUNING

For standard handpan tuning on most instruments, the price is variable between $100-$150, depending on how far out of tune the instrument is.