When is the time to retune your Pantam (Handpan)? (2024)

FAQs

How often do you need to tune a handpan? ›

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.

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.

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.

In order to come to the point: around 70% of all handpans are tuned in D-Minor. It sounds very familiar to our ears, is not too high and not too low.

If you're jamming alone in your basem*nt and you aren't denting the heads, you might only tune your drums every 6-12 months. They'll definitely go out of tune long before then, but as long as they sound and feel good enough to you, that might be all you need to keep you happy.

Every time your handpan is played (by you or others), wipe it down with a microfibre cloth on both sides. Don't forget the inside needs love sometimes too. Dryness is a virtue: Never put your pan into a bag whilst damp; and never put your pan into a damp bag.

Reason #1 - Building a handpan is really, really hard.

That's not to say that building your own handpan is impossible, but the sharp learning curve and high initial investment cost (both financial and time) of handpan building have created a world with far more failed handpan builders than successful ones.

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.

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

It may happen that with use over time, our instrument loses the correct tuning. In some cases it is so evident that it can even be heard by ear, other times it is still a good idea to periodically test the instrument to check if it is still in tune.

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.

Although "hangdrum" is term commonly used by most people verbally to refer to this instrument, the original makers maintain that the title of the musical instrument should be Hang. There are a lot more commonly used names other than handpan: Pantam, hand drum, hang drum (which is an incorrect term) and many more.

If so, a D minor handpan is a great choice for a beginner handpan. Handpans in the key of D minor are the most popular worldwide. Below we'll take a look at some of the most common handpan scale variations you will encounter when looking for a D minor handpan.

- Handpans with 8, 9 and 10 notes

Today, handpans with 8 or 9 notes are the standard models that you will find at all manufacturers. For some years now, some manufacturers have also offered handpans with 9 notes + 1 Ding (10 notes). These models are perfectly suited for beginners as well as for professional musicians.

Steel Drum & Handpan Tuning

Tuning fee for steel drums and Dii handpans start at $200.00. Depending on the difficulty, the price may be lowered or raised after assessed.

Each note is carefully tuned by hand using of a hammer. And it takes thousands of hammer strokes for the builder to fully tune a handpan. In fact, it's the 3D structure of the note that gives a handpan note its tuning. Generally, two or more overtones are tuned into the axis of each tone field.

Balanced Tuning

The first sign of a high-quality handpan is a balanced tuning. The notes should be in tune with each other, meaning that when you play a note or a chord, it should sound clear and balanced. It's important to experiment with different chords and listen for any dissonance.

To clean a handpan:

Wet the cloth/instrument with isopropyl. Wipe your handpan with the wet cloth until the oil has been removed. Usually, you will know when the oil has been removed because the color will change and appear lighter. Re-oil the instrument after cleaning both sides.