You’ve recently fallen in love with the magical sounds of the Handpan, and now you want to learn how to play it. A new adventure begins! The first step is to buy a handpan. But how do you choose one? What are the most important points to bear in mind when making your first purchase as a beginner?

In this article, we’ll look at the many criteria you need to consider when buying your very first handpan. Follow the guide!

Is it possible to start playing the Handpan without any musical background?

Yes, absolutely!

The unique feature of this instrument is that it requires no musical knowledge. It is therefore possible for a beginner to play it completely instinctively, because any note played by the Handpan will always be pleasant to hear. Afterwards, you are free to take Handpan lessons to improve your knowledge and your ability to play. The way is therefore clear for you to start learning!

What’s a musical scale?

A scale is a set of notes that follow one another consecutively. Major and minor scales usually contain 8 notes. On the Handpan, these notes are the ovals you see on the instrument. They appear in ascending or descending order, so that you can play them from left to right as you move up or down the scale. This means that you can use the scale to create melodies and harmonies.

Which scale should I choose for my Handpan?

Handpans are not all the same, and each one of them creates its own unique world of sound.

It is highly recommended that you listen to different scales to determine which one is most appealing to you. You can find the different Handpan scales on the Internet. Some will appeal to you more than others, and you’re bound to fall in love with one of them!

In fact, each scale has its own specific sound and will therefore express a certain emotion: joy, melancholy, freedom, etc.

You could compare scales to colours: some people prefer warm colours like red, others cool colours like blue. There is no such thing as the best colour, only tastes and preferences that are unique to each person!

The most important thing is to take the time to find the sounds that ‘speak’ to you, that resonate with you.

A piece of advice: take your time, don’t rush this step. Your research will be refined and you may need to take a step back to make your choice and take a decision.

Leave your selection aside for a while and then come back to listen to it. Chances are that it’s then that you’ll make the right choice.

The major scale

The major scale is generally used to express a feeling of positivity and happiness. Happy, festive tunes are played using major scales. Playing a major scale will put your audience in a good mood. The Handpan player may find a certain limit to this scale which will not allow him to express anything other than joy.

The minor scale

The minor scale is used to express darker feelings, such as sadness or melancholy. If we want to express intense, deep or mystical emotions, we’ll choose a minor scale. This is the scale most often used in films to create tension and mystery.

Oriental scales

With their exotic sounds, oriental scales are easy to identify because their distinctive ‘Asian’ melodies take us instantly halfway around the world.

Their distinctive tones are ideal if you want to escape with your instrument, or if you want to express a Zen, meditative mood.

The only downside of the oriental scale is that its repetitive nature can get tiresome in the long run.

Is there a recommended scale for beginners?

Very popular, the minor scales are the most sought-after. Neither too high nor too low, they are also easier to play according to professional players.

And it’s clear that the most popular scale, and the most requested one among beginners is the D minor scale. Perhaps because most of the popular YouTube videos are demonstrations of handpans tuned in D minor.

Other instructors recommend the D minor scale because it’s easier to have the same instruments for group learning: in fact, this scale has become a classic and is used by many players.

How many notes for my Handpan?

Once you have chosen your scale, you will decide how many notes your Handpan should have. The number of notes will determine the sound range of your Handpan: its tessitura.

But just because your handpan will have more notes doesn’t mean you’ll be limited in your playing. In fact, you can modulate each note to produce different sounds.

Handpans with 9 notes

You can start with a 9 notes handpan, meaning 8 notes plus the “Ding” which is the central note, or you can start with more notes. That being said, when you’re just starting out, it’s perhaps best to master a 9 notes handpan before moving on to a handpan with more than 10 notes. Just as a beginner guitarist would start learning on his 6 strings guitar, before moving on to a 7 string if he wishes.

Handpans with more than 10 notes

Once you’ve learnt to play on a 9 notes Handpan, you can consider moving on to a Handpan with 10 notes or more. This choice is aimed primarily to intermediate or experienced players who want to broaden their musical horizons and improve their technique.

Don’t be afraid of getting bored by choosing an instrument with few notes. As with any musical instrument, when players get bored, it’s a sign that they need to work on other technical aspects of their playing.

What frequency should I choose?

The next step after choosing the scale of your handpan is to decide on its frequency or tuning. Handpans can have two different frequencies.

But what is frequency?

Frequency is the number of wave oscillations per second. It is measured in Hertz. The frequency you choose depends on the intended use of your musical instrument.

The 432 hertz frequency

It is used by musicians who use the Handpan for holistic purposes such as yoga, meditation or general well-being. This frequency is attributed to its psychological and healing benefits. However, if you want to play with a group of other musicians, this frequency won’t do, and you’ll have to go for a handpan tuned to 440 Hertz.

The 440 hertz frequency

This is the standard tuning that allows musicians to play together.

This is the preferred tuning if you wish to play with other musicians who will be tuned to 440 Hertz in the same way as you.

If you follow this option and choose a handpan tuned in 440 Hertz, you’ll still be able to create relaxing, meditative atmospheres.

Importance of the material

There are 2 main metals used in the handpan industry : stainless steel and nitrided steel. These two materials are radically different. Your choice will depend on the sound produced by each of these two materials.

Stainless steel

430 /441/4XX stainless steel is the name given to the different types of stainless steel used to make Handpans.

Most of the new generation of Handpans are made of stainless steel. This steel is highly resistant to rust. The sound emitted by steel handpans is warm, deep and long. Their sustain is long.

As a reminder, a sustain is the duration of a note over time.

It’s “flattering” to have a long sustain at first sight, but the risk is that the sounds all blend together and that you lose precision.

What’s more, its harmonics are more crystal clear. Highly resistant, stainless steel handpans are easier to maintain than those made of nitrided iron.

However, it is still necessary to maintain it regularly, wiping it down after each use to avoid any moisture marks.

Nitrided steel

Nitrided steel is the raw material used to make Handpans. It is a mild steel that has undergone chemical and thermal treatment to harden it.

Nitrided steel does not produce the same sound as stainless steel: its sustain is shorter, reminiscent of the sound of ceramic. Less deep, and perhaps also less mesmerising, nitrided steel allows you to play more rhythmic parts. Furthermore, the sound produced is much more powerful than the one emitted by a stainless steel handpan, making it easier to play outdoors.

Whether it’s made of nitrided steel or stainless steel, the handpan remains a fragile musical instrument, which tends to be oxidised by humidity when it’s stored and even played: during playing, skin contact with the steel also causes humidity, which contributes to its oxidation.

Thus, it is an instrument that will require a certain amount of maintaining, especially when it is made of nitrided steel.

It is recommended that you clean and oil your nitrided handpan after each use.

Technical specifications

As well as choosing the scale, the number of notes and the frequency of your instrument, here are some other factors to consider when choosing your first handpan.

The manufacture of the Handpan

When you go to buy your Handpan, one of the first questions to ask yourself is how it was made. How was it made? Who made it?

Some handpan players tend to prefer manufacturers based in the European Union. That said, this is not necessarily a guarantee of quality, because what matters the most is that the Handpan is of good quality and sounds great, that’s pretty much it.

We strongly advise you to contact a manufacturer who will be able to advise you on the instrument best suited to your needs.

If you order online, don’t buy your Handpan without listening to it: most online sites offer sound recordings of the Handpans in their catalogue. Don’t forget to ask about the conditions for having your instrument tuned after purchase.

Tuning the Handpan

The essential condition for your handpan to sound good is that it is properly tuned. In general, two harmonics, the octave and the fifth, are tuned within the same note. Sometimes higher notes such as a third or fourth are tuned with an octave instead of a fifth.

When you’re just starting out, it’s difficult to judge whether a handpan is in tune or not, which is why you need professional guidance.

Beware : some unscrupulous sellers sell untuned Handpans that are simply intended for decorative use.

Price

This musical instrument sells for between £1,000 and £3,000, so your choice should not be taken lightly. Generally speaking, counterfeit, decorative or poor-quality Handpans are cheaper, so be careful not to be fooled by an over-attractive price.

On the other hand, the price of a good handpan is not necessarily proportional to its quality.

In other words, to assess the value for money of a handpan, you need to make up your own mind: ask manufacturers for quotes, read the opinions of other handpan players and, above all, take your time.

Once again, it’s best to be guided by a professional when making this important choice.

To conclude

As we’ve just seen in this article, choosing your first handpan is not an easy task when you’re a beginner!

There are many criteria to consider before making your decision. We strongly recommend that you approach a manufacturer and talk to them to see if you can trust them and agree with their approach. Then you can try out a few instruments: everyone has their own preferences in terms of tone and scale, so the most important thing is to fall in love with the instrument you’re going to choose. So above all, when you choose your handpan, don’t forget to listen to your intuition!