Wondering what the differences are between Handpans and Steel Tongue Drums? These metallic musical instruments have both gained in popularity in recent years because of their unique and soothing sound. However, they have different characteristics and playing techniques. We’ll explore these differences in this article, so you can decide which of these instruments is best suited to your needs and musical style.
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It’s quite hard not to get lost between the names of these new percussion instruments of the 21st century: handpans, hang drums and tongue drums.
First of all, you need to know that the generic term for this category of instrument in the idiophone family is the ‘handpan’. Inspired by the Hang, invented in the early 2000s and itself inspired by the Steel drum or Steel Pan, the Handpan is a diatonic musical instrument. This means that it does not have the semitones used in the traditional chromatic scale, represented by sharps and flats. This makes it possible to play these instruments without wrong notes, in a completely intuitive way.
It can be heptatonic, meaning that its musical scale contains 7 notes, or pentatonic, meaning that its musical scale contains 5 notes.
The tongue drum is also a diatonic instrument that can be heptatonic or pentatonic.
There is another similarity between these 2 instruments: both are made of steel with an ovoid shape.
Playing style : the differences between Handpan and Tongue Drum
Although both instruments have steel bases, they have different playing characteristics.
The Handpan is a membrane instrument with a playing surface fitted with dimples and bumps. Each dimple produces a note, but it is not marked.
The Tongue Drum has small tongues cut into the steel plate of the instrument; these tongues are numbered and it is precisely them that produce the notes, from 1 to 7. Fingers, hands or drumsticks are used for percussion.
Different size and weight
The Handpan is larger than the tongue drum: Handpans measure around 50 cm in diameter, while tongue drums have a diameter of between 15 and 30 cm.
That being said, in terms of weight the Tongue Drum can weigh between 1 and 8 kilos, depending on the size of the model. The Handpan, meanwhile, will weigh between 5 and 6 kilos.
The Tongue Drum will be easier to carry than the Handpan.
Another difference: the price!
When it comes to pricing, there’s another difference: the Handpan is up to ten times more expensive than the tongue Drum.
Indeed, manufacturing a handpan is no mean feat. It can’t be made in a factory, because it has to be made by hand by a qualified craftsman. It is particularly complex to hammer the Handpan precisely, while giving it the right shape and sound. This technical difficulty explains its high price.
If you have to make a choice, price is going to be an important factor to consider : while it’s easy to find Tongue Drums for under £600, you’re looking at between £1,000 to £3,000 if you want to invest in a Handpan. In addition Tongue Drums are available more quickly than Handpans, which have to be made to order and can take up to a year to produce!
Sounds from the Handpan and Tongue Drum
The two instruments do not sound the same. A Tongue Drum has a brighter, more resonant sound. You’ll find them with playing styles such as blues and rock.
Because the steel of the Handpan is thicker than the steel of the Tongue Drum, it produces sounds that are warmer, rounder and deeper. Its sounds are even said to be magical and mesmerising. Handpan sounds can be found in meditative and folk music.
Durability
Because the Handpan is tuned according to its hammering, any shock can instantly deform its sheet metal and take it out of tune. It’s a fragile instrument, unlike the Tongue Drum, which cannot go out of tune. In fact, the tuning of this instrument is inscribed in the cutting of the tongues and cannot be altered.
So, which instrument should you choose?
Handpans and Tongue Drums are both very interesting instruments, each with their own strengths. If you’ve got a big budget, you’re not in a hurry and you’re looking for a smooth, magical sound, you’ll have to go for the Handpan (see our handpan buying guide and our beginner’s guide). If you need an instrument that’s more affordable and easier to move around, the Tongue Drum will be more suitable.