With its soulful and earthy rhythms that seem to pull you into a dream-like state, this fascinating scale will surely leave you in a trance.
One of the first scales to have ever been used to tune a Handpan, the Pygmy scale has remained as popular today as it was during its first release in the early 2000’s, drawing musicians in with its mesmerizing beats.
Let us explore this hypnotic scale and discover what makes it so special – from its unique musical properties to the different variations crafted by Handpan-makers, learn all about the Pygmy scale and decide whether it’s the right fit for your Handpan practice!
Introduction to the Pygmy Scale
The Pygmy scale was one of the first scales used to tune a Handpan and was part of the earliest line of Hang Drums crafted and released by PanArt.
In fact, the original first-generation Pygmy Hang Drums have become a valuable collector’s item among the most extremely passionate and dedicated musicians within the Handpan community. These Hang Drums quite often sell for at least several thousands of dollars each due to their historical significance!
Today, the Pygmy scale is still one of the most popular choices for a Handpan, and for good reason. Its lasting appeal lies in the unique, rhythmic tones that it offers.
The Pygmy scale invites every Handpan player to lose themselves in its sound, whether in deep meditation or in a trance-like musical exploration. This is due to its distinctive interval structure and musical properties, which we will take a closer look at throughout this article.
Name and Origins of the Pygmy Scale
The Pygmy Scale is named after the indigenous Forest People of Central Africa. While the tribal beats and ancient melodies of these cultures have been a source of inspiration behind the Pygmy Scale, it is important to note that there is no direct link between the scale itself and the traditional music of these ethnic groups.
In fact, most of these groups do not use specific scales as understood in Western music theory. Since their music is passed down orally, with music taught and learned through the community rather than an instructional setting, there is no formal theory or specific scale system like what you might find in Western music.
For a glimpse of just one among the many vocal music traditions of Indigenous Central Africa that inspired this scale, listen to The Music of the Bayaka People released by Wild Sanctuary.
While the Pygmy Scale isn’t a “direct descendant” of these sounds, it seeks to capture a similar trance-like quality in its tones and rhythms.
Central African musical traditions, such as those of the Bayaka, Aka, and Mbuti people, are diverse and unique. Many of these groups create complex vocal music that incorporates flowing rhythms and trance-like phrasing as part of their ancestral rites and legends.
These rich, layered, and complex vocal patterns may have influenced PanArt’s decision to name this scale “Pygmy” as an artistic interpretation and homage to these rich traditions, rather than claiming a direct association with them.
The repetitive, circular patterns of this ancient drum and vocal music aligns with the hypnotic, trance-like rhythms of the Pygmy Handpan. In its own way, the Pygmy scale echoes these powerful, ancestral beats through a modern interpretation.
Musical Characteristics of the Pygmy Scale
The main defining characteristic of a Pygmy scale is that it is a pentatonic scale, which means that there are 5 notes in each octave. These notes are often repeated over different octaves across the layout of a Handpan.
While the Pygmy scale is strictly pentatonic in its structure, there is some flexibility for how the intervals between the notes are arranged.
While some Pygmy scale variations are based on the Minor pentatonic scale, others are more similar to the Dorian pentatonic scale.
The Pentatonic Structure of the Pygmy Scale
Let’s look at the following:
Minor Pentatonic intervals: 1 – ♭3 – 4 – 5 – ♭7
Dorian Pentatonic intervals: 1 – 2 – 4 – 5 – ♭7
Even though the intervals are spaced slightly differently in these pentatonic scales, both of them retain their “Pygmy sound.”
Below, we have two examples of different pentatonic scales in D:
the D Minor Pentatonic, as well as the D Dorian Pentatonic, on which a few existing Pygmy handpan scales are based.
D Pentatonic Minor:
D – F – G – A – C
D Dorian Pentatonic:
D – E – G – A – C
Unlike some other Handpan-tunings, such as the D Kurd scale, which is essentially a D Minor variant, or the Hijaz scale which is strongly defined by its Phrygian-like intervals, the Pygmy scale does not have a fixed set of intervals or harmonic characteristics other than its pentatonic nature.
This gives Handpan-makers just a little more freedom to experiment with the intervals of a Pygmy scale.
The Classic Pygmy and The Low Pygmy Scale
If you have browsed different sites and checked out the various tunings available under the name “Pygmy,” you’ll see that there are many ways the notes can be arranged.
There are two main versions of the Pygmy Scale. While both versions use the same core notes, the key difference lies in how they are spaced and arranged on the instrument.
The “regular” or Classic Pygmy, which is the version first that was released in the early 2000s, has the Ding (central note) placed comfortably within an octave of the next playable note, following a more traditional note sequence commonly found in handpans.
The Low Pygmy on the other hand, has a much larger interval between the Ding and the next playable note, which can jump up to an octave in some cases.
In a D Minor Classic Pygmy, the Ding (D3) is usually followed by A3, which is a rather small interval. However, in a D Minor Low Pygmy, the Ding (D3) would likely be followed by D4, which is a much larger interval.
Handpan Layout of the Pygmy Scale
Handpans in the Pygmy scale are most commonly found in 9-note and 10-note configurations, although you may also come across Pygmy Handpans with more notes than these.
In the diagrams below, the sequence of notes, in ascending order of the scale, is overlaid on the image of the Handpan on the left, while the names of each note are presented in tablature format on the right.
Here, we use the C# Classic-Pygmy scale as an example.
9-Note C# Pygmy Handpan
(C#)| G# | A | C# | E | F# | G# | A | C# |
10-Note C# Pygmy Handpan
(C#)| G# | A | C# | E | F# | G# | A | C# | E |
Pygmy Handpan Playing Techniques
Because of how the Pygmy scale’s pentatonic structure repeats its notes across the two octaves laid out on the Handpan, there are very few chances of hitting dissonant or awkward intervals, even during improvisations or more spontaneous musical explorations. Even compared to the D Kurd scale, this relative lack of dissonant harmonies makes the Pygmy an exceptionally beginner-friendly scale.
This creates a sense of freedom in how one handles the melodic aspect of Handpan technique. Since the risk of creating a harsh and dissonant sound is minimal, musicians can take a more experimental approach with this scale.
This also makes the Pygmy scale a solid choice for rapid, rhythmic playing with an energetic touch, as the notes seamlessly blend into one another without creating too many clashing sounds in the sustain.
The repeating notes of the Pygmy scale means it is particularly well suited to fast-paced rhythms, and among all Handpan scales available, is one that is most suited for drum-like, percussive playing-techniques.
However, due to this tonal structure, the scale does seem to go in circles at times. In some ways, music played on a Pygmy scale can lack the dramatic tension and resolution found in other scales, such as the Hijaz.
This comparative lack of leading notes in the scale’s structure can make the Pygmy scale feel more trance-inducing, dream-like and open-ended, with melodies that sometimes feel as if they do not progress into an ultimate resolution. This may present unique challenges when trying to compose pieces on a Pygmy Handpan.
That said, this is also part of the Pygmy scale’s charm – where the focus is less on the destination, and more on the journey itself.
Watch these demos of the C# Pygmy scale
being played on a 9-note and 10-note handpan:
9-Note C# Pygmy Handpan:
10-Note C# Pygmy Handpan:
The Pygmy Scale and its Trance-Like Quality
The Pygmy scale, just like the the ancient beats of the indigenous African music that had inspired its name, is deeply hypnotic in its tones and rhythms.
The sounds of the Pygmy are sure to resonate deeply with those who seek a deeper experience of music and sound.
Its repetitive, meandering nature invites all those who hear its rhythms into a state of deep flow where time stands still, and the mind can wander freely as the notes carry them deep into a state of trance.
With a simple and yet profound tonal-structure, the Pygmy scale encourages a meditative, almost shamanic experience, allowing players and listeners to truly immerse themselves in the present moment, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the eternal.
Who should get a Pygmy Handpan?
Absolute beginners, even those who have no experience with any musical instrument, will have the easiest time playing on a Pygmy Handpan due to how forgiving the intervals are. It’s the perfect scale for those who are just starting their musical journey.
The Pygmy scale is also excellent for holistic practitioners who want to use the Handpan as a meditation aid to enhance their mindfulness practice, due to the trance-like rhythms possible with this scale.
The Pygmy scale is particularly suitable for percussive-style Handpan players who want to approach this instrument more like a drum, focusing on rhythmic patterns and beats, rather than linear melodies and polyphonic harmonies, although more advanced musicians may also with to explore more restrained and alternative forms of musical composition on this scale.
Whether you’re a beginner seeking out your first-ever Handpan, or an experienced musician looking to expand your practice, the Pygmy scale offers an immersive and rewarding musical experience that you’re sure to love.
To Conclude
The Pygmy scale is a unique and versatile Handpan tuning that is sure to be loved by both beginners and more advanced musicians who wish to explore its rhythmic and hypnotic qualities.
With its earthy, tribal-inspired rhythms and trance-like tones, the Pygmy scale is ideal for those looking to create rich, layered, and atmospheric soundscapes, or dive deeper into their meditative practices with music as their guide.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance as a Handpan-musician, the Pygmy scale offers a world of endless possibilities for you.
You can view our entire range of handpans here. And as always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send us a message and we’ll be more than happy to help!