Handpan is an instrument known for its ethereal sound and the love for which is shared worldwide. This steel instrument is known for combining rhythmic percussion with melodic depth, generating a soothing and transcendent soundscape.
Throughout the years, various artists who were bold enough to challenge the boundaries of handpan music have managed to add their charisma to music created by handpans. Building this instrument to create the remarkable melodies is a slow and elaborate process. This article will talk about how and what makes a perfect handpan.
Different Kinds Of Steel
Industrial sheets range from DC01 to DC07; out of this range, the most commonly used steel for making handpans is the middle grade, DC04. Handpans share the same industrial sheets that are utilised in the Automobile industry.
Over the past few years, handpans made from stainless steel have risen in popularity. Famous for its sustainability, AISI 430 stainless steel has recently become commonly used to craft handpans.
Unfortunately, this kind of steel isn't immune to rust. Hence, nitriding, heating, and diffusing nitrogen into the material makes it sturdier and protects it from rust. Nitrided DC04 instruments are generally known for their ceramic sound and relatively shorter sustain ( i.e. when a note sings).
Ember Vs Nitrided Steel
The unique factor of this instrument lies in its chemical composition and mechanical properties, which make it stand out compared to the rest. Moreover, due to its deep and relaxing melodies, it is recommended for meditative yoga.
In contrast to nitrided steel, the material for these handpans can be a bit pricey; hence these are used as the second-best instrument for hand players. The warm, controlled overtones and sustained volume allow a hypnotic-sounding experience.
The sturdy material of this kind of metal makes it much more expensive and complicated to work with than nitrided steel. Furthermore, its warmer sound-controlled overtones and sustained volumes deliver an exquisite sound experience.
Nitreded handpans are known for their percussive playing or crafting melodies with defined tones that do not blend. This instrument genre creates a warm ceramic-like tone with shorter sustainability than ember steel.
While nitrided steel is immune to oxidation, proper care is essential to avoid rust (refer to the care & maintenance guide). However, it is crucial to note that some rust may develop over time in conditions like rain or sandy beaches with saltwater.
The Shells
This part of the instrument starts as a flat sheet amd can be hand sunk, spun or rolled, deep down or hydroformed into shape.
Hard Sunk Shells
Hand Sunk shells are manufactured with a manual or pneumatic/air hammer. Despite the time-consuming method, which included thousands of strikes to mould one-half of shells, many makers would instead follow this technique to pay respect to the original steelpan production. It’s worth mentioning that this reasonable kit also creates a unique sound and appearance in each instrument.
Spun Shells
Secondly, this kind of shell is achieved by securing a metal disc on a lathe that makes it spin around. This part is now followed by holding a buck against it, starting from the middle of the disc and gradually going to the outside, forming the metal in the bowl/shell shape while it spins.
Deep Drawn Shells
The technique of deep drawing of crafting shells was initiated by a group of European makers, including Shellopan and ayas, and is favoured by Saraz and many others. This method also includes a customised mould in the shape of a shell and rings, which fit well in a large industrial deep drawing press that stamps out the shape in a minimum amount of time.
Deep drawing also comes with the benefit that extra material from the disc can slip within the rings so that the shape of the shell is not only formed by stretching the material but by the additional material flowing in, guaranteeing an even distribution of thickness and consistent quality.
Hydroformed Shells
Lastly, there is one method of creating these shells under water pressure. Sunpan initiated this method to craft stainless steel for a special handpan. A famous player and maker, Colin Foulke, made his 2015 designs accessible to the public as a hydroforming method utilising water from a domestic pressure washer. Get two sturdy frames, 24 enormous bolts, a lot of genius, and a few mistakes and mops, and your shells will be formed within minutes.
The Notes
Creating an accurate tone is one of the hardest and the slowest parts of this process. The ways to warrant a perfect tone are clarity, stability and depth of tone, distinctive harmonics and overtones, rich resonance and zero-cross-talk—notably, the lesser the hammer strikes during the tuning process, the better. Many members of this community often kiln bake their pans several times during this phase to warrant the durability of tuning.
On the top pf the shell, the central note is known as the Ding. This is the lowest and usually most resonant note; most of them are convex, although some makers prefer the concave version. Ensuring the proper technique and sufficient fiction, this Ding can be tuned like a singing bowl.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the art of manufacturing handpans is a meticulous process that blends technical precision with creative artistry. It consists of carefully selected materials like nitrate and stainless steel to mould shells through various techniques, with each step contributing to the instrument’s unique character.
The choice between Ember Steel and Nitreded Steel offers the artists a range of tuning options, from warm, meditative sounds to crisp, percussive melodies. These careful tuning of notes guarantees a melodic depth, making this instrument a truly entertaining experience for the audience and the musicians.
