What is a Handpan?
The handpan ( most commonly hang drum or hand pan drum ) is a newer instrument to join the musical instrument spectrum and has become very popular amongst musicians both beginner & seasoned around the world. A ringed profile, somewhat UFO-like in appearance - this is the Switzerland-based unique percussion instrument that creates these hauntingly beautiful melodic sounds.
An idiophone is a musical instrument with its sound produced primarily by the actual body of the instrument, which vibrates in some way. It's built out of two half shells in nitrided steel, bonded together to create an empty volume with a resonance behavior. The top of the instrument is segmented into a series of round tone fields raised above the main surface, each one producing an individual note when struck. Tone fields like this carry beautiful harmony as they resonate when played by the hands or with special mallets.
The handpan has the ability to produce an enormous spectrum of sounds from gentle and comforting melodies, right up to agitating rhythms. This versatility makes it a great instrument for all genres of music...rock, classical and world influences as well as ambient/new age type music on the right hands plus even some electronic dance kind.
Learning To Play The Handpan: A Typical List Of Advantages
There are so many benefits from playing the handpan, not just to musicians but also non-musicians. Advantages are many here is few of them:
Stress Relief and Relaxation: Exposing yourself to the relaxing, meditative tones of the handpan has a deeply soothing effect on both your mind as well as body. It calms your mind, reduces stress and anxiety, soothes the soul with an inner state of peace.
Better Hand-Eye Coordination And Concentration: It's very hard to play the handpan without good communication between your hands and rhythm. This instrument can help to develop hand eye coordination, dexterity and foster improvement in overall focus.
Expression: A satisfying quality of the handpan is that it can feel like a more creative instrument, as players are given plenty of space to move around in different areas and creatively improvise on various styles. It offers a unique medium for creative expression and experimentation in art.
You Can Play it Anywhere: The handpan is one of the few musical instruments that you can easily take with yourself wherever, from outdoor gatherings and music circles to travelling around.
Community: One of the things I was glad to discover about the handpan is that there are so many players and enthusiasts all over! By becoming part of this community, you can learn some thing, can share things with likemind persons.
Top Tips to Choose the Best Beginners Handpan
Percussion - Handpan Purchasing a new handpan as beginner is one of the most important decisions you will make to improve your learning experience. Some of the important factors given below that you should consider:
In order to understand once you begin learning about handpans, they come in different scales such as major chords; however tuning them is challenging. When you are first starting out it is recommended to learn on major handpan, which has a more familiar tonal range.
This section of the handpan buyer's guide covers all you need to know about size and weight. Handpans vary in sizes that are small, or large. These smaller handpans are typically a light weight build and so offer more portability, which is especially useful for newcomers or anyone who transportation considerations. These mayosticks are available in two sizes as well, 8mm and 10 mm but obviously used for by larger handpans to be able to create more resonant sound.
Material and Construction: Handpans are an instrument that can be made out of a wide variety of materials, which include steel, titanium up to even wood. However, they are often more expensive than steel due to their tonal characteristics but wooden handpans can cost even more.
Brand and Reputation: There are loads of handpan makers on the market. There should be a trustworthy brand name known for building the best instruments, otherwise you have to do research and know which are good. This guarantees your handpan is of the best quality and last longer.
Price: They can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on the size, material and brand. For the beginners it is recommended to have an inexpensive violin instead of buying a super expensive one as they really don't know how long they would be able to hold on and play in future so that time once can think about getting better or advanced version.
Where to Shop for Your First Handpan
So far as a first handpan purchase, you have several options:
Online Shops: There are a plethora of musical stores that exclusively deal in handpans or carry products from different manufacturers/brands. These outlets generally offer more detailed product information, audio samples and feature customer reviews to help you make an informed purchase.
Local Music Stores: Some well-stocked music stores may have handpans for sale, or be able to order one on your behalf. This is so you can see and feel the instrument in person, before buying one.
Handpan Makers: There are many handpan makers out there making and selling their instruments both online on sites, at music festivals/events It is also a good way to support small solo craftsmen and maybe even get your own personal design.
A good outlet to find quality used handpans, a second-hand marketplaces:If you stuck on budget but still looking for something authentic and premium then these types of outlets sometimes turn out to be beneficial. But do be careful and check used items very carefully before buying it.
Before making a purchase, check the reputation of the seller online-read reviews and see if they have some kind of return / exchange policy in case it doesn't measure up to your expectations.
Handpan Playing Advice for Complete Beginners
Beginning your handpan quest can be exhilarating, but you must come at it with patience and the right frame of mind. Basic handpan playing tips for beginners
Get the Basics Right: You will learn where to place your hands, how to hit things and some basic rhythm. Learning basics will help you in setting up [a] solid base for your much more improvement.
Play Often: Just like any instrument, the more you play your handpan, the better at playing it you will become. Practice a little each day(utilize the dedicated class for this, or find another time)
In-depth Learning with Online Resources: Austen- develop your skills in the handpan by watching online tutorials, teaching videos or even forums to get an idea about how others play.
Workshops or Lessons: Look into lessons or settings where you can work with talented handpan instructors. This will give you feedback, direction and speed up your learning arc.
Try Other Methods Of Playing: However, many different ways exist in playing the handpan (which are striking, dampening and rolling). The best solution for this is to try something new, experiment with your creativity and explore ways that can give you a unique sound at the end of it.
Train your ears: Listening carefully to the tones and overtones in the handpan will help you comprehend its exceptional sound qualities.
Handpan is a slow burn - you have to be patient and enjoy the journey Love the journey, acknowledge the success, and most of all. enjoy!
So, In Conclusion: Best Handpan For Beginners?
Selecting the best handpan for beginners can be intimidating What to get your first one, but you should make choices based on a class, size and material of making instrument. And remember, the handpan is a special and versatile instrument that provides enjoyment for musicians at every ability level.
To jump start your handpan exploration journey, you can check out our beginner-friendly and high-quality selection of Handpans at our website. All of our knowledgeable staff are around to answer any questions you may have and to help guide you through all the steps required in finding that perfect instrument. Feel free to contact us and start your journey of learning an mesmerizing, meditative art.
For professional musicians or complete novices, the handpan has an ability to help you start creating your own music, relax better and bonds a vast world wide ecosystem of people using it. Accept the ride, accept to let those enchanting melodies play along with you on a journey of self- discovery both musically and personally.
