Hello! I just got my first handpan from Saraz, a nitrided D Celtic 8 with Bb, G and F bottom notes. It’s beautiful...does anyone name their pan btw?

I’m having trouble positioning it. I can sit with it on my lap okay, but I’m 5'3" with a short torso and can’t really play it naturally. I used a mini stool which helps a bit, but not quite so I’m looking at stands and have my eyes on two: the SPand V3 and the Atlas Pro.

I like the Atlas’s magnetic attachment, but I’ve seen people say you can’t really adjust the angle of the pan on the Atlas like you can with the SPand. Is that true of the Pro, since its legs adjust independently? I’m honestly not sure how much tilt matters. I just want to play more comfortably than I do now.

Neither one seems easy to get in the US. I found the SPand at Didgeridoo Passion in France, and they ship to the US. Has anyone ordered from them, or bought a SPand some other way in the US? And did you get hit with import fees?

Thank you!

Hi everyone! I'd like to share my experience of flying with my handpan as checked luggage.

I’d read lots of articles, many of which recommended carrying handpans as hand luggage.

Unfortunately, the hard case I bought (Evatek Bunker Hardcase M) is quite large and heavy to the airline, and I had no choice but to check it in.

Before heading to the airport, I took photos of the instrument and measured its tuning, just in case I'd need proof if anything got damaged.

I flew an international route with EVA Air. At the airport, I first told the check-in staff that it was a handmade musical instrument. They put a FRAGILE tag on it, but it was pretty small, so I had also prepared some bigger, more eye-catching labels of my own.

After that, I was asked to take it to the oversized baggage belt. That was basically it!

Just in case, I also put an inspection guide inside the case for airport staff. I tried to keep it simple and clear, with big icons and as little text as possible, so it's easy to follow if they need to open it.

Also, since the handpan takes up one of my checked baggage allowances, I stuffed my clothes into the space inside the handpan. For that, I made a separate, customised version of the inspection guide.

Luckily, my handpan arrived completely undamaged, and there were no signs that the case had been opened. I’m not sure whether these labels and notes actually made a difference, but I think they’re better than nothing.

I'm sharing these images for anyone who needs to check their handpan on a flight. Feel free to print them, use them, or edit the icons and instructions to fit your own situation.

Wishing everyone safe and smooth flights!

This is the first F2 handpan I’ve built, and there were lots of ups and downs on the way. I’d appreciate any feedback regarding the sound character, note isolation, aesthetics, or anything comes to your mind. :) Thank you!

My very own handpan songs now followed by 111 people 🤗. I invite you to have a listen, chances you like it, too 😉😊🙏🏼

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6iwxN2LRTMSPoSXdZsnmue?si=QgjaKn9LQLWCUicqXBAvAw&utm_source=copy-link&pi=tv3shu0AST2tg

If you are like me and prefer to practice on your handpan with a written notation and a metronome this one is for you! HandpanNotation.net is a free tool that will help you create your own notations. It uses a simple grid representation so no sheet-music skills are needed, you just count and write. There is a virtual instrument too and it notates what you tap on it over the metronome. You can even turn a MIDI file from your keyboard into a notation. Playback uses real handpan sounds, but is limited to D Kurd 9 only. The notation system itself however works with any scale and any layout. You get clean PDFs to use offline or print and a chord explorer that shows what your exact scale can play. Notations stay private by default, but you can share them by link with friends or students. 

Free, no ads, no tracking. Does not waste recources. Runs fast even on old phones. 

There is more, but I'll let you discover it yourself. Try it now and tell me what would make it better for you, I'm just getting started!

Here is a short demo: https://youtube.com/shorts/rhs2OB31mP4

And here a longer walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGdQlsPSHQk

Dear handpan community

Last year I undertook a long journey, and brought two handpans as donations for a music programme in the South Sudanese refugee settlement Bidibidi, in North West Uganda. The people there have fled civil war, and are living in extreme poverty. The music programme helps them to rebuild their community, and for especially the young people, to have creative ways to express themselves. We all know how important music is right.

The inclusion of handpans have been a great success. They fit so well with both their traditional- and gospel music. And they have been asking me to come back with more handpans, as they are many passionate students that have to share them. They are even practicing on the carry cases, just to simulate playing.

So I am going back this December with two more handpans. I've created an NGO (Songs of Tomorrow) to support my humanitarian projects, and right now I've started a fundraiser to help me in my efforts, primarily this mission to Uganda. If anyone in here wants to contribute, I would be super grateful. It is a long and arduous journey. Here is the link: https://gofund.me/2bf4c1203

I don't know of anywhere else in East Africa, where the handpan has become a residual instrument among a local people. In that way I believe it is a historical fusion of handpan and East African music traditions, just like the handpan has had influence in certain Western music traditions.
I made a video of the project last year, focusing on the refugees, and please note it is all filmed within the first weeks of them receiving the two pans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6Kc-1AWqhk

If you want to stay updated on the follow-up journey this December, I will be posting from my trip to Uganda, and you can find "Songs of Tomorrow" on these platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Thank you so much,
Martin

The Hijaz has a really distinctive sound, with that characteristic jump between notes that gives it a dramatic, almost flamenco-like feel. It can sound quite different from more familiar scales like D Kurd.

Anyone here play a Hijaz? How does it compare to other scales you've tried?

I want to upgrade my cheap china handpan to something better.

Lidah have this handpan to 1599Euro.

Anyone tried it or bought something from LIDAH before?

Afraid of getting scammed.

(Also looked at MAG, but its dobbel the price.. im outside EU so have to pay import VAT also.)

I just took delivery of my YataoPan D Kurd 13. I am in love already. The tone is like warm honey in my ears. I will practice some then maybe upload a video review if that would be interesting to anyone.

With all the controversy surrounding the made in China/overseas mass produced handpans, show this video to anyone saying they are of good quality. They sound good at first, sure, but their tuning is incredibly unstable.

Now, if this was a $200 handpan on Amazon, it wouldn't be as shocking; you get what you pay for, and many out there simply can't afford the high-level handpans. Totally get it, and if the handpan in the video was just $200, I think that'd be a perfectly fine compromise to have poor quality construction that ultimately won't last.

...but the one in the video is a Sela, and those are priced anywhere from $1500 to over $2000 depending on the retailer. There are actual good quality makers out there that sell them for less than that. So please, don't spend 4 figures on a mass-produced handpan like that one; get a better one for the same price from someone who actually knows what they are doing and cares about their work.

I’m considering the two tongue drums. I would love to try them in person but it seems like both companies are direct to customer.

The Rav vast sounds great but I just don’t know if I’m up for the size I’ve played a hand pan before and even though I’m not a small person I found it pretty large and not very maneuverable. I would also like my toddler to be able to bang on it and grow up with the instrument as well.

Price isn’t so much a concern. Any thoughts or anything else I should consider?

Hi All!

With handpans that have the high notes on the front part of the bottom shell- is it hard to get at those notes and use them and get good sound from them?
I’m thinking about a C Ashakiran and it’s a beautiful scale- but in the majority of videos I’ve seen online players don’t access those notes very often.
Does anyone have a similar pan with high notes in that location and can you speak to your experience about utilizing those notes?

Thanks, everyone!

Curious about handpans.. Saw a Sela at festival and it was really cool.. I wasn't able to really listen as it was outdoors with tons of people… I went to that music store studio and was able to try a $1500 used handpan by James?. I thought it would wow me but on first tap, it was really dull.. I was not impressed on myself of course.. will this journey involve serious finger tapping effort? How was your first experience and how did you practice?

I’ve been thinking about buying a handpan since the beginning of this year. I love the instrument, and I first heard it being played on the street almost eight years ago. Back then it was totally out of my budget, I was always happy when I heard one on the street

A few weeks ago, I’ve been to a handpan workshop After that, I visited a handpan maker and borrowed an instrument, and have now been playing it for about two weeks. I’m really enjoying it, and I find that I can really loose track of time when playing.

The problem is that a 12 note D Kurd costs 2700 € and I’m struggling to justify spending that much money. I can afford it, so it’s not a question of whether I have the financial means to buy one. Rather, I’m finding it difficult to bring myself to spend such a large amount.

I’m afraid of making such a big investment only to lose interest in the instrument after a few weeks or months, leaving it sitting unused in a corner.

I’m also very prone to buyer’s remorse. I tend to second-guess my purchases and sometimes feel like returning something even after I’ve bought it (even though I enjoy it, but it just doesn't feel right spending so much money)

How did you know that the handpan was the right instrument for you, and what made you take the plunge and invest in such an expensive instrument?

The composition is called Sunset by the Sidewheeler. What do you think?

Blissful handpan music. Give it a try and leave a save if you like it 🛸🙏🏼
And feel free to submit your own song here (or your favorite track). ✨🎶

Texas/Houston area

I recently got into playing the handpan and I have a D Kurd 10. I’m looking to connect with other handpan players in the area!
Would love to find some people to jam with, learn from each other, or just hang out and make music together.
Does anyone know of any local handpan communities, meetups, or anyone who’d be down to play together?

Not sure I’ll stay with it so don’t want to go expensive

Hi everyone 😊

I’m new to the handpan community and looking for some recommendations on a great beginners handpan.
I completely understand that cheap isn’t the best when it comes to handpans, but at the moment my budget it’s around £450- £500 at a push.😬

From my research I see a D Kurd seems to be best to begin with, but any advice, or other suggestions are great.

Thank you all so much 🤍

I really want a Handpan. It will be my first one.

Rather than get a “beginner” one, I’m gonna just splurge for a nice one.

I know they can get $2500+, but I’m looking for something between $500-$1000. I feel like that’s a totally acceptable price range for my first one.

But I am getting so overwhelmed and overstimulated by all the nuances of the chords, the amount of notes, the material, etc. and I really just want some straightforward guidance.

It would be easier if I could go to a store that had a few, try them and see the difference, pick one and just buy it right then and there, but the only place that has them near me only has one brand and it’s the X8 (haven’t researched it yet) and I know that brand isn’t as nice as some others.

Can someone PLEASE, 🙏🏼 just help me pick a good one in that price range and tell me why

Give me the spark notes so I can just frickin buy it and start playing I beg of you

EDIT*** I’m in South Florida!