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How to learn handpan from scratch

The handpan is one of the most rewarding instruments to start on: all its notes belong to one scale, so almost any combination sounds good. What makes the difference is touch and rhythm. This guide covers what you need in your first weeks.

Parts of the handpan

• Ding: the central, lowest note on the top dome. On most instruments it is the root of the scale.
• Tone fields: the notes around the ding, arranged in a zigzag from low to high, alternating left and right.
• Shoulder and interstitial areas: the zones with no note, which give dry percussive sounds.
• Gu: the opening on the bottom shell.

Posture

Sit with a straight back and rest the handpan on your thighs, tilted slightly away from you, with the lowest note of the circle close to your body. Keep your shoulders relaxed and elbows loose: tension can be heard in the sound. A stand also works well and protects the tuning.

Your first stroke

The most common mistake is leaving the finger on the metal. A good stroke is short and bounces off:

1. Play with the pad of your index or middle finger, or the side of your thumb for the ding.
2. Strike the edge of the tone field, not its exact centre.
3. Lift your finger at once, as if touching something hot, so the steel can ring.
4. Get volume from speed, not force: hitting hard detunes the instrument over time.

First exercises

• Scale up and down: play the notes in order with alternating hands (right, left, right…).
• Ding and note: alternate the ding with each note of the circle, at a steady pulse with a metronome at 60 beats per minute.
• First 4/4 rhythm: ding on beat 1, a percussive tap on beat 3 and soft notes on beats 2 and 4.

A 4-week practice plan

Basic care

Wipe the handpan with a microfibre cloth after playing, keep it away from direct sun and hot cars, and apply the protective oil or wax its maker recommends. Never play it with hard mallets or while wearing rings.

Not sure which scale to choose? Read the guide to handpan scales.