Learn Everything About a Handpan Drum

A handpan drum is a profound musical instrument that has given shape to the modern world of music. Find out everything about this instrument to learn more.

The handpan drum is a musical instrument that is a magnificent one and has brought a huge change in the world of music. It is an instrument that creates captivating tunes and rhythms. This particular instrument has its roots in the steel drum. It first originated in Trinidad and Tobago. The traditional steel drum has been associated with the Caribbean. Later, it was influenced by the ‘Hang’ in Switzerland and then created the handpan drum. It came to know that Sabina Schärer and Felix Rohner of PANArt came up with the Hang. They had the goal of merging the features of the ghatam of India and the gamelan of Thailand. Let’s find out more about this profound instrument-

    • Origin of Handpan Drum:

The handpan drum is an instrument that has been introduced to the world of music relatively recently. This instrument came to the scene in the 21st century. The origin of the handpan drum came from the instrument Hang. Later in 2000, it was developed in Bern, Switzerland. The inventors of the handpan drum took their inspiration from various instruments from different parts of the world. It has been inspired by the steelpan from Trinidad and Tobago, Ghatam and Tabla from India, Gamelan from Indonesia, and Udu drums from Africa. Therefore, it can be said that the drum has the charm of multiple instruments and that have made it even brilliant. The handpan drum produces melodic sounds that are renowned globally. 

    • How did the name ‘Handpan’ start?:

The makers of this instrument, Sabina Schärer and Felix Rohner of PANArt never given the name ‘Handpan’. They only produced the instrument and offered it for a limited time till 2013. However, in 2007, Kyle Cox, the producer of Halo, came up with the term ‘handpan’. There wasn’t anything complex behind the term. If the name is broken into two parts, then it will be divided into ‘hand’ and ‘pan’. It is a pan-like instrument and played with the help of the hand. That’s it, there was no other intention behind giving this name. Later, it started gaining popularity with the name ‘Handpan Drum’. 

    • What makes the handpan drum unique from other instruments?

The handpan drum is quite a unique instrument. Playing this instrument isn’t that complex. Anyone can easily play a handpan drum. This instrument can be played by a beginner or a professional. Learning only a few steps can help anyone to play a handpan drum. This instrument is made with two steel hemispheres that are joined together. The central part of the drum is known as the Ding. And around the ding, there are 7-9 tone fields given that are helpful in creating different kinds of music. Apart from that, there is a part called Gu, which is an opening underneath the amplifier. It enhances the sound of the instruments. The key components of the handpan are quite unique. And that is why it creates some excellent melodies. Now let’s find out what makes a handpan unique- 

    1. The playing technique:

A handpan drum is definitely played by the hand, as it got its name from it. To play this instrument, one needs to strike the tone fields that are on the top surface of the instrument. Striking a specific spot on the instrument will help one create certain tunes. The sound of a handpan drum also depends on which part of your hand you are playing the instrument with. Hitting the drum with different parts of the hand will help to produce unique music. It is quite a brilliant feature of this instrument. The playing technique of this instrument is different from other instruments, and that makes it innovative than others. 

    2. Unique construction:

The handpan drum is constructed in quite a unique manner. This instrument is made with two steel hemispheres, which are hammered together. The upper part of the instrument has many tone fields that look like dimples. And the bottom part of the instrument doesn’t have such things, but it helps to enhance the sound of the instrument. The innovative design of the instrument helps to create some of the most charming music. 

    3. Mindful handcraft:

A handpan is quite a delicate piece of instrument. This particular instrument is mindfully assembled manually by the experts. A handpan cannot be made only with the help of machines. That is why handpan drums are not mass-produced. Each handpan drum is unique in many ways. For that reason, even a small change makes a huge difference in the drum. It is a unique trait of a handpan drum.  

    4. Portability:

Portability is another advantage of this musical instrument. A handpan drum is quite light in weight. So, anyone can take this instrument anywhere and enjoy the exceptional sound of it. This is perfect for traveling. One of the greatest advantages of a drum is that artists can take this instrument anywhere for a performance. Bringing a handpan drum from one place to another isn’t a difficult task at all. Many instruments are out there that are extremely heavy and cannot be moved according to your choice. This instrument is offering such an advantage, which is making it different from others. 

    5. Wide array of variation:

One of the most unique traits of a handpan drum is that you can get a lot of variations through this instrument. For example, if you get multiple drums in one place and play them, then you will get to create different tunes with the help of the drums. Each instrument has a piece of diverse music that helps to make charming tunes. Therefore, it is another element that makes a handpan drum different from other musical instruments. 

    6. Percussive and melodic:

The sound of a handpan drum is both percussive and melodic. The charm of this instrument is quite different from others. That is why it can be played in different places, and it can even fulfil the requirements. A handpan drum is an instrument that can be used for both percussive and melodic music. It is a quite unique trait that makes this instrument different from all. 

A handpan drum is different in many aspects from other musical instruments. That is why, in a brief time, this instrument gained such huge popularity all over the world. It is the diverse use that makes the instrument loved by all music artists. With the help of a handpan drum, musicians get the opportunity to come up with various melodies, which is a great advantage. Now, let’s unveil a few key features of a handpan drum- 

    1. Balanced tune:

A handpan drum is known for its balanced tune. The sustained music of this instrument has enhanced its use even more. This particular drum can be used for creating meditative music and also rhythmic beats. This versatile instrument is perfect for use in a wide range of music. In addition to that, it can be played for different music styles. It is one of the key features why, handpan drums are such a loved music instrument. 

    2. Wholesome music:

The sound of a handpan drum is truly wholesome music. the rich sound of this drum has a characteristic that blend perfectly with various music. the high-quality of this instrument, adds a new essence to any piece of music. for that reason, a handpan drum is mostly used for emotive music and it brings out the true elements of the music and makes it even enjoyable. 

    3. Catchy harmonies:

This profound instrument can produce catchy harmonies. The stable tuning of this drum can help to come up with harmonies that enhance the pitch of a song, yet maintain the quality of it. The precise harmonies can lead to captivating overtones that create a distinct music. 

In the music industry, the handpan drum is a profound one. The importance of this instrument is immense and shapes the modern music culture. It is a testament of human creativity that enhances the music scenario.