Handpan Accessories

To amplify or record the sound of a handpan, Instruments du Monde recommends a contact microphone for handpan in most situations. This microphone attaches to the top or bottom shell with adhesive or a magnet and captures vibrations from the metal rather than the air. This lets you play without any feedback and keeps ambient noise out of the recording. Strikes outside the note fields are also captured clearly, which is useful if you have a percussive playing style. However, you may need to try several locations to find the right one, as the sound changes depending on where the microphone is placed on the shell. Note that the magnetic model leaves no marks, while the adhesive model may leave one.

Once the microphone is in place, simply plug it into a powered speaker, which has its own amplifier and simplifies the setup, or into a portable, battery-powered PA system if you play outdoors. An equalizer and an effects pedal can also be added. In the studio, when recording or amplifying a handpan, the contact microphone can be mixed subtly beneath a pair of microphones placed approximately 30 to 90 cm (12 to 35.43 in) above the dome.

Yes, you can play with mallets without damaging your instrument, provided that you strike gently. Striking too hard can knock the handpan out of tune, whether you play with your hands or with mallets, while careful playing will preserve its tuning. Handpan mallets with felt heads let you discover new, more muted sounds, although players have mixed opinions about them. If you want a different sound while playing with your hands, you can wear synthetic or cotton gloves, which keep sweat off the shell and allow you to soften the attacks, shorten the notes, and lower the volume.

The primary purpose of a braided protector is to provide some protection for the handpan’s rim against minor impacts. This is where the two half-shells join, making it the instrument’s weakest point. An impact on the rim affects the tension of the notes and may require retuning, while a simple surface scratch leaves the tuning intact.

The braided handpan protector consists of a hand-braided jute-fibre band secured tightly around the rim with cords. It also decorates the instrument, absorbs moisture, and prevents it from scratching your furniture. When fitted snugly and adjusted to the correct diameter, it stays in place without muffling the sound. It can be removed at any time.

This type of book uses numbers, each corresponding to a note on your instrument, while the video course guides you through the learning process step by step. On handpan sheet music, each note is represented by a number, and percussive effects are indicated by letters. The music is read from left to right and top to bottom in numbered measures, and the tablature shows you which note to strike.

Consider marking the notes on your instrument so you can associate each number with its note more quickly, and practise with a metronome. A course and sheet music will save you a great deal of time compared with learning on your own, all without having to learn standard music notation or theory.

However, keep in mind that the video course is suitable for all handpans, while the sheet music in the book is arranged for a 9- or 10-note handpan tuned to D Kurd. The book is available in print or as a PDF.

The price of handpan accessories varies mainly according to the level of protection, height, and edition. For example, a soft case is lightweight and inexpensive, while a hard case with a rigid shell and reinforced foam weighs 5 to 7 kg (11 lb to 15 lb 6.9 oz) and costs significantly more. For a handpan stand, height is the key factor, as a taller stand is also more expensive. For a sheet music book, the edition makes the difference: the print and PDF versions are priced differently.

A rim protector or maintenance oil makes a good gift for someone who already plays the handpan. However, it is best to ask before giving them a bag, as many players already own one, and to find out how they will use it, since air travel and a trip to a nearby park require different levels of protection. The same applies to a stand: some are designed only for seated or standing play, while others adjust for both, so you should find out which position the player prefers. Finally, a sheet music book makes a great gift for a handpan player if their instrument is tuned to D Kurd and has 9 or 10 notes. And if they feel limited by their first instrument, consider an intermediate handpan.