Handpan Percussion

Discover how the handpan became an essential instrument

A fascinating part of handpan history is that its huge popularity—what makes it so essential today—sparked a legal dispute between its inventors, Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer of the Swiss company PANArt, and nearly every other maker worldwide. When the Hang became available to the public in 2000, PANArt didn’t anticipate how in-demand it would become and quickly couldn’t keep up with musicians eager to buy one. PANArt also chose not to scale up production, stating they didn’t want to get caught up in a race for profit. As a result, in the mid-2000s, dozens of artisans began creating their own Hang-inspired instruments, changing the name to respect PANArt’s copyrights. The most common name became handpan. Since then, PANArt has sought to shut down many of these manufacturers for copying its Hang. Dive into the fascinating history of the handpan by adding this instrument to your collection.

Learn the handpan on your own or with a teacher

You can absolutely learn the handpan on your own. In fact, the first big names in handpan, such as Sam Maher, David Charrier, and Hang Massive, had to figure things out without outside help because they were pioneers of this brand-new percussion instrument when it appeared in 2000. That said, you can also work with a teacher to learn beautiful handpan melodies faster. With that in mind, the Instruments du Monde store includes a book with a video course taught by a true expert, making it easy to begin this unique musical adventure. To go further, it’s also easy to find a handpan teacher for in-person lessons—hundreds of instructors can be found online. Order your handpan and start playing today.

Enjoy the sound vibrations of the handpan for everyday well-being

What makes it so easy to tell a piano from a guitar? Beyond the fundamental note, each instrument produces additional overtones that create its unique sonic signature. That’s exactly why the handpan’s sound is so special. Every strike produces an incredibly soft, soothing tone that invites calm and relaxation. Some even say the handpan has an almost “perfect” resonance, with no other instrument matching it for a sense of well-being. Known for helping ease stress and anxiety, many musicians take a mindful break by improvising a few melodies on this flying-saucer-shaped instrument. Discover a new path towards well-being and inner peace by bringing the handpan into your everyday life.

Discover the handpan at festivals such as the Handpan Festival Croatia

The handpan is an instrument that brings people together. It’s easy to form a circle of musicians who listen and play together, feeding off each other’s creativity. It’s also a great travel-friendly instrument: it needs no power source and can be carried almost anywhere with ease. Over the past few years, handpan lovers have organised concerts and festivals across Europe and around the world. The Handpan Festival Croatia in Antoničin mlin welcomes renowned artists such as Daniel Waples, Josephine Pia Wild, and Ivan Judaš. It’s a great opportunity to bring your instrument and learn from these virtuosos. Buy your handpan today and explore new sounds wherever you go.

Legal warranty: when you order from the French company Instruments du Monde, you’re covered by a 2-year statutory warranty on all our items.

Returns and exchanges: not satisfied with your order? Not sure if this product is right for you? We’ve got you covered! Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery, and you don’t need to provide a reason. Shop with peace of mind.

Free delivery: if you live in Ireland, delivery is free.

Shipping time: ships within 48 business hours.

Delivery time: orders are delivered to Ireland within 3–14 business days. This time frame may be extended to 30 days for other countries.