12-Note Handpan

This format features one ding and eleven notes, which can be distributed between the top and bottom of the shell. When there isn’t enough room on the top surface for an additional note, manufacturers can place it on the other side. Players call these “bottom notes.” They are located around the central opening of the lower shell, known as the “gu,” and are generally lower in pitch than the top notes, extending the handpan’s range into the lower register. When the maker adds notes outside the classic layout, it is called a mutant handpan. For example, the D Kurd 12 builds on the D Kurd 10 by adding two notes to the underside of the shell: the scale remains the same and simply continues on the other side.

To reach them, you’ll need to tilt the handpan on your lap or lift one of its edges. In the middle of a piece, you may need to rotate it or move around it. While these notes enrich the instrument’s range, they remain less accessible than those on the top surface. That’s why some players prefer to place the handpan on a stand, making it easier to reach the lower shell and the notes arranged around the “gu.”

To gradually become comfortable playing this part of the instrument, we recommend a simple method. Play a tune you already know on the top shell, then add a bass note from the lower shell on the first beat. Once you’ve mastered this movement, you can incorporate other notes at your own pace.

For this format, the price depends primarily on the model you choose. Entry-level models start at around $1,200, while the most expensive models cost several thousand dollars. Most of our models are also available in 9- and 10-note versions on their product pages: upgrading to this format costs more than choosing the 9- or 10-note version. A handpan with more notes therefore often requires a larger budget.

A 12-note handpan is primarily intended for experienced musicians and composers, as well as regular players. This instrument gives you a wider range for both composing and performing onstage.

In concert, the wider range could allow you to play a longer set, while the visible movement toward the lower shell is sure to catch your audience’s eye. You can also consider it the next step if you’ve spent at least six months playing a 9- or 10-note handpan and feel limited by a single-octave range.

First, several manufacturers offer the D Kurd in this format, tuned to either 432 or 440 hertz.

There are models in C major that could be used to adapt classical or folk tunes, as well as models in a Celtic scale, with low drones beneath the melody. However, whichever scale you choose, the scale itself—not the number of notes—will give your handpan its character. That’s why you should select the scale you like before considering how many notes it has.