Affordable Handpan

A good affordable handpan can first be recognized by the accuracy of each note, which should sound stable and well-centered without the slightest dissonance. Be wary of a note that sounds right when struck but then becomes out of tune, flat, or unstable as it resonates, because that’s when the instrument’s true quality is revealed. In addition, the harmonics must be in tune with one another, and the sound must sustain, since a short or dull sound may indicate a structural problem.

Striking one note may also cause a neighboring note to ring. This defect, known as crosstalk, is common in very inexpensive instruments. A good handpan responds to light touches, while a poorly made one has notes that are difficult to play and others that barely respond. If you plan to buy online, insist that the seller send you a recent, unedited video of them playing every note. Until your ear is well-trained, a chromatic tuner set to 440 or 432 hertz will give you an objective measurement. Moreover, two instruments in the same scale may differ significantly. Each instrument should therefore be heard before purchase.

Yes, you can absolutely learn to play on an affordable handpan as long as its scale is accurately tuned and its notes respond well, because an inaccurate scale or unresponsive notes would get you used to poor sound and could make you lose your desire to play. To get off to a good start, also discover our selection of beginner handpans.

The deeply discounted handpans found on major online marketplaces generally only look like handpans. Although they are mass-produced by machines, they are marketed using terms such as “professional,” “handmade,” and “perfectly tuned.” They are also sometimes incorrectly sold as steel drums or tongue drums.

Yes, a used handpan in good condition can cost less, but those savings come with risks. New instruments generally come with a manufacturer’s warranty, while the warranty on a used instrument depends on whether the seller is a private individual or a professional.

Before buying, you will need to check one thing first: that there are no cracks. Surface scratches and slight rust do not affect the sound, but a note that causes neighboring notes to ring may remain faulty even after retuning. You should also request the instrument’s maintenance history, brand, and serial number and have the manufacturer verify them, then budget for retuning if necessary. Finally, be wary of an unusually low price, photos copied from elsewhere, an empty seller profile, a refusal to meet in person, or a request to pay through an unsecured method.

Not necessarily. How well an instrument stays in tune depends primarily on the quality of its original tuning, far more than on its price. A note’s tuning is determined by the shape and tension of the steel itself. An instrument tuned too quickly may sound good when it arrives but then drift noticeably faster, and the most poorly made instruments may never be properly tuned at all. Conversely, a well-built, well-tuned handpan can go years without needing adjustment, and a slight deviation of a few cents is common and no cause for concern.

Choose a tongue drum if this is your first instrument or if budget is a priority, and choose a handpan if you want the richness of harmonics that no tongue can produce. Both are instruments in their own right.

A tongue drum has tongues that are generally laser-cut into a steel shell, making it easy to mass-produce. Its tuning depends on the shape of the cut rather than tension, which is why it remains stable over time. An impact may leave a mark but will rarely cause a note to go out of tune. This instrument can be played by hand or with mallets, takes up little space, and is easy to maintain. A handpan offers a longer-lasting sound and several harmonics tuned to one another within each note, while a tongue drum produces a clearer, simpler sound that fades more quickly.

You can save money by choosing fewer notes and, in some cases, a smaller diameter, but never by compromising on tuning.

For each handpan in this selection that is available with different numbers of notes, the Instruments du Monde store offers the 9-note version at the lowest price, followed by the 10-note and then the 12-note version. The tenth note significantly expands your playing possibilities but comes at a higher price. A smaller diameter can also reduce the cost, since our 18 in (45 cm) model costs less than the 22 in (55 cm) version with 9 notes.

Blue, gold, or black finishes and smooth or textured surfaces do not change the price of a given handpan, so you can choose freely among them. As for the scale, exotic scales such as Integral, Pygmy, and Akebono would be more difficult to produce accurately using budget-friendly steel.