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There is such a special culture around handpans and hang drums. These instruments are very new to the world, and owning one places you in a small group of people that grow to appreciate the art of how they’re made.
Thankfully, they’re incredibly easy to play, so anyone can learn very quickly. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best handpans and hang drums for performing enchanting melodies. I’ve compared performance, build quality, sound quality and cost to give you my top recommendations.
What Is The Best Hang Drum?
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Best D Minor handpan
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Hang Drum Reviews
Meinl Percussion Sonic Energy Handpan
Meinl Percussion Sonic Energy Handpan Review
The Meinl Percussion Sonic Energy model is an excellent handpan drum option, and every instrument sold is individually hand-crafted in Colombia, using high-quality steel from Germany. This steel provides excellent durability, even with long-term use, and as a buyer, you know you are purchasing a carefully-made work of art.
Like other hang drum or handpan options on the market, the instrument benefits from fixed tuning, meaning it will hold its tuning over time and will never need to be re-tuned. It is tuned to D# major and offers the following notes: D#, G, A#, D, D#, F, G. The steel also benefits from a black finish, offering a sophisticated appearance.
In order to make the handpan drum easier to carry around, Meinl Percussion’s instrument also comes with a robust carry case, which is able to protect the drum, without adding too significantly to the overall weight.
I’ve heard a lot of traditionalist handpan players speak badly about Meinl Percussion, as the brand is quite large and produces dozens of different instruments. However, I’ve found that Meinl’s hang drums produce the same good quality as any other smaller brand that makes them.
Features:
- Tuned to the key of D# Major
- Crafted in Colombia, using quality German steel
- Includes robust carry case
Pros
- Reliable build quality from Meinl Percussion
- German steel is very durable
- D# major tuning lets you play serene and ethereal melodies
Cons
- Very expensive
Sela Harmony Handpan Drum
Sela Harmony Handpan Drum Review
The Sela Harmony Handpan Drum is a slightly more budget-friendly option but retains the features you would expect from a hang drum or handpan. The instrument is hand-crafted from stainless steel, has nine tone fields for playing notes, and is able to maintain its tuning even after frequent, long-term use.
Tuned to the key of D Amara, it is able to play the following notes: D3/ A3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4 and C5. However, options are also available for the Sela Harmony Handpan drum to be tuned to F#, so that it can play F#, C#, D, F, F#, G#, A, C and C#, or tuned to D Kurd, allowing it to play D, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G and A.
The pan drum itself has a gold-colored finish, providing a classic aesthetic, and it also comes with a carry case, which can easily be held or worn on your back, allowing for easy transportation of the instrument.
Just note that, while it is slightly more budget-friendly than the top-end hang drums, this one will still put you back by a few thousand dollars. After playing a few Sela Harmony handpans, I think they’re well worth the price they come at, and stainless steel handpans are always a good buying option.
Features:
- Tuned to the key of D Amara
- Three different tuning options available
- Includes carry case
Pros
- Multiple tuning options available, but the D Amara is one my of favorites
- Classy gold shell
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- More affordable than a few others, but still quite pricey
- Stainless steel handpans tend to wear over time
Tzevaot Handpan Aeolian 440hz
Tzevaot Handpan Aeolian 440hz Review
If you are looking for an authentic hang drum experience, the Tzevaot Handpan Aeolian 440hz is the way to go. The instrument is tuned to the Aeolian scale, offering the following notes: (G), C, D, E, F, G, Ab, Bb, and C. This tuning is maintained exceptionally well, even when used frequently, and there is no need to ever re-tune it.
Tzevaot has emerged at the very forefront of handpan drum manufacturing in the United States, with lead metal tuner, David Parkin, having been involved in tuning for more than two decades.
The company claims to be the only hang drum manufacturer in the country to have no waiting list and instruments are made in accordance with the patented PANArt method, which is why these particular drums are so highly sought after by many hang traditionalists.
The original PANArt hang drum creators stopped making hang drums quite a while back, so I love how the traditional method of making them is still being kept alive.
The steel of the instrument benefits from a nitride and nitro-carburizing process, which helps to make the hang drum extremely resistant to rust and other similar issues, providing further protection.
As with the other hang drum examples on this list, the Tzevaot handpan comes with a carry case for simple transportation.
Features:
- Tuned to the Aeolian scale
- Made using the PANArt method
- Only manufacturer without waiting lists
Pros
- There’s no waiting list when you order this handpan
- Made using the original PANArt method, giving the instrument more credibility
- Beautiful sounds
Cons
- Most expensive option on this list
AS TEMAN Steel Handpan in D Minor
AS TEMAN Steel Handpan in D Minor Review
The AS TEMAN Steel Handpan is the most budget-friendly option on this list and is an especially ideal option for those looking for a quality handpan at a great price. Despite its relatively low cost, it is crafted with care and it is tuned very well.
The instrument is tuned to D minor, and offers the following notes: D3, A3, bB3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4 and A4. The hang drum is available in a variety of colors, including gold, black, blue, green and purple. However, due to the nature of the manufacturing process, the precise color of each pan drum will vary slightly from one drum to the next.
This handpan is an exceptional quality drum for the money. It produces a diverse array of mystical and smooth tones. It is tuned exceedingly well and truly offers fantastic value for money. Additionally, as with the other options, a carry case is included.
You’ll just find that the tones produced by this hang drum aren’t as musical or rich as what you get from all the others. Newer pan players won’t really notice, but I know a few hang drum players that can instantly hear the difference.
Features:
- Tuned to the key of D Minor
- Budget-friendly option
- Includes carry case and mallets
Pros
- More affordable than any other hang drum on this list
- Several different color options, giving it a more personal touch
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Tones aren’t as rich or musical as what you get from higher-end handpans
Lark Music Handpan Drum in D Minor
Lark Music Handpan Drum in D Minor Review
A great option for those seeking a hang drum on a limited budget, the Lark Music Handpan Drum is tuned to D minor, offering the following nine notes: D3, A, Bb, C, D, E, F, G, and A.
The notes have been hand-tuned and the high quality of the handpan drum helps to ensure that tuning does not experience major fluctuations over time.
The drum is hand-crafted from steel and provides pleasant, high-quality sounds. It is also presented with a black finish, offering up a simple, sophisticated aesthetic that will not look out of place in any setting.
The Lark Music Handpan Drum comes with its own protective case, which can be easily carried by hand or worn on the back like a backpack. This allows for both convenient and safe transportation of the instrument.
Like with the AS TEMAN handpan, the notes you get here aren’t as rich as what you get from the first three hang drums that we looked at.
Features:
- Tuned to the key of D Minor
- Hand-crafted from quality steel
- Solid carry bag
Pros
- Another very affordable option, allowing people to own a hang drum without paying thousands of dollars
- Surprisingly good build quality
- D Minor is one of the best tunings for hang drums, in my opinion
Cons
- Sound and build quality aren’t as good as high-end hang drums
Handpan and Hang Drum Buyer’s Guide
The hang, handpan or pan drum, which is also sometimes colloquially referred to as the hang drum, is a percussion instrument that belongs to the idiophone class.
Other popular instruments in the idiophone class include steel tongue drums. This categorization refers to the fact that its sound is primarily created by the vibration of the hang drum itself, without the assistance of strings, air, or other outside factors.
In terms of its construction, the handpan drum is made from two steel half-shells, which are then fused together, giving the instrument a hollow center. One of these two half-shells is referred to as the ‘ding’ and it contains a number of tone fields (typically seven or eight) surrounding the middle note.
The pan drum is traditionally played using your hands, but some models do provide an optional mallet.
The Origins of the Handpan Drum
Although the first hang drum was not invented until 2000, its origins can be traced back further. One of its inventors, Felix Rohner, had been playing the Trinidad steel drum since the 1970s and he founded a steel drum company called PANArt in the 1990s, along with his business partner, Sabrina Scharer.
Rohner and Scharer were later asked about the possibility of creating a steel drum that could be played using only the hands, and this request ultimately led to the creation of the first pan drum of this kind – the hang. Technically, only PANArt instruments are officially known by this name and it is a trademark of the company.
However, PANArt ceased making new versions of their instrument in 2013, and similar models are often called hang drums by customers and observers, even if they are officially sold as a handpan or a pan drum.
Why Handpans are Difficult to Find
Aside from the fact that PANArt stopped making their own hang instruments in 2013, these intuitive musical instruments are generally hand-crafted on an individual basis.
This is a time-consuming process and most manufacturers adopt the approach of making them to fulfill orders that have been placed, rather than creating them in advance.
For customers, one of the consequences of this is that hand drums can be difficult to find and the best manufacturers will typically have long waiting lists because they are effectively making the instruments upon request.
What Features to Look For in a Quality Handpan
When seeking a quality handpan, you should look for a manufacturer with a good reputation in this area, such as Tzevaot or Meinl.
Unless you have a tight budget, buy a drum that has been individually crafted from steel and which offers eight or nine notes in total. Your drum should be tuned in advance and should hold its tuning over time.
A good handpan will be made from high-quality materials, enabling it to withstand repeated usage. The very best hang drums will also undergo nitride and nitro-carburizing process, making them resistant to rust and corrosion.
You’ll also find instruments called tongue drums. Be careful not to get one of these thinking that it’s a hang drum. Steel tongue drums are a lot smaller, and their sounds are a lot sharper.
