Are you fascinated by handpans – the beautiful musical instruments with a mystical sound, on which you can play both gently meditatively and rhythmically and dynamically?
Did you know that:
- anyone can learn to play the handpan?
- the handpan is an instrument that develops your creativity and fills you with positive energy?
- playing the handpan brings pleasure not only to you but also to all who listen?
- the handpan can be used for beautiful music, relaxation, meditation, space harmonization, and music therapy?
- other musical instruments can play in pleasant harmony with a handpan?
- even children love the handpan?
- you can constantly and boundlessly develop your handpan playing skills?
But all this is true only if you have a really high-quality and beautifully sounding handpan. And exactly such instruments can be found at Léčivé Nástroje, where we have the largest selection of handpans in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Nowadays, it is not very easy to choose a good instrument and not fall for the promises of manufacturers and instruments that do not sound very good and are not well made. This applies to both new individual manufacturers (including local ones) and "industrial" mass manufacturers, whose products are also intensely offered by large stores. Such an instrument will of course not bring us much joy. The production of handpans is an extremely complex and demanding process, requiring not only sophisticated technology and materials but also many years of individual experience, talent, and creative and sophisticated approaches in creating this instrument. Otherwise, one can easily get an instrument that sounds like a "tin can", is not well-tuned, and lacks the rich and pure resonances known from the best instruments.
- At Léčivé Nástroje, we have been dealing with handpans for many years and we have only the highest quality and best-sounding instruments for you.
- A member of our team, Pavel Sedláček, is one of the most remarkable handpan players in the world.
With us, you can choose and try out high-quality handpans in different tunings and sound types from the best manufacturers in the world, which we have carefully tested and selected over the years – so that these instruments continue to bring you joy and inspiration – with a selection and possibilities that you will not find anywhere else:
- WITH US, YOU WILL FIND OVER 30 DIFFERENT HANDPANS FOR PERSONAL TESTING OR ORDERING THROUGH OUR E-SHOP
Of course, the question remains how to choose the ideal instrument for oneself. Often, one prepares for the purchase of this instrument for a long time, and if one is a complete beginner who has had little or no experience with these instruments, one does not have a clear vision of which instrument would be best.
Basic types of handpans
From the point of view of sound and the material used, there are two basic types of instruments:
- instruments made of nitrided steel
- instruments made of stainless steel (stainless)
Instruments made of stainless steel have much longer sustain and richer resonances and can be ideal for a more "meditative" way of playing. They are the right choice for most interested in this instrument (although one can also play relatively quickly and complexly on them). Due to the difficulty of production, they are usually slightly more expensive than nitrided instruments, and not all manufacturers are able to create really beautiful sound from this material, so it is necessary to be more careful when choosing. In our offer, handpans made of stainless steel predominate.
Scales and tunings
Each handpan is tuned to a specific scale and usually has 9-10 tones. The basic bass tone in the middle of the instrument (called "ding") determines the key of the handpan.
If we are considering our first handpan, its tuning should be universal and creative. The most common key for handpans is D.
Here we recommend two basic scales:
- "D Kurd" or
- "D Celtic"
D Kurd is a basic minor scale step by step: D / A Bb C D E F G A. The advantage of this tuning is that thanks to the smooth scale, many pieces and rhythmic structures can be played.
Handpan D Kurd:
Another very universal tuning is D Celtic: D / A C D E F G A C. This scale is pleasantly clear and no matter which tones and their combinations we play, it will always sound nice.
Handpan D Celtic:
If we prefer deeper tunings, we can choose these scales half a tone lower in C#.
A very nice scale in C# is for example C# Pygmy: C#/ F# G# A C# E F# G# A
And if we want an even deeper and meditative sound of the handpan, we can choose the B Celtic tuning (B / F# A B C# D E F# A).
A very nice and special atmosphere has the "Mystic" scale, for example, C# Mystic C# / G# A C# D# E G# B C#
If you want to enjoy incredibly deep mystical sounds, you can try the bass handpan F2 Pygmy (F2/ F3, G3, Ab3, C4, Eb4, F4, G4 Ab4)
And if you want to enjoy even more complex creative playing on this instrument, you can choose one of our multi-tone handpans with 15, 19, or 21 tones. Here you can listen to the remarkable Savita Handpan F# Low Pygmy 21, for example:
Which handpan to choose?
You can choose a handpan that you intuitively like and that resonates with you, based on the scale and tuning, the number of tones, or the sound. It cannot be said that there are handpans specifically for "beginners" – the truth is, the more beautifully sounding handpan you choose, the more joy it will bring you, whether you are a beginner or an advanced player.
An excellent starting and very affordable instrument are the proven MOON handpans in the tuning D Kurd or D Celtic made of nitrided steel:
A really beautiful sound and a wide range of scales and tunings are offered by our SAVITA Handpans:
A very captivating and unique sound has the BAOPAN handpans:
If you like not only high-quality sound but also a mystical appearance with a mandala, then the UGUR handpans are for you:
Among the handpans with breathtaking sound are the PANSTREAM handpans:
These are just a few examples of how you can choose your new handpan. If you have any further questions and need advice, we are happy to help you.
You can find many more videos and music samples on our YouTube channel Léčivé Nástroje or directly on our website for each of the instruments.
And of course, you are always welcome to visit us in our showroom in Jablonec nad Nisou and choose your handpan in person.
Handpan playing and lessons under the guidance of Pavel Sedláček
If you are a beginner and touch a handpan for the first time, you may find that it may take some time before you can produce beautiful, full tones from the instrument. And then vast possibilities and paths open up before you: mastering basic exercises, techniques, rhythmic structures, selected pieces, and then delving into the creative realm of boundless improvisation – whether joyfully rhythmic or gently and deeply meditative.
If you want to master the basics of handpan playing brilliantly and continue to develop your playing technique on this instrument, individual lessons and courses under the guidance of Pavel Sedláček are available to you, who, despite his young age, is considered one of the most remarkable handpan players in the world and has given concerts and seminars all over the world. If interested, it is also possible to organize a full-day seminar.
Covers and stands
If you are buying a handpan, it is essential to also buy a cover for it. A standard cover for handpans with a safe, sturdy construction is the Evatek Medium cover. With this cover, your handpan will be safe and you can easily carry it anywhere.
You can play the handpan by placing it on your lap or on a special stand.
Playing on the lap has the advantage of not needing a stand :) and the contact with the instrument is direct. The disadvantage is that the sound and resonance of the instrument are somewhat muted. Your instrument will fully resonate on a stand, on which it rests only at three points and its resonance is not limited in any way. You can use a stand for playing standing, sitting, or on the floor. Each position has its specifics. The most universal position, which also allows the player to move freely, is the standing position. We have special wooden stands for handpans for all 3 positions.
Handpan care
The handpan is a very delicate metal musical instrument and should be handled with great care and caution. We must especially be careful that the instrument does not fall, bump into something, etc.
Showroom Léčivé Nástroje
Each of us has our own taste, feeling, and preferences. The best way to choose your instrument is when you have the opportunity to compare and try many different instruments live and listen to them yourself – then theories go to the background and you find the right instrument for yourself after some time. And it is precisely this possibility that you have in our handpan showroom in Jablonec nad Nisou, where you are always welcome and where you will always find over 30 handpans to try. You can book your visit HERE or contact us at +420 603 481 984. Online connection or online presentation is also possible...
We look forward to seeing you :)
