Tips & guides

The D Kurd scale explained note by note

What the D Kurd scale actually contains, why all its combinations sound right, and what the additional notes add in the 10 and 12-note versions.

First exercises on the handpan: where to start

Four simple exercises for the first sessions: posture, fingertip striking, alternating hands, and the first melodic phrase.

Maintaining a stainless steel handpan

Daily habits, products to avoid, protection against heat and impact: the simple routine to preserve the tone and tuning of a stainless steel handpan.

How much does a handpan cost and why?

Under €500, €700 to €1,100, handcrafted invoice: the fair price ranges for a handpan, what each tier funds, and why an excessively low price should be a red flag.

Handpan, hang drum, tongue drum: how to tell them apart

Hang, handpan, tongue drum: origin of the names, differences in construction, sound, and price. The guide to stop confusing these three instruments before you buy.

440 Hz or 432 Hz: what the tuning standard changes

Compatibility, sound quality, and misconceptions: what switching from 440 Hz to 432 Hz really changes for a handpan, and how to choose based on your needs.

Handpan with 9, 10, or 12 notes: which one to choose

9, 10, or 12 notes: what the number of notes really changes on a handpan, which format for which level and budget, without overselling extended configurations.

Which handpan scale should I choose for beginners?

D Kurd, D minor, 440 Hz: what a handpan scale is, why the D Kurd is the standard for beginners, and how to distinguish between scale, tuning, and number of notes.

Distinguishing a truly tuned handpan from a copy

Note layout, scale, material, tuning control, price, sustain: six objective criteria, with a comparison table, to distinguish a tuned handpan from a decorative copy.