If this is your first time buying a handpan, you might be a little confused regarding all the specifics. It is challenging to figure out all the countless varieties of handpans and all the percussion instruments in handpan style.
Handpan is the general term to describe this type of instrument in the idiophone family. The Handpan is a diatonic musical instrument inspired by the Hang, created in the early 2000s.
Due to their distinctive and calming sounds, steel tongue drums and handpans have become more well-known recently. However, they differ in their traits and methods of playing. This post will review these differences to help you choose the instrument that best suits your needs and musical preferences.
What is a Steel Tongue Drum?
The tongue drum, sometimes called a ‘slit drum,’ has roots in various musical cultures spanning hundreds of years. However, the modern steel tongue drum is a more recent addition to percussion instruments. Inspired by the handpan, another similar instrument, the steel tongue drum arranges its notes in a circular zigzag pattern, often in a diatonic scale, meaning it plays in just one key. Unlike the handpan, which relies on vibrations from its surface, the steel tongue drum produces sound through “tongues,” or precise cuts made in its metal body.
The simplicity of the tongue drum makes it an excellent choice for everyone, regardless of age or musical experience. It is easy to play, and every note sounds harmonious, so you can’t hit the wrong one. This makes the tongue drum popular for musical exploration, meditation, and music therapy.
Pros of a Steel Tongue Drum
● More compact and convenient to transport
● Cheaper
● It usually doesn’t require re-tuning
● Extremely durable, insensitive to heat or cold (-10 to +45 degrees)
Cons
● It sounds quieter than a handpan, and you must hit it more precisely because the notes’ playing surface is smaller.
● Heavier
● Steel tongue drums are not as loud.
What is a Handpan?
The handpan is quite different from the steel tongue drum. Instead of using cuts or “tongues” to create sound, the handpan produces its tones through hammered indentations on its surface, called “tonefields.” Handpans are usually larger and louder than steel tongue drums and are designed with a more standardized tuning system. Every handpan features the same overtones in its pitches, such as compound fifth harmonics and octaves.
The original handpan, the Hang, was created by Panart, but when its production stopped, many manufacturers started making their own versions. Since the name “Hang” is trademarked, these instruments became known as handpans.
Pros of a Handpan
● It gives a rounder or smoother sound
● More adaptable in general
● huge tone fields that are easier to strike
● They have a louder sound volume and are more audible than steel tongue drums.
● A wide variety available with a many producers, materials, and scales
Cons
● Costlier than a steel tongue drum
● More delicate, heat-sensitive, and may need to be returned more frequently
The Differences Between Handpan and Tongue Drum
Playing Styles
While the bases of both instruments are made of steel, their playing qualities differ. The Handpan is a membrane instrument featuring bumps and dimples on its playing surface. The note produced by each dimple is unmarked.
Notes 1 through 7 are produced by the Tongue Drum’s tiny tongues, numbered and carved into the instrument’s steel plate. You can either use your fingers, hands or drumsticks for percussion.
Size and Weight
Tongue drums have a diameter of 15 to 30 cm. On the other hand, handpans are larger, with a diameter of about 50 cm. Having said that, the Tongue Drum’s weight varies based on the model’s size, ranging from 1 to 8 kg. In contrast, the Handpan will weigh five to six kilograms. Compared to the Handpan, the Tongue Drum is more manageable to transport.
Price
There is also a price difference: the Handpan can cost up to ten times as much as the tongue drum. Making a handpan is indeed no easy task. Because a skilled craftsman must make it by hand, it cannot be produced in a factory. Accurately hammering the Handpan while giving it the proper shape and sound is especially difficult. This technical challenge explains its high cost.
Differences in Sounds
The Tongue Drum and Handpan produce distinctly different sounds, each suited to unique musical styles. Tongue Drums have a bright, resonant tone often featured in genres like rock and blues. In contrast, the Handpan, made from thicker steel, produces warmer, rounder and deeper tones often described as captivating and enchanting, making it a staple in folk and meditation music.
The Handpan offers greater versatility due to its central pivot note, seamlessly connecting surrounding notes. Tongue Drums, being smaller, lack this feature but still maintain excellent sound quality, though their playing techniques differ.
Also, sound quality varies significantly by manufacturer. Artisan-crafted instruments, like Cosmos Handpan, deliver rich, harmonious tones. However, mass-produced options like Zenapan or Zenadrum tend to produce more basic sounds, lacking the crystal-clear purity and depth that enhance the immersive experience.
Durability and Sustainability
The Handpan, or Hang, is more delicate due to its unique manufacturing process. Any stress can quickly distort the Handpan’s sheet metal and cause it to become out of tune because it is tuned based on its hammering. Even a minor shock can warp the metal and cause the instrument to go out of tune.
In contrast, the Tongue Drum is much more durable and retains its tuning throughout its lifetime. The fixed cutting of the tongues preserves its sound, ensuring stability and preventing detuning. Unlike the fragile Handpan, the Tongue Drum’s design anchors its tuning, making it resilient and maintenance-free.
So, which instrument should you go for?
Both tongue drums and handpans are fascinating instruments, each with advantages. The Handpan is the best option if you have a large budget, are not in a rush, and want a smooth, enchanted sound. The Tongue Drum is better if you need a more portable and reasonably priced instrument.
In the end, the handpan and the steel tongue drum are both distinctive and intriguing instruments, each having peculiar qualities of its own. Both may be excellent additions to any instrument collection and are quite entertaining to play!
