Tuning & scale
Everything you need to know about handpan scales
There are countless handpan scales. Adding to the multitude is the fact that some manufacturers give their own creative names to the scales, even though they are variants of the same scale. For example, "D Amara", "D Celtic Minor", "D Minor", or "Daniel Waples Scale" (named after a player) basically denote variations of the same D Minor (D Minor) scale.
Questionnaire
How do I find the right scale for me?
First thing to know: around 70% of all handpans are tuned in D-Minor. It sounds very familiar to our ears, is not too high and not too low. We have designed a short questionnaire to introduce you to the topic.
Do you want to play the handpan by yourself?
Then you are spoiled for choice. You can decide freely and according to your ear and feeling. Low or high, melancholic or joyful, mystical or oriental? There are almost no limits to your wishes. You can find more about the scales here.
Do you want to meet other handpan players with whom you can play together?
As already mentioned, about 70% of all handpans are tuned in D-minor. Since the majority of handpan scales do not harmonize with each other, a D-minor scale is by far the most likely to meet other handpan players you can play with (Important: frequency in 440 Hz and NOT in 432 Hz). The D-Minor scale has two variants: D-Celtic Minor and D-Kurd Minor (you can find out here, what exactly distinguishes the two).
Do you want to play the handpan together with other instruments, e.g. guitar, piano, cello, cajon, djembe?
If you want to play your handpan with other musicians, you are basically limited to the key or scale that the handpan uses.
On most melodic instruments (such as piano or guitar), those scales or keys that have many accidentals (i.e. C#/Db or F#/Gb, for example) are usually more difficult to transpose. If you play with beginner musicians, you should prefer handpans that have a scale with no or as few accidentals as possible (e.g. D-Celtic Minor / D-Amara). If you are playing with advanced musicians, the choice of handpan scale will probably play a less important role, and there are no limits to your creativity in playing together.
It's best to show your fellow players the notes of the handpans you like. Most musicians can quickly tell you which scale they would prefer for playing together.
With rhythm instruments (such as cajon or djembe) that do not have a clearly defined pitch, any Handpan scale can be played together.
Do you want to use the handpan in sound therapy, e.g. with singing bowls or gongs?
Many gongs and singing bowls are rich in overtones, which usually make it difficult to determine the exact fundamental. Some gongs and singing bowls from well-known manufacturers are tuned in 440 Hz (Hertz). Others are partly tuned with the planetary tones according to Hans Cousto in 432 Hz. If you are unsure, it's best to try it out and then maybe leave out a few notes on the handpan that don't fit.
Scales & moods
What scales are available and what "mood" do they create?
What "mood" a handpan creates depends not only on the scale alone, but also on many other factors, such as the pitch, the material, the room, and of course how the handpan is played. In general, sound impressions are highly subjective and vary from person to person or even from culture to culture. One person will describe the sound of a handpan or scale as "sad", the other possibly as "hopeful".
Traditionally, certain scale types are often associated with emotions and are advertised as such by manufacturers. These designations should be used with caution, because sounds are perceived subjectively. Therefore: listen to different scales from different players.
Roughly, handpan scales can be summarized into three groups:
Minor or variations
Variants are called e.g. Celtic Minor, Kurd Minor, Amara, Magic Voyage, Annaziska, Pygmy, Equinox. They are often associated with emotions such as tragic, mystical, sad, dreamy or even hopeful, tender or sweet.
Major or variations
Variants are called e.g. Sabye, Ashakiran or Aegean. They are often associated with emotions like happy, positive or uplifting.
Other scale types or mixtures
Other scale types or mixtures of major and minor (e.g. Harmonic Minor, Hijaz or Ragadesh) often sound oriental to our ears.
D-Celtic Minor / D-Amara
For these scales, 8 (out of 9) notes are the same or the scales differ only by one note. The D- Celtic Minor has a high C, the D Kurd a low note (Bb), the rest is the same. Nevertheless, both scales can be played very differently.
D-Kurd Minor
D-Celtic Minor / D-Amara
Due to the low note on the Kurd (Bb), some notes are arranged differently than on the D Celtic Minor. Three notes are "opposite" or "mirror image equal" for the scales.
D-Kurd Minor
D-Celtic Minor / D-Amara
This also shifts the chords from the "adjacent notes", i.e. two notes that are next to each other. If you play the first two notes of the D Celitc Minor together (A and C), this is the A and Bb of the Kurd (be careful: these two notes are dissonant in the Kurd).
D-Kurd Minor
Tools
Tools to find your desired scale
Browse & listen
Browse our online handpan shop and watch the Product videos of different Handpan manufacturers, materials and scales to get a feel for which ones appeal to you.
Buying a handpan is an emotional thing. Preferences often emerge only after the first listening and comparison.
Youtube / Videos
On Youtube there are many videos about the scales to get a good impression. But a bit of caution is needed here. You have discovered a video on Youtube that you like very much? Do you actually like the scale or rather what the handpan player style is while playing the scale? If you like a scale, it is always best to write down the name of the scale and the notes (if available). Watch videos of different players on the scale that appeal to you.
Trying out on a Piano or Keyboard
A good possibility is to tape the handpan notes of a scale on a piano or keyboard. This way you have the possibility to listen to the scale in advance and try out different chords and melodies.
A note on the notes
Notes on the handpan Scale
If you like a video on Youtube, it is always best to write down the name and notes of the handpan scale.
There are unfortunately different designations between german and english notes. All handpan manufacturers known to us use English notes only (see table).
German
A
Ais / B
H
C
Cis / Des
D
Dis / Es
E
F
Fis / Ges
G
Gis / As
Compatibility
Matching Handpan scales
Which Handpan scales can be played together well?
Only a few handpan scales are compatible with each other. Some notes harmonize, others are dissonant, sound incoherent to horrible. You will quickly notice this when you strike several notes at the same time on the piano (chord). Not every combination sounds coherent and harmoniously.
If you want to meet other handpan players, you should take into account that about 70% of all handpans are tuned in D-minor.
Here you will find an overview of which scales from our store can be played together. If you have already bought a Handpan and would like to know with which Handpan from our Handpan store it is compatible, please contact us. We will be happy to advise you!
This table shows which of our handpan scales harmonize with each other. To do this, simply search for the desired scale in the left column and see how compatible it is with other scales based on the colors (top row).
- These two scales fit together very well.
- These two scales are compatible with limitations.
- These two scales do not harmonize.