Handpan Minimalism: Why fewer handpan notes might actually enhance your sonic adventure
The handpan is an extremely new instrument all things considered. In just over 20 years we have seen it grow and change in so many ways and the innovations have been phenomenal! Different types of steel, unique tuning styles, tooling innovations, and handpan scale variations; including a fully chromatic set of handpans and sheet music for the handpan.
All of these things have catapulted the handpan to new heights, but it is important to realize that more doesn't always mean, better. In the last few years we’ve seen a trend of handpan builders putting more and more notes on a handpan. While this is novel, it’s certainly not easy, or normal, to do this well. Asking for more always comes with complications if you are looking for a high quality instrument.
We’ve seen, built, and serviced many brands and types of handpans with different numbers of notes. On the left, a PanArt Hang built with 8 total notes. On the right, an Isthmus handpan with 9 total notes, and in front, and unknown and unbranded handpan with 12 total notes on top.
How many notes should a handpan have?
In our opinion, a handpan should only have as many notes as the best sound quality warrants!
Most handpans are built with 8 or 9 total notes on the top, and that would be our recommendation. Anything more can very quickly risk handpan sound quality.
But most people can’t help but think, more notes = more value… But this is simply an untrue value judgment.
The main reason is that the more notes that are crammed in on an instrument, the harder it is to make them sound good individually.
There is always a tradeoff, and often it’s at the expense of overall handpan sound quality.
Here are a few potential sound quality issues that can arise with more notes on an instrument:
Crosstalk: This happens when handpan notes sound at the same time, resulting in unclear sound. Handpans with more than 10 notes on the top in a thin steel will experience this issue more frequently.
Competing or conflicting harmonics: This isn’t a handpan tuning issue. It’s a construction one. Handpans with bottom notes or too many notes on the top, or notes arranged in a particular way, can experience this issue, making the notes sound “off” when played together.
Too much resonance: This occurs when there’s no separation between the sounds of distinct handpan notes.
Poor optimization of tuning quality, note by note: This can result in sound conflicts with other instruments, including other handpans.
What Else to Consider When looking for Handpan Bottom Notes
Along with handpan sound quality, there are other complications you should consider when deciding on adding more handpan notes:
Less intuitive: The more total notes added, the more challenging handpans become for beginners to play quickly and enjoy.
Harder to reach: The more bottom notes added on the far side of the instrument, the harder they can be to reach. In fact, it can be downright impossible for non-professional players to reach some handpan bottom notes, especially small or high ones.
Compatibility with handpan stands: More bottom notes can sometimes make it nearly impossible to use a handpan stand. In order for the notes to resonate, you may have need to consider playing on your lap or a special stand, just so you can access the handpan bottom notes or allow them to resonate.
Non-linear scale walk-up: When more handpan bottom notes are added, they usually aren’t arranged in a linear, scale-wise fashion. Which means the instrument can become confusing, requiring memorization. For beginners, it can become down right intimidating.
Susceptible to tuning issues: Bottom notes are slightly more susceptible to damage, due to bumps or falls, placing the instrument on a surface with notes.
Handpan cost of ownership goes up: Servicing instruments with bottom notes requires additional skill from handpan makers.
Handpans are not steelpans, nor are they designed to be chromatic instruments. The addition of more and more notes has the potential to detract from what a handpan excels at and is great at being: a simple & accessible instrument that anyone can sit down and learn to play. An instrument that creates feeling, mood, and emotion all with a limited number of notes. While this can be a challenge for some, we know that it’s precisely this value in simplicity that can stir musical creativity — just check out our Isthmus Ensemble Project to hear a world of possibilities on standard 9 and 11 note handpans.
The Isthmus Ensemble demonstrates a world of musical possibilities- all while playing just 9 and 11 note handpans.
What has caused people all over the world to fall in love with this instrument is this — their simplicity & accessibility, which allows us to tap into our own creative potential. We can’t forget that!
A Time & Place for Extra Handpan Notes
All said, there is sometimes a time and a place where a few extra handpan notes can be a great idea.
For instance, if you have a little to a lot of musical experience, if you are choosing your second handpan or have a larger budget. Bottom notes can extend the scale and often add an ability to create more bass lines. Musicians, or players that pick up the handpan quite quickly, will usually always benefit from at least 2 additional notes on the bottom of a handpan instrument.
For more bottom notes than 2, it’s a good idea to really consider if you can benefit from additional notes when they cost more, and can be harder to reach.
So if you are a new handpan shopper comparing handpans for value, keep in mind the cost vs. quality trade-off. At Isthmus Instruments we carefully consider all these factors when building our instruments- just so you don’t have to!
Why 8 to 11 Note Handpans Are the “Sweet Spot”
Here are a few benefits of keeping it simple with 8 to 11 note handpans:
You won’t be overwhelmed, which makes practice more joyful & meditative.
Your handpan will become familiar more quickly, and it’s more possible to learn the sounds by heart (This is a core of great melody & songwriting).
You can dive into a new world of rhythm (Add the naturally occurring percussive sounds available on any instrument, and you easily double the possibility for experimenting with rhythms).
You can focus on what matters: finding the handpan scale & mood that speaks to you.
You’ll avoid analysis paralysis on choosing your 1st instrument- and you’ll really come to know what you like in the world of handpan instruments.
Truth be told, more notes can actually detract from the enjoyment. And instruments with 7,8, or 9 handpan notes are inspiring in their own right. If you are ready, add two. If you are experienced, add a few more, within reason.
Remember, when it comes to handpans, there is elegance in simplicity.
Handpan Notes: More FAQs
Check out a few more FAQs about handpan notes, sound, quality, and more.
How many notes should I get on my handpan — 8,9,12,13,14, 17 or more?
The number of handpan notes is a personal choice, but here’s a good rule of thumb: the less experience you have, the less notes you need.
It will take time to learn the feel of your instrument, develop technique, and learn where the notes are on the instrument. The more handpan notes you have, the longer this process takes!
How many notes can a handpan have?
The most notes a handpan has ever had (that we know about) is 30. This was a project by Satya Sound Sculptures that did something never heard of on a handpan. While a really neat concept:
This is certainly not the norm.
You won’t find many other artisan makers doing this, or willing to do this.
I am looking for a 10 note handpan. Why do some makers advise against more than 9 notes on the top?
This is a bit of a contested issue in the handpan community. There are lots of reasons why some makers will do 10 or more notes on top and why some draw the line at 9. We already mentioned the biggest reason, which is the fact that sound quality can become compromised when more handpan notes are added.
A lot of this also has to do with space on the shell and the material being used. If there are a lot of low/big notes on the given scale, then there simply isn’t room to have more than 8 or 9 handpan notes on the top.
Can you do 10 handpan notes on top?
We can build 10 notes, but will only do so with select scales. Our D Celtic 10 has all the notes on the top shell and it sounds great!
My handpan course uses a 9 note instrument. Can I use my 8 note handpan?
Absolutely! Because the handpan is so new, all handpan instructors can provide advice on how to use your instrument in their courses. For Master the Handpan courses, check out David’s video explaining why it doesn’t matter how many notes you have on your instrument to get started.
Still Have Questions? Reach our to our Team- we’re always happy to help!