What is a handpan? – History, sound, and special features of the instrument

Oli Kipfer
17 hours ago
7 min read

The handpan is a relatively new, hand-played instrument made of steel. Its curved shape with several integrated tone fields makes it a melodic-percussive instrument: each light strike with the hands produces clear, overtone-rich sounds that are often described as warm, floating, and meditative.

This instrument first appeared in Switzerland in the early 2000s and quickly spread throughout the world. Today, you can encounter handpans on street stages, in studios, at yoga sessions, or on sound journeys—their unique sound has given rise to a very active international scene in a short period of time.

This often leads to confusion: many people refer to a “hang” when they actually mean a handpan. However, the hang is a specific instrument made by the Swiss company PANArt, while “handpan” is the generic term for all similar instruments. Later in this article, we will discuss the difference between a hang and a handpan in more detail.

What is a handpan? – History, sound, and special features of the instrument

What is a handpan? – Basics of the instrument

Structure and form

A handpan consists of two steel shells joined together to form a slightly curved, resonant shape. This construction produces the typical room-filling sound that makes the instrument so special. On the upper side are several carefully hammered tone fields arranged around the central element.

Curved upper and lower shells
Centrally positioned ding as the fundamental tone
Compact size, usually 50–60 cm
Weight between approx. 4 and 7 kg

The shape is not only visually unique, but also decisive for how vibrations are distributed inside and how warm and rich in overtones the handpan sounds.

Tone Fields, Ding and Gu

At the core of every handpan are the tone fields and its two characteristic elements, the Ding and the Gu. They determine how the instrument responds and which tonal colours are possible.

Element	Function
Ding	The central fundamental note on the top side, usually warm and deep.
Tone fields	Each field produces a clear tone with multiple overtones.
Gu	The opening on the underside; acts as a resonating chamber and sound modulator.

All three elements work together to create the characteristic, almost floating sound that handpans are known for.

Materials and Craftsmanship

For a handpan to sound stable and keep its tuning over time, it requires a great deal of manual work and experience. The manufacturing process is complex and influences every nuance of the instrument’s final sound.

Nitrided steel for a clear and precise tone
Stainless steel for longer sustain and softer tonal colours
Fine-tuning through repeated hammering (tuning)

A large part of the handpan’s sound character is shaped by the heat treatment and the precision when forming the tone fields. Even small variations in the metal can significantly change the overall sound.

Tuning Systems and Scales

One of the unique features of the handpan is its fixed tuning. Unlike string instruments, it cannot be adjusted flexibly. Each handpan has a defined set of notes that together create a specific sonic atmosphere.

D Kurd: warm and meditative
Celtic Minor: open and bright
Hijaz: oriental and distinctive
Major scales: friendly and clear

The choice of scale strongly influences how a piece sounds and the emotional atmosphere the handpan conveys.

Classification as a Melodic-Percussive Instrument

The handpan uniquely combines melodic and rhythmic elements. Unlike many other percussion instruments, it allows you to play melodies, runs, and rhythmic patterns at the same time.

Melodically playable tone fields
Percussive elements created through finger and palm strikes
Naturally produced overtones

This combination makes it impossible to classify the handpan strictly as either a percussion or a melodic instrument — and that is precisely what makes it so special.

The History of the Handpan

Development of the Hang by PANArt

The history of the handpan begins with the Hang, developed in the early 2000s by the Swiss company PANArt in Bern. Inspired by Caribbean steelpans and singing bowls, a new type of instrument emerged with a curved shape and integrated tone fields. The Hang was produced only in small quantities and quickly became sought after worldwide, but it remained a deliberately limited niche instrument.

From Hang to Handpan: How the umbrella term emerged

Because PANArt legally protected the name “Hang” and kept production very limited, other instrument makers began creating similar sound sculptures. To clearly distinguish their instruments from the original, the neutral term “handpan” became established. Today, “handpan” is the umbrella term for all comparable instruments, while “Hang” refers exclusively to the PANArt instrument.

Early scene and international spread

The first handpans spread mainly through street musicians, festivals and online communities. Videos on platforms like YouTube helped the unique sound reach a global audience within a short time. A small but passionate scene of players, makers and sound artists developed rapidly.

Developments in recent years

In recent years, the variety of handpans has grown significantly. More scales, materials and construction methods have emerged, and alongside small workshops, larger manufacturers have entered the field. At the same time, areas such as sound healing, yoga, meditation and experimental music have embraced the handpan. Despite this evolution, the connection to its origins with the Hang and PANArt remains an important part of the instrument’s identity.

Hang vs. Handpan – die wichtigsten Unterschiede

Im Folgenden werden einige zentrale Punkte aufgezeigt, in denen sich Hang und Handpan voneinander unterscheiden.

Hang vs. handpan – the most important differences

Protected Term “Hang” (PANArt)

The Hang is an independent instrument created by the Swiss company PANArt and legally protected as a brand name. It refers exclusively to the original instruments produced in Bern from the early 2000s onwards. All similar instruments made by other builders may not be called “Hang” – they fall under the umbrella term handpan.

Construction & Materials

While PANArt used its own material blend and special metallurgical processes for the Hang, today’s handpan makers use different types of steel and construction methods. This creates noticeable differences in sound and resonance.

Hang: PANArt’s proprietary steel alloy (“Pang”) and unique heat treatments
Handpans: usually made from nitrided steel or stainless steel
Different shapes, sizes and scales depending on the workshop

The construction of the Hang follows a clear, brand-specific sound philosophy, whereas modern handpans offer a broader variety of tonal characters.

Sound Differences

Although the Hang and handpan look similar, they reveal audible distinctions. The Hang often sounds softer and more organic, with a very characteristic overtone singing. Handpans vary more widely: they can be brighter, louder, softer or richer in overtones — depending on the material and the maker.

Hang: warm, floating fundamental tones; organic sound
Handpans: wide range from soft to clear and brilliant
Sustain and overtones differ depending on the material

Why many people still say “Hang”

For a long time, “Hang” was the only widely known word for this type of instrument. As a result, it became a colloquial synonym for the entire family — similar to how “Kleenex” is used for tissues. Strictly speaking, however, this is incorrect: a Hang always comes from PANArt, while handpan is the general term.

Handpan–Hang Difference

The central “handpan–Hang” difference can be summarised clearly: the Hang is the original instrument by PANArt, while handpan refers to all other instruments of this type. Differences appear in origin, material, sound philosophy and the variety of available scales.

Construction & Materials

Hand-forged vs. industrially produced

Handpans are traditionally hand-forged, and tuning them requires a great deal of experience. Many high-quality instruments are still crafted entirely by hand. At the same time, there are now industrially produced models that can be made more quickly, but often sound less nuanced.

Hand-forged: individual sound character, precise fine-tuning
Industrially produced: consistent shape, but usually less overtone richness

The method of manufacturing influences precision, tuning stability and the instrument’s personal character.

Nitrided Steel, Stainless Steel & other variants

In today’s handpan scene, two main material types dominate: nitrided steel and stainless steel. Both come with different properties that influence sound and maintenance.

Material	Properties
Nitrided Steel	clear tone, good tuning stability, reduced susceptibility to rust
Stainless Steel	long sustain, softer sound, especially popular for meditative music
Hybrid variants	combination of different steel types for balanced resonance

The choice of material depends on whether you prefer a clear, precise tone or a softer, long-sustaining sound character.

How Construction Influences Sound

Sound and resonance are largely determined by the shaping of the tone fields, the thickness of the steel and the internal tension of the material. Even small differences in craftsmanship can cause two handpans with the same scale to sound noticeably different.

The shape of the tone fields affects volume and overtones
Steel thickness influences stability and responsiveness
Heat treatment impacts tone colour and tuning stability

A precisely crafted instrument responds more dynamically and remains stably tuned over longer periods.

Typical Quality Features

High-quality handpans can be identified by solid craftsmanship and a balanced sound profile. Particularly important are stable tuning and a harmonious relationship between the fundamental tone and the overtones.

Cleanly shaped tone fields without visible stress cracks
Even sustain without unwanted noises
Stable tuning even under stronger playing
Good balance between fundamental tone and overtones

These characteristics determine whether an instrument not only sounds good but remains reliable and enjoyable to play in the long term.

Important Handpan Makers & Scene Overview

Brief overview of international makers

The handpan scene has grown significantly in recent years. Around the world, numerous workshops have emerged, each pursuing its own approach to materials, sound aesthetics and construction methods. Most makers work artisanally, while some combine handcrafting with machine-assisted production to ensure consistent quality.

PANArt as the starting point

PANArt from Bern is considered the origin, where the Hang was developed in the early 2000s. From this idea, the category of handpans later evolved and was carried forward by independent makers around the world. The Hang itself is a protected instrument and represents the original form of this sound concept.

Modern workshops & approaches to craftsmanship

Today, many international workshops follow different philosophies: from very clear and precise sound characters to soft, long-sustaining instruments. Some focus on stainless steel, others on nitrided steel or hybrid approaches. In Switzerland, players can explore handpans from various brands at Musik Hug — not as a maker, but as a retailer offering different models. This illustrates the growing variety and accessibility of the instrument in the local market.

“Handpan original”: What does it mean?

The expression “handpan original” is often used to indicate handcrafted instruments or to signal that a model comes directly from a specific workshop. However, it is not a protected term. What truly matters is:

clear attribution to a specific workshop or maker,
choice of materials and quality of craftsmanship,
a stable and well-balanced sound profile.

Those looking for an “original” handpan typically focus on transparent manufacturer information, verifiable quality and clean, consistent workmanship.

If you’d like to continue exploring music after discovering the world of handpans, it’s worth taking a look at the Zurich Oberland Music School (MZO), a public music school with 16 locations, all of which are subsidised for children. You can also find teachers for all kinds of instruments on our platform – including handpan lessons in Switzerland. Below you’ll find a selection of lesson options that make it easy to find the right teacher near me: