You’ve seen the handpan and are probably asking yourself, “Can I even play this?”
Is the Beginning Really Hard? You might also ask yourself. The short answer: Yes, within a few weeks, you will be able to play the handpan well enough to enjoy this unique instrument. Unlike other instruments, the handpan doesn’t require a long adjustment period. Especially with a helping hand from Rafael and Kate at one of their workshops. This handpan guide is here to support you on your musical journey.
Exploring
If you’re considering buying a handpan, you should always start by choosing the scale that you like the most. To find the perfect instrument, you can use YouTube as a research tool. There, you’ll find a lot of handpan music from various talented artists. Check which handpan your favorite artist uses and get inspired.
We usually recommend a D Minor handpan as a beginner instrument because it is very popular and widely used.
The standard instruments are the 9-note and 11-note handpans (more notes can be added as you progress). Since more notes increase complexity, a 9-note instrument is better suited for beginners. Once you’ve found your perfect handpan, you can then choose the style or color that appeals to you the most.
Choosing the Manufacturer
The next step is choosing the manufacturer. This is not easy because there are many high-quality manufacturers worldwide, but there are also many unreliable ones.
Is the Beginning Really Hard? Of course, there are advantages to choosing a local manufacturer. You can personally check the quality and select an instrument on-site. Additionally, if your handpan goes out of tune, you can have it retuned without long waiting times, especially if it comes with a tuning guarantee. We offer a 5-year guarantee because we are confident in the high quality of our handpans.
If you want to order a handpan from farther away, it’s really important to check the packaging method. Even the slightest external influences can cause your handpan to go out of tune. Therefore, the handpan must be delivered in a hard case. This is why we use the HandpanCare fiberglass hard case or the PU zipper case for every order. In our opinion, these hard cases are currently among the best products on the market.
If a handpan is made specifically for you, you should expect a waiting time. For us, this currently takes about 2 to 3 months, and 3 to 4 months for complex instruments. The exception: Instruments that we have in stock can be shipped within 3-5 business days.
The manufacturing process takes this long because the handpan often needs to be heated and retuned. Additionally, it is 100% handmade. Learn more here.
Be Careful and Learn Diligently
Great! Now you finally have your own handpan at home. To ensure that the instrument remains in top playing condition for a long time, it’s important to use the right care products.
You’ll find many different products online, each with different effects. We believe that oil is not the best way to protect the handpan from rust, corrosion, dust, and dirt. That’s why we use TurtleCare, a ceramic-based liquid.
Now that you have the right equipment, you can start learning and playing the instrument.
Playing the handpan is very intuitive compared to piano or violin. There are a few techniques that allow you to quickly play beautiful sounds and melodies. You can learn these techniques in one of our workshops. However, discipline is required because without regular practice, your progress in playing will stagnate. Soon you won’t think questions like “Is the Beginning Really Hard?” anymore.
We hope this guide helps you with your decision. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact us: https://opsilon.shop/policies/contact-information
Is the Beginning Really Hard? With Bella around, it can’t be! 
