Meridan Handpan
Have you ever heard the sound of fairy wings?
Truth is I haven’t. I have never even SEEN a real life fairy.
But…
If I did see, or HEAR one, I imagine it would be trailed by a sound similar to the beautiful, ethereal sound of the handpan.
No wonder you want one. So do I!!
If you are here to find out more about the mystical handpan drum, this is the place to do it.
I poured hours researching & compiling to bring you this list of some of the best handpan makers and created a guide to show you how to choose the best handpan instrument for your hands and heart.
Pssst… Looking ONLY for handpans made in the USA? I have the Exhaustive list of USA handpan makers here.
The fruit of the Handpan maker’s hands are as individual and unique as our fingerprints are to us. Each handpan is a carefully crafted work of art- and the handpan maker puts a little bit of themselves into each one.
Thousands and thousands of hammer hits go into shaping each handpan drum to perfection.
Each handpan maker follows their own groove.
Every handpan maker has their own methods and madness. Every handpan maker harbors in this creative mind, his or her own idea on how to craft the perfect handpan.
Fair warning:
I HIGHLY recommend you research the hand pan drum maker, handpan scales, materials, and handpan characteristics before choosing the best handpan maker.
I set before you the 411 you need to start researching, starting with some of the best handpan makers.
I did you a solid and include a demo video for each handpan in this list.
Below, I practically broke my eyeballs searching for all the handpan makers I could find and made a nice tidy list below.
If you are looking for a specific list on ONLY handpans made in the USA, here they are.
The Acolyte handpan makes brilliant handpans available in 5 scales at a price that won’t make you cry. PLUS, they have NO wait time or lottery to get one of their dazzling instruments. The Acolyte is also available in a mini version, perfect for travel.
The Acolyte is one of the my favorite handpans made in the USA, it has magical resonance and looks like a spaceship inspired work of art. You will not be able to keep your hands off it!
My personal favorite is the Dm Celtic scale, see video below.
This company also creates the Nirvana handpan, each handcrafted personally and to custom specs by the handsome Head Builder, Terence Jay, who asked me to say that the Mini and custom Hz available from the website.
They are easily one of the best handpan makers in the USA, and one of my favorite.
The real deal! The Best handpans, good sustain, magical sound, at an accessible price, made in the USA. What more can you ask for?
Meridian Handpans are made with care in the UK by tuner Duncan Arnot. They are not mass produced and are crafted using a combo of modern and traditional handpan making techniques.
They have a beautiful tone and are a work of art in their own right, as each handpan is unique.
They have a standard 21 inch handpan and a travel 18.5 inch handpan that fits in carry-on luggage. They have 7, 8 and 9 note handpans available with custom scales and layouts available on request.
Premium, custom-built handpans with a reputation for quality handmade in Bristol, UK.
Terre handpans are cosmic. Truly. These handpans are made with heart and soul, from a well-known healing instruments maker based in Denmark.
The Moon series is available for immediate shipping and is available in five tones. This handpan produces clear, resonant music, available in 5 separate tunings, including the earth tuning of 432 hz of the Moon series Cis Ziska Model.
The Terre handpans have a beautiful sound, I love that they include a case with each handpan and I am particularly fond of the earth tuned Moon series Cis Ziska 432Hz.
Handpan Terré Shamanic Cis-Ziska 432Hz Paul
Terre Instrument store on Amazon
Want to hear a handpan tuned to 432hz? Here you go! Handpan Terré Shamanic Cis-Ziska 432Hz Paul
These handpans on Amazon, are the same as the Novapans sold on the Novapan website.
These handpans are at the right intersection of both affordability and high quality so you will not feel like you are compromising quality or paying too much. It’s a win-win.
This particular handpan featured on Amazon is a nitrided handpan…
but…
Novapan also sells stainless steel handpans (for the Generation 2 and 7 models) since they offer a variety of handpan types (based on the Generation) on their website.
You will not be disappointed once you hear and play the handpan the first time
A very well crafted, magical sounding handpan at an accessible price and high availability.
These Meinl handpans are hand made, one by one.
They are stainless steel handpans, which means they need little maintainance and the have really long sustain.
Each Meinl handpan has two bottom resonance holes, one to face the player and the other so the audience can hear well, too!
These beautiful instruments are built to last a lifetime.
Excellent handpans handmade, unique, and tailored to the individual. Meinl has a handpan for every budget.
Sela handpans are crafted with perfect timbre and resonance in Germany.
Sela informs us that each drum is created by tens of thousands of hammer blows before the sound sculpture is formed to create its enchanting melody.
After the handpans are formed, they are nitrided, which makes them resistant to corrosion and makes the steel a bit harder.
Each handpan drum includes a Sela soft padded carry case.
I’m sold! I love this maker and this handpan. I think it’s worth it to jump through the hoops necessary to get this hypnotic handpan from Germany.
x8 handpans are high quality handpans from a popular drum maker. These handpans are an well-made and you can order and receive them right away.
These handpans are made from stainless steel, which means they resist corrosion well. The sustain on the X( handpan is excellent, very long lasting.
Handpans with a long sustain have the property of the notes blending and playing on top of one another to create a rich patina of sound with a lot of depth.
I like these x8 handpans. I trust the X8 brand and I like the ease of ordeing them on Amazon.
They look, feel and sound wonderful.
L’ATELIER DE ○ アトリエ マル is based in Japan, with sales on Amazon also.
These handpans are made in Asia, mostly Vietnam and China. L’ATELIER DE ○ アトリエ マル Works very closely with the tuners and modelers in China and Japan to create the finest sounding handpans with an accessible Price and availability.
They stand out among their peers because they are made from a stainless steel alloy which is softer than nitrated steel and has a longer sustain.
Stainless steel also requires very little maintenance, which is nice.
A quality stainless steel handpan with a gorgeous melodic sound, a fair price and available now.
The AsaChan made by the EchoSoundSculpture team from Switzerland is a true work of art. Each handpan is made from nitrated steel or stainless steel and are hand hammered and tuned to perfection.
They are limited production makers because they put their heart into the handpan, as much of the work is done by hand by a very small crew of folks.
The quality and the beauty of each piece is spectacular and you will not be disappointed with a handpan from this high-end maker.
This is an elite handpan maker. The price is higher than others, and the production is limited, but the quality too, is unmatched.
These gorgeous metal sound sculptures are hand made in limited supply by Spanish maker Bellart bells.
They have excellent harmonics and an exotic, smooth, melodic sound you can hear in the demo video below.
They are made with the highest quality material and treated with high temperature so each has its own patina and look.
If you are planning a trip to Spain, plan to visit this maker of some of the finest handpans and if fortune smiles on you, perhaps you can pick one up!
The RAV Pan handpan is hand crafted in Russia with love by master crafter Andrew Remyannikov.
RAV pans feature a heartbeats diffuser on the GU hole (bottom hole) to stabilize the frequency of the Helmholtz resonance and redirect sound waves on the drum interior to create more powerful sound.
Thse beautiful handpans come with a heavy duty shell backpack style carry case.
The beautiful timbere and powerful sound on this handpan has me in love!
Pantheon Steel is a North American Handpan maker which offers ready-made halo models and custom creations as well.
Pantheon steel started in 2004 with Kyle Cox a young steel pan maker who was inspired by partner Jim Dustin to evolve and set his sights on making the handpan in 2007 and created the first Halo in 2009.
Pantheon Steels handpan making method is patented and allows Pantheon steel to create handpans with consistency and at a rate where the Halo handpan is available for immediate purchase, unlike others makers where a wait time is expected.
One of my favorite handpan makers, made in the US, accessible and original. I love the larger size too!
Here is a comprehensive list of handpans made in America.
Saraz Hanpans got their start in 2011 the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina when maker Mark Garner was motivated to create his own handpans due to the lack of availability of handpans out there.
While Saraz is not the first handpan creator, they are one of the most innovative and passionate handpan makers I know of. Their research into handpans runs wide and deep, including meeting and learning from one of the original steel drum makers on the island of Trinidad, Ellie Mannette.
Saraz handpans are machine pressed and hand hammered and tuned. The handpans are nitride to prevent metal breakdown and a cloth and wax sample are included with each order to maintain the finish.
Saraz Offers both nitrided ( Professional & Enthusiast series) and stainless steel (Meditation series) handpans.
Saraz is an innovative company with a passionate leader and I would love to be blessed to have and play one of their handpans.
If you want to see more American made handpans, see the comprehensive list here.
In 2017 Saraz paired with musical inventor Paul Vo to perform an experiment. They used the vibration of a mechanical oscillator to turn the handpan into a very metallic sounding speaker. Very Tesla of you Saraz. Well played!
If you wish to understand the Universe think of energy, frequency and vibration. Nikola Tesla
Lark Music handpans have availability, good prices and great sound on their side.
They are well made and have good resonance, as you can see and hear on the demo video below.
This handpan, like most, is tuned to 440Hz. It is made from intruded steel, so it has less sustain, and since the notes play for a shorter time, it is better for faster, percussion style play. Nitrided steel is also very low maintenance.
(See below for a discussion of the pros and cons of different styles of metal used for handpans)
If you value sound and savings, this is the handpan maker for you.
AS TEMAN have been crafting the magical handpans for over 10 years now. They are widely available, and high quality, affordable beginner handpans, which is one reason they are so popular.
These hand crafted handpans are made with care and 1000’s of hammer strikes by experienced instrument craftspeople. They are widely available on Amazon at a very affordable price.
Availability, and price make this a popular handpan choice. .
Hey you! Listen up!
I included a video of each maker sampling their wares, or playing their handpans, so listen to the video in each review to get a feel for the maker.
I HIGHLY recommend you find a YouTube video of the maker demonstrating the sound of their handpans and listening.
Every maker worth their salt has demo videos out there you can listen to, to make sure you connect with the sound of your chosen one.
Listen to the sound. Is it tinny, or smooth? Does each note sound for a long time, or a short time? (That’s called sustain, discussed below)
See if the handpan resonates with you, and listen to at least 10 different makers before you choose!
Look for a handpan maker that tunes the handpans by hand. Nearly all in my list tune their handpans by hand. Also look for experienced instrument makers and veteran tuners to craft your instrument.
The energetic, otherworldly, melodic sound of the handpan attract music lovers to this amazing instrument.
Hear me out!
Sound should be your number one criteria when you select a handpan, which is why I include a demo video for each handpan maker in my list, and the chart below to help you learn more about the sound characteristics of the handpan.
The sound should resonate deep and clear. What you should not hear too much of is a tinny metallic sound.
“Sustain” is a technical way of talking about how long the sound sticks around after you strike a note.
Handpans range in height and diameter, and each make and model have their own specifications.
Handpan Diameters can range from 15 to 24 inches.
Handpan height can range from 7 to 9 inches, although I have seen custom instruments that are even higher.
Why do handpan height and diameter matter?
Since the handpan is two shells glued together, the chamber created inside the handpan creates a resonant chamber, which is one of the things that makes a handpan so special.
The height and especially the diameter of this resonant chamber affect the sound of the handpans.
While the resonance can create beautiful music, with certain scales, paired with certain diameters, wave interference is created, which is not desirable.
Wave interference is when one sound wave interferes with another sound wave.
Virtually all handpans have some small amount of interference on certain scale/diameter combos, the best handpan makers find clever ways to minimize interference.
Some of the best handpan makers use foam baffling or aluminum shields to absorb or redirect waves so they will not interfere with your melody.
Look for a handpan maker that really cares about music and sound and creates an instrument that minimizes wave interference.
Shorter sustain, less interference, but notes do not last as long. This type of steel lends it self to fast energetic playing, where you do not want a lot of sound overlap. It is the most drum-like of all metals because it needs a decent tap to product a sound, vs stainless steel which is very responsive.
Stainless steel has a nice, long lasting sustain, an open sound, good oxidation prevention, and only needs very light surface maintenance. Stainless steel is more expensive than other types of steel. Stainless steel is also a bit harder to work with, from a crafting perspective. Stainless steel is my personal favorite metal for handpans because of the long sustain.
Has a shimmery, bright sound, with good sustain, and the cost of raw steel is less than stainless steel. Maintenance, of course, is very important for raw steel handpans.
Power coated steel has similar properties of raw steel with a slightly shorter sustain than raw steel, but a little longer sustain than nitrated steel. Powder coated steel also has less maintenance needs. PC Steel is a less expensive material than stainless steel. Powder coated raw steel is my second favorite metal for handpans, because the sustain is longer than nitride steel.
The biggest choice you have to make when you choose your handpan is which scale to get.
Want my advice?
Research! Check YouTube and listen to a wide range of scales.
Different scales, combined with different sizes and different types of metal all offer a different feel and sound.
Find a handpan with a scale, size and sound that you connect with.
Beginners often choose Celtic Minor, equinox or Aeolian in various scales, but since there are so many to choose from, there is no one scale that is best for beginners.
You probably already know this, but the handpan is played with your fingertips.
Never use drumsticks, mallets or any other object to strike your handpan. Handpans stay in tune for a very, very long time if played with only your fingertips, but striking them with other objects will cause them to go out of tune fast.
Want to know how to start making music fast with your handpan?
Here is a video by Didge Project that covers some of the basics you need to start making beautiful music on your handpan. He goes over using a metronome, scales, chords and other tips so you can start making music fast.
There are well over 150 quality handpan makers in the world.
Please explore this directory of handpan makers, with a special focus on US handpan makers. If you know of more to add, or you have news I need to know about these makers, please let me know at info@highvibrationstation.com
Did we miss you? If you want your handpan website listed here, send an email to info@highvibrationstation.com, and we will add your handpan.
Crafting a handpan requires knowledge of metallurgy, crafting and forming metal, engineering, a strong background in the fundamentals of music, and much more. Handpans also require a large degree of artistry, as each handpan is a unique sound sculpture, no two are alike.
Every maker creates handpans with their own nuances, special processes and techniques. Even the scales offered and size of the handpan varies from maker to maker.
Check out this video to get an idea how handpans are made:
Heat and humidity make do bad things. They make sand stick to your butt cheeks at the beack, and they wreak havoc on your handpan.
Do not leave the handpan for long periods in a hot car, or in extreme cold. This can change the sound of the handpan and cause other problems like shifts in tuning.
Ideally, handpans should be stored in a dry, temperature controlled room in their bag. Humid environments can cause problems too. If you live near the ocean or other humid climate, it is even more vital to give maintenance to your handpan every month.
Raw steel handpans need the most maintenance. It should be treated with an oil. Some use coconut or olive oil to prevent corrosion.
Be careful to use a very, very small amount, because the oil should never come in contact with the glue that holds the handpan hemispheres together because it can damage the integrity of the glue.
If you want an oil that is designed specifically for handpans, try Phoenix Handpan oil.
I recommend oiling your handpan every month.
First, clean the surface with pure isopropyl alcohol.
Then, use a small amount of oil, less than 5 ml, and oil the handpan, making sure to AVOID the rim so oil does not get to the glue holding the shells together.
Finally, buff with a soft, microfiber cloth.
It is my sincere hope that you find the right instrument, one that you connect with and resonates with you and moves you.
If not here on this list, then elsewhere on your journey, my friend.
If you are looking for a more affordable drum that has a similar sound, you might check out my list of quality steel tongue drums. They have an enchanting sound, and are generally smaller and more budget friendly.
In Love and Light,
Katie Lyn
We leave you in appreciation of the circumstance of the great illusion in which you now choose to play the pipe and timbrel and move in rhythm. We are also players upon a stage. The stage changes. The acts ring down. The lights come up once again. And throughout the grand illusion and the following and the following there is the undergirding majesty of the one infinite Creator. All is well. Nothing is lost. Go forth rejoicing in the love and the light, the peace and the power of the one infinite Creator. I am Ra. Adonai. by RA an humble Messenger of the Law of One
(From Session 104.) Excerpt From The Law of One – Book 5
“Radio Frequency” is my email list reserved for Fellow Travelers, Matrix Escapees, Psychonauts, Shamanic Journeyers, Alchemists, Interdimensionals, Inquiring Minds, & Mad Hatters; those who dare to join & explore wonderland with me.
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Dear
We are a factory manufacture different kinds of handpans in China. If you need some handpans,Can we work together? i believe we can offer you good lead time and best quality. Will you please reply？And then I will Send you pictures of our product. I look forward to your reply.
Best regards.
Michael
What is the brand name of your Handpans, Michael?
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