Within an incredibly short time, the instrument gained huge interest from musicians and spiritual practitioners, thanks to its exclusive meditative sound. Each handpan, just like these made by Cosmoshandpan, offers a diverse experience in terms of type and tuning. This discussion in the post is going to revolve around the different types of Handpans and their various tunings, which give a unique character to the instruments.
Getting to Know the Types of Handpans
While all handpans share the same shape and general design of a steel, domed-like structure with dimples, their construction is vastly different. The two types are mainly the nitrided steel handpan and the stainless steel handpan.
1. Nitrided Steel Handpans:
These were the original types of handpans, made from steel that has undergone a nitriding process, which is a heat treatment that hardens the surface of the metal to make it more durable and sonically sound. These nitrided steel handpans have a warm and resonant tone, and they are less susceptible to rust, which can be ideal for anybody who wants a rich sound with a long-lasting instrument. In terms of the material made, these handpans are best for both indoor and outdoor performance, as they can respond through all different kinds of environments and climates with little wear, due to the use of nitrided steel in their manufacture.
2. Stainless Steel Handpans:
Handpans made of stainless steel are known to produce a brighter and more resonant sound than those made from nitrided steel. Such instruments often weigh less and have an extended sustain time taken for that note to stop, which means the notes hold for a long time. This parameter is certainly the main reason for many people preferring an acoustic stainless steel handpan: brilliance of sound, simplicity of timbre, less susceptibility to being spoiled by the rust. Take for instance Cosmoshandpan, which provides a wide array of stainless steel handpans, designed for players pushing for a much livelier sound and more reflective playing experience.
Most popular handpan tunings:
The voice of a handpan is brought out through tuning. Unlike other instruments in which tuning may be shifted around a lot, each handpan is tuned at the time of its creation, and this tuning is part of the sound. It is brought in by very controlled hammering and shaping of the steel to bring out a particular pitch and harmony. Here are some of the most popular handpan tunings:
1. Celtic minor:
This is one of the most common tunings used on handpans and offers a calming, melodic sound. The D minor scale is a harmonious series of notes that are played intuitively; therefore, it is suitable for beginners. Often applied in music genres meant for meditative and ambient feelings, it produces calm and reflective feelings, hence making it a favorite for relaxation and sound healing sessions.
2. Integral Tuning:
The major and minor notes in integral tuning go into making of an integral scale that is most versatile and ranges high for expression in music. It serves equally well for meditative music or its up-tempo and rhythmic playing and thus sets a firm position forward for players who wish to be flexible with their playing. The integral tuning is ideal if you want to be a perfect player at the same time, exploring different moods and musical landscapes with just one instrument.
3. Hijaz Tuning:
This scale has a more exotic, Middle Eastern sound, and is used quite often in world music. There are many intervals in the Hijaz scale, which give it quite a special and unique property that almost makes it mystical. In the hands of Hijaz scale handpans, this case would be most appropriate for it to be suitable for musicians willing to dive into a much more diversified arena of genres and styles and to play, expressively full of cultural flavour.
4. Custom Tunings
This is something that many handpan makers, including Cosmoshandpan, will allow, and for good reason: instrumentalists can now choose their tuning based on specifications ranging from a scale to even a specific arrangement of notes. Custom tunings do provide for that personal, individualistic handpan that enhances the bond between the handpan and the player’s culture, energy, and style.
Choosing the Appropriate Handpan and Tuning
The material and tuning are two of the most important factors in handpan choice that go towards the direction of your musical goals and personal preferences.
Key Material Considerations: Ideal for those who prefer a more robust steel or a bit warmer, richer-sounding instrument; ideal for a wide variety of playing scenarios without sounding overly harsh. Stainless steel creates a handpan that has brighter overtones with longer sustain for those who like a little more brilliance from their sound to hold a note comfortably.
Tuning Preferences: Tuning is usually a player’s preference and, of course, what the player plans to do with the instrument. All-purpose tunings like D minor or integral are applicable to almost every style of musical rendition. More exotic tunings, such as Hijaz, on the other hand, reproduce rare and unique tonal qualities, which are best suited for special genres.
Conclusion
Cosmoshandpan comes in a wide variety of different types and tunings, so definitely, all kinds of players from beginner to professional will find an instrument for themselves. Their dedication to thorough craftsmanship and customization makes sure every player can get the right handpan to sound good and, at the same time, be in agreement with his preferences and journey.