A handpan is a melodic percussion instrument made of tuned steel. It is played with the hands and fingers, producing warm, resonant tones that are both percussive and harmonic. The unique sound of the handpan makes it popular for meditation, yoga, sound healing, and creative music-making.

The handpan was first created in Switzerland in the year 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer of PANArt, who called their instrument the Hang. Since then, many skilled makers around the world have developed their own instruments, and today “handpan” has become the general name for this family of instruments.

A high-quality handpan has:

• Clear and stable notes without buzzing or metallic noise.

• Balanced sustain (the sound rings evenly, not too short or overly long).

• Accurate tuning across all notes, including the overtones.

• Comfortable playability, with notes that respond easily to light touch.

A poor-quality instrument may sound dull, unstable, or quickly fall out of tune. It’s always best to try handpans in person or seek advice from experienced players before buying.

Handpans are built in fixed scales — meaning the notes are chosen during the making of the instrument and cannot be changed afterwards. Makers create many different scales (for example, Kurd, Amara, Pygmy, etc.) to offer different moods and colors of sound. Some scales feel bright and uplifting, others sound mystical or meditative. Choosing a scale is a personal decision, often guided by what emotions or styles of music you connect with.

Each handpan is entirely handcrafted by skilled artisans. The steel must be carefully shaped, hammered, tuned, and retuned many times to achieve the right resonance. This process can take days or even weeks for a single instrument. Unlike mass-produced instruments, every handpan is unique, and the craftsmanship required is what makes them expensive.