Handpan scales explained

Unlike a piano, a handpan can't play every note. Each one is hammered and tuned to a single scale, usually nine notes chosen so that they all sound good together. That's why there's no wrong note on a handpan, and also why the scale is the biggest decision when choosing one. Here are six popular scales, all playable in Llamapan, and what makes each one different.

The short version: D Kurd if you're not sure, Amara for something gentler, Pygmy for deep and hypnotic, Aegean for bright and calm, Akebono for a Japanese sound, and Hijaz for a Middle Eastern sound.

How handpan notes are arranged

The note in the middle is the ding. It's usually the lowest note and the root of the scale, the note the music keeps coming home to. The other notes sit in a ring around it, each one a separate oval tone field with a dimple in the center.

The ring notes aren't placed in order around the circle. They zigzag: the lowest ring note sits closest to the player, the next one is across from it on the other side, and the notes keep alternating left and right as they climb toward the far side of the instrument. Lower notes need bigger tone fields, so the fields get smaller as the notes go up. The zigzag lets both hands share the work, so walking up the scale means going left, right, left, right. Llamapan's notes are laid out the same way.

How scales are named

A handpan scale has two parts: the note of the ding and the name of the scale, as in D Kurd or F♯ Pygmy. The ding note can change while the pattern stays the same, so makers also sell E Kurd, B Amara, B♭ Aegean, and so on. Llamapan includes Amara in both D and B so you can hear the difference. A lower ding gives a deeper, darker instrument with the same character.

Many handpans also come in bigger versions. A "D Kurd 10" has the same notes as the 9-note version plus one more on top. Larger handpans add even more notes to the top or the underside. The scales below are the classic 9-note versions.

The scales at a glance

Click a scale name to open Llamapan with that scale ready to play.

D Kurd

D Kurd is the scale most people picture when they think of a handpan, and the one many players start with. Its notes are the D natural minor scale, all seven of them, so it has the most melodic freedom of these scales. It sounds warm and a little wistful, and it can play a lot of familiar minor-key melodies.

Notes: D | A B♭ C D E F G A

Good for: a first handpan, playing melodies, and fitting in with other instruments, since natural minor is used in so much music.

Amara (Celtic Minor)

Amara is D Kurd without the B♭, with a high C added on top instead. Dropping that one note takes away the most mournful sound in the minor scale, so Amara feels softer, more open, and a little folky, which is where the name Celtic Minor comes from. With six different notes instead of seven, it's also very hard to play anything that sounds tense.

Notes: D | A C D E F G A C

B Amara is the same scale with the ding on B, a minor third lower. It has the same gentle character with a deeper, warmer tone, and it's a common choice for players who want Amara's mood in a lower voice. Llamapan has both.

Notes: B | F♯ A B C♯ D E F♯ A

Good for: relaxed, flowing improvising and meditative playing.

Pygmy

Pygmy is a five-note scale, so the same few notes repeat around the ring. That makes it very forgiving and gives it a deep, hypnotic, almost tribal feel, great for rhythm and grooves rather than long melodies. On Llamapan it's in F♯, a bit lower than the D scales, and you'll also see deeper Low Pygmy versions.

Notes: F♯ | G♯ A C♯ E F♯ G♯ A C♯

Good for: rhythmic playing, drumming-style grooves, and players who care more about feel than melody.

Aegean

Aegean is the bright one. It's a five-note major scale, and in place of a plain F it has an F♯, the raised fourth that gives the major scale a floating, dreamy quality. It sounds calm and sunny rather than sad.

Notes: C | E G B C E F♯ G B

Good for: anyone who finds the minor scales too somber, and peaceful, uplifting playing.

Akebono

Akebono means "dawn" in Japanese, and it's based on a five-note scale used in traditional Japanese music. The half step between A and B♭ and again between D and E♭ gives it a delicate, slightly bittersweet sound, and the gaps between the other notes make it feel spacious and still.

Notes: D | G A B♭ D E♭ G A D

Good for: slow, quiet, contemplative music with an East Asian flavor.

Hijaz

Hijaz is named after maqam Hijaz, a mode used in Arabic and Turkish music. Its signature is the wide jump from E♭ up to F♯, an interval that instantly sounds Middle Eastern. It's the most dramatic and exotic-sounding of the bunch, but also the least flexible for Western melodies.

Notes: D | A C D E♭ F♯ G A C

Good for: intense, expressive improvising, and music with a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean flavor.

How to choose

Not sure where to start? D Kurd is the safe pick. It has the most notes to work with, and as the most common handpan scale it's the easiest to find lessons and songs for.

Want it to sound happy? Try Aegean. All of the others lean minor or exotic.

Mostly want to groove and relax? The five-note scales, Pygmy, Aegean, and Akebono, are the most forgiving, since there are fewer notes to clash.

Thinking of buying a handpan? Play each scale for a few minutes first. Because a real handpan is locked to its scale, it's worth being sure you love how it sounds, and Llamapan is a free way to try them all.

In Llamapan, switch scales with the Scale menu below the handpan. Your choice is saved for next time.

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