Handpan : Which range to choose ?
The handpan is a musical instrument of the idiophone family. Unlike other musical instruments such as the piano, guitar or violin, the latter does not have all the notes of the chromatic scale. Which range should you choose for your handpan ? Here are some tips that might help you.
The major handpan scale
Before discussing the question of scales, it is important to point out that there is no point in worrying about the traditional terminology of musical scales if you do not master music theory. The best thing is to train yourself to recognize the type of scale that pleases your ear the most. Very often, the major scale on the handpan sounds quite cheerful. It is therefore preferable that you have a handpan in a major scale since it is pleasant to the ear. Clearly, the major scale puts you in a good temperament. However, if you are a melancholic performer and would like to add more sensitivity to your music, a handpan in a major scale may lack some emotional parameters.
The minor handpan scale
Very often noticed in classical music and film music, the minor scale has this almost supernatural capacity to move. Filled with sensations, the minor scale creates anxiety, tension and brings a magical air to the music. Since the handpan is already a diatonic instrument, when you play a handpan in a minor scale, you can convey even more sensations. But you should know that the minor scale tends to make you sad. This heavy emotion can sometimes be heavy when you just want to have a light music moment.
The typical handpan range
The typed scale can be major or minor but it stands out greatly thanks to its rather exotic sound. The Indian, Oriental and Asian range are among the easiest typed ranges to identify. And the melodious songs you can create with a handpan tuned in such a typical scale instantly transform you on the other side of the world. The only problem here is that the typed scale can seem repetitive for a long time and presents the risk of being monotone. In short, as we are used to saying, taste is relative and therefore the choice of the range of your handpan is up to you.