Handpan Notes for Beginners: How to Find and Play Them
Handpan notes are easier to understand than they look. Learn what the names mean, where to find them, and how to play your first simple pattern.
What are the notes on a handpan?
Each shaped area on a handpan produces a note when you tap it. The large note in the centre is often called the ding; the notes around it are called tone fields. Together, these notes make up the handpan's scale.
Different handpans have different note layouts and scales. The virtual handpan on Panora's home page is a D Kurd 9, with D3 in the centre and A3, B♭3, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4 and A4 around it. Tap each one to hear how it sounds.
How to read handpan note names
A note name has a letter and a number. The letter identifies the note; the number tells you which octave it is in. D3 and D4 share the same letter, but D4 sounds higher. B♭3 is read “B flat three.” You don't have to memorise the theory: just match the complete label when you follow a melody.
Where do the notes go?
The centre ding is easy to find. On many handpans, the notes around it rise in a zigzag from one side to the other, rather than going around the circle in order. Layouts vary, so use the labels or a note map for your particular instrument.
Try a simple handpan note pattern
Start with D3 · A3 · D3 · A3 · D3 · A3 · D3 · A3. Play one note at a time and let it ring. Repeat slowly, then experiment with the pauses between notes. In our beginner handpan guide, you can listen to this pattern, watch the notes light up and try two more melodies.
Do I need to read music?
No. Listening, finding the labels and playing a few notes at a time is a great place to start. Once you are comfortable, explore how different notes sound together and make a pattern of your own.
Are handpan notes the same on every instrument?
No. A handpan's scale and number of notes depend on the instrument. Check its note list before following a melody written for another handpan. For a closer look at the notes used here, read our D Kurd scale guide.