Handpan - Which One to Choose? A Guide to Choosing Your First Good Handpan

Your first handpan will stay with you for years. I play and test every instrument myself before it reaches the client, so I know how much depends on a good start—don't treat this choice as a trial purchase. If you're wondering which handpan to choose, I most often recommend a scale for beginners. D Kurd: 9-10 notes, Premium Stainless Steel - for example Handpan D Kurd 10 Premium Stainless Steel. This minor scale sounds both melancholic and open. It forgives beginner mistakes and resonates long after each stroke.

Below, I'll explain what to look for: scale, key, material, number of notes, and budget. So that your first, good handpan will grow with you over the coming months of playing.

What to look for when choosing your first handpan?

Choosing your first handpan is choosing an instrument for hundreds of hours of playing. Before you decide on a specific model, it's worth reviewing a few things that will truly impact your playing experience.

What scale should I choose for my first handpan?

Each scale has its own character—it determines the mood of your playing. Here are the four that beginners most often start with:

• Handpan D Kurd — a natural minor scale, warm and slightly melancholic. It's one of the most versatile scales: it works well in both calm melodies and rhythmic improvisations. It sounds beautiful solo, but also when played together with other instruments. For most people, it will be a very good first choice.
• Handpan Amara / Celtic Minor — calm and deep. The notes unfold softly, without tension, so it's difficult to play anything that sounds off. It works well when played with concentration, in the evening, for yourself.
• Handpan Pygmy — darker and earthier. The sparse set of intervals gives it a trance-like, repetitive character. It feels like a loop: one motif follows another. I most often play the Pygmy, because this scale quickly introduces me to a calm, intuitive rhythm.
• Handpan Aegean — brighter, with an oriental note. The upper notes are clear and spacious, the melodies flow openly. Good for quiet, meandering playing.

💡 Before you choose a scale — Listen to YouTube videos of artists playing the handpan. This is the fastest way to hear the differences between scales and discover the sound that appeals to you. Just don't wait too long to choose. Taste matures with each month of playing, so it's worth choosing your first instrument carefully—together, we'll determine a scale that will guide you for the long term. The most important thing is to get started.

You can find more information about the sound of individual scales in handpan scale guide.

What key and tuning to start with?

The key determines the instrument's register. Lower tunings produce a deeper bass and a heavier, calmer sound—good for meditative playing. Higher tunings are brighter and more expressive under the fingers, making it easier to create fast, rhythmic phrases.

The choice of 432 Hz or 440 Hz is a separate issue. I break down the differences and how they are heard in article about handpan tones.

What steel should you choose a handpan from?

The type of steel affects the sound, sustain (how long the sound lasts), rust resistance and ease of care.

For your first instrument I recommend stainless steel or Premium stainless steel. Both handle moisture and temperature changes well, are easy to care for, and have a long sustain—and that's what makes the biggest difference in playing enjoyment initially. A good starting point is Handpan D Kurd 10 Premium Stainless Steel. For details, please also see the comparison. Premium vs. Stainless Steel.

How many notes to start with?

For a first instrument, 9-10 notes are perfectly sufficient. This gives you complete freedom in learning melody and rhythm without being overwhelming. If you're choosing between 9 and 10, go for 10. Most online tutorials are for 10 notes, and this extra note significantly expands your playing possibilities. You can play everything you can with 9—and much more.

How much does a good handpan cost?

Each handpan is made to order—I don't have any ready-made instruments on the shelf. What you see on the website are sample projects showing scales, configurations, and approximate price ranges. The final price depends on the series, number and arrangement of notes, type of steel, tuning height, and the extent of customization.

• Professional Series (stainless steel): from approx. PLN 5,000, on sale from PLN 4,700.
• Mystical Series (Premium stainless steel): from approximately PLN 6,000. The most extensive project to date cost PLN 13,500. I price each project individually—more notes, additional dings on the bottom of the shell, or low notes increase the price.

📖 A complete list of what determines the cost and how to choose a model that fits your budget is included in the guide: Handpan - price and what really influences the valuation.

Not sure which series will be best for your budget? Text me — I will help you choose the scale, material and number of notes, and then prepare an instrument design tailored to your needs.

How do you recognize a good handpan?

Before the instrument reaches the client, I play it myself and test its sound in practice. I listen for clarity, sustain, whether the notes fall naturally under the fingers, and whether the entire instrument is a pleasure to play. During the production process, you also receive a recording of the sound of the specific instrument prepared by the maker—this allows you to hear your handpan before final delivery.

What is worth paying attention to:

• Clean, even sound — a good handpan sings from the first touch, and each note sounds clear and even.
• Long and pleasant sustain — the sound should resonate naturally, without the impression that the instrument is quickly "fading away".
• Careful finishing — Handcrafted work gives each piece its own unique character. What matters is the consistency of form, aesthetics, and precision of workmanship.
• Implementation by proven makers — I collaborate with experienced artists, and each instrument is made to order. No random, off-the-shelf mass-produced items.

How to start playing your first handpan?

• Start with simple motifs — let your hands find the rhythm themselves, don't force anything.
• Fingertip strike — a fast, rebounding strike produces a clear, full tone.
• Exercise regularly — even five minutes a day makes a difference faster than you think.
• Listen to other players — observing different styles will quickly open up your own ideas.

If you are just starting out, I will write it down step by step in a separate text: Handpan game - how to start.

Where to buy your first handpan?

I run the Miłość i Spokój brand in Gdańsk. Each instrument is made to order, so before we start working on it, we discuss the scale, material, and number of notes to determine how you want to play it.

This is what it looks like for me:

• hand-tuned handpans made to individual order,
• advice on the selection of scale, material and number of notes before the start,
• recording the sound of your copy during the project, before acceptance,
• personal inspection of each instrument before shipment.

I deliver throughout Poland and abroad - to Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław and the rest of the country, usually within 1–3 days from the moment the instrument is ready. Order fulfillment usually takes 2–3 months.

See sample projects in the store or right away text me — I will help you choose your first handpan according to how you want to play it.

FAQ

Piotr Kaczorowski — Miłość i Spokój

I run the Miłość i Spokój brand and personally test every instrument before shipping—playing it, checking its tuning, and listening. I work with handpan as a musician, a sound healing practitioner, and someone who simply can't stop playing.