The handpan is a unique musical instrument with a beautiful, relaxing sound. But why do some handpans sound mystical and melancholic , while others are bright and cheerful ? The answer lies in the tuning (scale) , i.e., the notes that can be played on the handpan.
Minor tunings are particularly popular – they sound warm, soulful, and invite meditation or free play. This article explains in simple terms what a minor tuning is, what types there are, and which handpan tunings are particularly popular.
What does “minor” mean?
In music, there are major and minor scales . The simplest explanation:
• Dur sounds happy 😊
• Minor sounds melancholic, gentle or thoughtful 🎶
Minor scales are structured so that some notes are lower than in a major scale. This creates the typically gentle, soothing sound that many people love about the handpan.
Example:
• C major : C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C (sounds cheerful)
• C minor : C – D – E♭ – F – G – A♭ – B♭ – C (sounds softer)
The lower third (E♭) makes the difference – it gives the minor scale its “emotional” sound.
Why do handpans have different tunings?
A handpan can't play all the notes like a piano—it has a fixed tuning , which is determined during the instrument's construction. Each handpan maker decides which 8-10 notes will be played on the instrument.
Many handpan players love minor tunings because they sound relaxing, deep, and meditative. However, there are different minor variations – some have all the notes of a minor scale, others omit individual notes to create a particularly harmonious sound.
Popular minor tunings on the handpan
Here are some of the most common minor tunings you'll often find on handpans:
1. D-Kurd (The “Allrounder” minor scale)
👉 Tones: D – E – F – G – A – B♭ – C – D
✅ Contains all notes of a normal minor scale .
✅ Very versatile – ideal for melodies and chords.
✅ One of the most popular handpan tunings for beginners and professionals.
2. D-Amara (Simple and harmonious)
👉 Tones: D – A – C – D – E – F – G – A
✅ Very harmonious – individual notes are missing to guarantee “beautiful” sounds.
✅ Perfect for beginners as every note “sounds good”.
✅ Often called “Celtic Minor”.
3. F# Pygmy (Mystical and meditative)
👉 Tones: F# – C# – D – E – F# – G# – A – C#
✅ Uses only 5 different tones to sound particularly soft and earthy.
✅ Sounds like a mix of “chubby” and “hypnotic”.
✅ Perfect for meditative and intuitive music.
4. E-Amara (Sounds soft and dreamy)
👉 Tones: E – B – C – D – E – F# – G – B
✅ Similar to D-Amara, but one tone higher.
✅ Very popular for improvisational play.
✅ Sounds gentle, almost like flowing water.
5. C# Kurd (“The deep, mysterious one”)
👉 Tones: C# – G# – A – B – C# – D# – E – F#
✅ A darker version of the Kurd scale, with a deep sound.
✅ Particularly harmonious and warm.
Why are some notes missing in certain scales?
Some handpan scales deliberately omit individual notes to create a more harmonious sound. There are several reasons for this:
1. Sound purity 🎶 – Missing tones avoid unpleasant dissonances.
2. Playability 👋 – There is only room for about 8-10 notes, so choose the most beautiful ones.
3. Special timbres 🌊 – Fewer tones leave more room for meditative sounds.
An example:
• D-Kurd has all 7 notes of a minor scale.
• D-Amara removes the 6th degree (B♭) so that the notes fit together better.
How are the notes arranged on a handpan?
The notes on a handpan are not in order , but distributed so that they are easy to play .
• Thing (fundamental note) is in the middle.
• The other notes are on the outside – they are arranged so that they can be easily played with both hands.
• When playing, you usually jump from left to right to play up a scale.
This arrangement makes the handpan intuitive to play and helps to play melodies smoothly.
Conclusion: Which minor tuning is the best?
There is no best minor tuning – it depends on what you like best!
🔹 D-Kurd → Versatile and ideal for melodies.
🔹 D-Amara → Particularly harmonious and easy to play.
🔹 F# Pygmy → Deep, meditative and earthy.
🔹 E-Amara → Soft and flowing.
🔹 C# Kurd → Dark, mysterious and warm.
If you want to buy a handpan, listen to different tunings and decide which one appeals to you emotionally .
Have fun discovering your perfect handpan tuning ! 🎶😊
Want to delve deeper into the world of handpan minor tunings? Then read our detailed article here: Expert knowledge blog about handpan minor tunings