Edition Dux Das Handpanbuch

Handpans are a relatively new instrument but have already gained significant popularity. With their soft, delicate sound and intuitive playing style, they continue to attract growing interest. Daniel Giordani’s The Handpan Book is a clear, accessible guide that helps beginners get started quickly and supports advanced players in developing techniques like chords, cross-rhythms, and double strokes. Numerous exercises teach key playing methods, and the seven included practice pieces are ideal for early performances.

Includes online video material.

Daniel Giordani—percussionist, handpan player, rhythm educator, and author of several rhythm books—has gained deep expertise in global percussion styles through study trips to West Africa, India, and Central America. His passion for the handpan is the driving force behind this book, which aims to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

Contents:

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• The history of the instrument
• From the Hang® to the handpan
• About the book
• Learning with sheet music or free playing
• 2. GETTING TO KNOW THE INSTRUMENT
• Sitting positions
• Notation
• The first sounds on the central tone field
• The low bass sound in the central tone field
• The high percussive sound at the edge of the central tone field
• The outer tone fields
• The thumb playing technique for the low notes 1 - 3
• The index finger playing technique from pitch 4 onwards
• 3. FIRST PRACTICE SEQUENCES
• Practice sequence 1
• Practice sequence 2
• Practice sequence 3
• Practice sequence 4
• Exercise sequence 5
• Exercise sequence 6
• Exercise sequence 7
• Exercise sequence 8
• Exercise sequence 9
• Exercise sequence 10
• 4. THE SIDE CHANGE
• 5. AFRO GROOVES
• 6. ORIENTAL GROOVES
• 7. ROCK AND POP GROOVES
• 8. PLAYING WITH TAPS
• Rock grooves with slow taps
• Slow fill-ins
• Rock grooves with fast taps
• Fast fill-ins
• 9. HIP-HOP GROOVES
• Tricky fill-ins
• 10. DOUBLE TAPS
• Double taps with thumb and index finger
• 11. INDEPENDENCE EXERCISES
• 12. PLAYING CHORDS
• 13. THE SLAP STROKE
• 14. 2 OVER 3 OR 3 OVER 4
• 15. CLIMBING STAIRS
• 16. MUFFLED SOUNDS
• 17. FIND AN END
• 18. PRACTICE PIECES
• 1. A NEW BEGINNING
• 2. INNER VOICE
• 3. GO WITH THE FLOW
• 4. WAITING FOR YOU
• 5. DEEP BREATH
• 6. ayina (for advanced players)
• 7. SPREAD BY THE WIND (for advanced students)
• APPENDIX
• Some common handpan scales
• Symbols of the notation
• List of videos