Free shipping
for orders over £ 150
UK Team in London
Mega Store in Cologne
Money Back
30 Day Return Policy
You have placed the following items into your shopping cart
Free shipping
for orders over £ 150
UK Team in London
Mega Store in Cologne
Money Back
30 Day Return Policy
Whether for relaxation, yoga, sound journeys or songwriting: handpans and steel tongue drums deliver a warm, sustained sound – intuitive to play and instantly inspiring. At MUSIC STORE you’ll find a wide selection, expert advice from “Mr Handpan” and a 3-year warranty on all handpans.
Handpans are melodic percussion instruments made from steel or stainless steel, played with the hands. The round body (approx. 50–65 cm in diameter) consists of two connected shells, with the cavity acting as a resonator. On the top sit precisely tuned tone fields that produce a clear note with long sustain when struck correctly.
The playing concept is intuitive: strike briefly and cleanly, then lift the hand quickly – this keeps the tone defined and “singing”. For beginners, a harmonic scale is recommended, as almost any note combination sounds musical.
Example: Fame Handpan One D Minor – stainless steel handpan with 9 notes in D minor, ideal for beginners and sound journeys.
View Fame Handpan One D MinorThe tuning (scale) defines the tonal layout of your handpan: the centre note (ding) is surrounded by the remaining notes (chorus). Popular scales include D minor, D Kurd, C major and G major. Many instruments are tuned so that all notes harmonise naturally, making patterns and melodies easy to create.
In addition to the scale, the frequency matters: 440 Hz is the standard for ensemble playing, while 432 Hz is often chosen for relaxation and meditation contexts. Also consider the number of notes and responsiveness to suit your playing style.
Example: Meinl HPSTL101 Sensory Handpan D Amara – 10 notes plus 2 sound tubes for variable resonance character.
View Meinl HPSTL101 Sensory HandpanFor band, studio and ensemble playing, 440 Hz is usually the best choice. 432 Hz is often preferred for relaxation and meditation and is perceived as slightly softer. Ultimately, scale, material, playing technique and the room also influence the sound.
Handcrafted handpans are shaped and fine-tuned with experience and care. Particularly sought-after are models by NIMO Sounds from Cologne, available exclusively at MUSIC STORE – ideal for sound therapy, recording and performance.
“Mr Handpan” (Christian) answers questions about handpans, steel tongue drums and accessories and personally checks every instrument before dispatch (tuning, appearance, response and sound) – including B-stock items. All handpans come with a 3-year warranty, and selected models can be tested in our showroom.
Contact Christian (workshops also on our YouTube channel): MisterHandpan@musicstore.de
A steel tongue drum features cut tongues in the body that vibrate when struck, producing clearly defined notes. It can be played with hands or soft mallets – ideal for anyone looking for quick musical results.
Thanks to durable coatings, many tongue drums are easy to maintain and suitable for everyday use. Sonically they are warm and clear – perfect for relaxation, teaching, sound work and casual playing at home.
Example: Fame FST10-DB Steel Tongue Drum 10" – compact, 11 notes, tuned to Mixed Tone D.
View Fame FST10-DB Steel Tongue DrumThe most important questions answered clearly and concisely – ideal for beginners and anyone comparing options before buying.
