Are you ready to buy a handpan? The RAV drums will make you ready!

Wondering about how to play hang drum/handpan? Handpans are amazing instruments with a lush and celestial sound. But regardless the handpan looks so easy to be played, it actually requires some steel pan drum playing experience. How to get ready to buy a handpan? We’ve got a clue!

What is a handpan? You may also ask what is a hang drum* which is a different name for the same kind of instrument. It’s a pre-tuned membrane instrument which produces sound when a player strikes the tuned areas around the dimples. Hang musical instrument requires knowing some drumming techniques and also having a musical ear and knowing some basic rhythms and music theory. If you never played any musical instrument (or used to play a veeeery long time ago), the handpan can be a little tricky for you to be the first instrument to play.

What’s the solution? Playing the RAV Vast tongue drum can be the clue! The RAV Vast involves using pretty the same techniques as playing the handpan. An average tongue drum will hardly provide you an opportunity to learn all the necessary basics to play the handpan while the RAV Vast will do it easily. Unlike many cheap tongue drums, the RAV Vast sound quality is as good as the handpans (and even overcomes it in some parameters like resonance), and yet the RAV Vast is accessible for anyone regardless musical background and is twice cheaper than a handpan.

Start your musical journey by learning to play the RAV Vast, learn basics, practice patterns and improve your technique to get ready to try to play the handpan.

Same scale – different RAV drums

To make the process of transition easier, we picked up the same scales and recreated them in two different RAV drums. If you check it in the RAV’s online music store, you will find the B Celtic Minor, D Celtic Minor and the D Major available for sale in both RAV Vast and RAV Pan collections.  The note layout is absolutely the same within both RAV Pan and RAV Vast. The drums provide a similar feel and the same mood. Once learned basics with the RAV Vast, you will be able to transfer all you knowledge for playing the RAV Pan.

The D Celtic Minor RAV Vast and RAV Pan

This couple has a soothing and calming sound. The D Celtic scale itself is very warming and these RAV drums resulted to work best for a slow, mindful and meditative playing style. Perfect for beginners or those who are just not sure where to start.

The B Celtic Minor RAV Vast and RAV Pan

These drums have a really deep hypnotizing, introspective and meditative sound. It provides emotional tension that always comes with minor scales. The B Celtic Minor RAV Vast is one of the easiest drums to deal with, while the B Celtic RAV Pan involves a faster and more percussive playing style. So if you are ready to take the path from zero to hero – this is the scale you need.

The D Major RAV Vast and RAV Pan

This scale has a cheerful feeling to it. It’s happy, uplifting and is really versatile especially if you plan to perform with other musicians. This scale is for those who have some musical background and feel some confidence in playing music.

Use the RAV Virtual Player to check which RAV drums couple touches your heart.

Did you find this information useful? Share your progress in the comments below.

*hang drum vs handpan - Don’t make different names confuse you, we refer to the same musical instrument