All you should know about hang drum:
Hang drums, a common appellation for the Hang; is unlike the classic piano or the violin, a musical instrument of recent apparition in the industry. Still confused? This article will clear out the fog around this cool musical gadget.
What is a Hang or a Hang Drum?
Well technically it shouldn’t really be called a drum as it doesn’t fall under the category of membranophones; but it is an instrument of the idiophone class. Which is why a Hang is the adequate name you should be using. The Hang has two sides: The “Ding” side and the “Gu” side, structure wise; it is made out of two curved spherical shaped steel sheets adhered together.
What adds more uniqueness to this instrument is its unusual aesthetics; it is UFO shaped.
Origins:
The concept of this instrument was brought to life by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer in 2000, and it is owned by their company PAN Art Hangbau AG in Bern, Switzerland. The instrument went through 4 stages of development from that point (First generation, Second generation, Integral Hang and Free Integral Hang). However, in December 2013 the company declared that the Hang will no longer be manufactured. Nevertheless, you can find several users on eBay auctioning it.
The inspiration behind the Hang is the desire to recreate the serene sound produced by steel drums popularized in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
Sound:
Contrary to popular belief, this instrument is played by lightly tapping using the hands or the fingers and not sticks or mallets like drummers do. The enchanting sound of the Hang is roughly described as a warm sound that is similar to a mix of harp, bells and steelpans. The hollowness of this instrument enriches the vibration of the notes released from playing on the various circles on the Ding side (top of the Hang), while the bottom side “Gu” is responsible for the resonance and the vibrating sounds.
Properties and facts:
The ding shell has a diameter of 50 cm (19,6 inches).
Both of the shells are gas nitride and nitro carburized to ensure the production of high quality sound for a 100% rust and corrosion resistant instrument.
The process of tuning is very complicated and may take weeks to complete.
There is a low voice Hang and a high voice Hang, capable of producing a variety of 9 notes.
The first editions commercialized by PAN Art were signed by the inventors.
Hang players usually place the instrument on their laps, but it can be played on a stand as well.
Price range:
The Hang was manufactured by other companies and a single unit price could start at 500$, but due to the increasing demand on the ones produced by PAN Art, they are very rare and can be auctioned for a price as high as 10,000$ or more. If you’re looking for a good hang drum handpan, visit hangdrumsale.com for more information.
The world of music is an eternally expanding universe, and the Hang is undeniably a captivating sound making masterpiece, it has sparked the curiosity of many music enthusiasts and fascinated their ears by its rich sound.
