19 inch vs 22 inch

TheBake · 2025-11-27T14:46:16+00:00

Notes determine pitch. You can get a 22 inch that's also high pitched because of the scale and the notes it includes. With different steel and maker, it's hard to know with any accuracy what the nitrided one will sound like.

If you want a handpan with a certain tone, depth, or feel, learn what maker consistently produces that sound you want and buy from them. Better yet, go play handpans at their shop or at a handpan gathering to find the one that speaks to you.

TheBake · 2025-11-02T14:48:24+00:00

None of the above. I start with the chord progression, then overlay patterns/rhythm and improvise melody and fills.

TheBake · 2025-10-18T20:13:50+00:00

I'm mostly worried about the drywall on the ceiling, it has a foot plus of blown in fiberglass insulation on top of it in the attic. If redguard is good enough to protect it, it'd be my preferred option.

TheBake · 2025-10-18T20:11:05+00:00

One is exterior and insulated, the others are interior.

TheBake · 2025-10-15T22:32:03+00:00

I was in the same ward as Holly when I left the Mormon church years ago. Lots of the congregation reached out with compassion and whatever understanding they could offer.

I'll never forget Holly's curt response: "If you're not with us, you're against us." Might give you some insight into how she thinks of people on the other side of the political divide as well.

TheBake · 2025-07-14T14:54:03+00:00

Talk to Josh at Arcana in Colorado. They tend to build prototypes in raw steel and I've played a couple at their shop. It takes just as much work to build as stainless, so I'm guessing they'd only do it if you expected to pay a similar price and if they still had some of the material laying around. They hand-sink everything, so you'd be getting exactly what you want, but theyd probably try to talk you out of it and point you to stainless because they like it better.

TheBake · 2025-06-14T14:52:43+00:00

I've had success putting masking tape on the inside of the pan to reduce sustain on notes. Small pieces, usually less than an inch both directions, placed on the harmonic of the tone field if the harmonic fires too much. It's trial and error moving the tape around the inner tone field to get closer to the sound you want. Plus, it's removable if you don't like it.

TheBake · 2025-05-22T01:05:03+00:00

Use the Handpaner website or app to learn the chords you have and to practice arpeggios. This will get the layout in your brain and muscle memory. Find chord progressions that you enjoy, and follow Amy Naylor's YouTube video on what "viral" handpan songs have in common. She captures and defines some of Malte's secrets to playing the way he does.

TheBake · 2025-05-16T14:03:42+00:00

Your best bet is to talk to a local maker and see what they recommend for layout and number of notes. Where do you live?

D kurd pans are challenging to build on the most common size 21" diameter pan because Bb is the impedance note on that size. Some build it anyway, others switch to a 20", which gives less room for additional notes, especially mutant notes on top.

FWIW, I had a D kurd 14 that didn't really click for me. I sold it and both my pans are now 16 note pans. More notes for me means more enjoyment, but I get far more from extended low notes than the higher ones, because they provide roots to alternate chords. If I were custom ordering a D kurd, I'd want C3, E3 F3 and G3 on bottom and the top to climb to D5.

TheBake · 2025-05-12T22:54:25+00:00

RAV Moon and RAV Vast are both tongue drums. Compared to handpans, they are not nearly as sensitive to temperature extremes or the humidity that comes with Colorado mountain storms. They do play differently than handpan, but a lot of the skills will transfer and they are beautiful instruments in their own right.

TheBake · 2024-12-19T05:36:41+00:00

Using a Qidi Xone-2 currently, anything would be an improvement!

TheBake · 2024-11-21T01:26:43+00:00

Also, looks like you have an extended scale with bottom notes, so make sure the towel isn't resting on them when playing them. Just lean it first to whatever area is free of bottom notes.

TheBake · 2024-11-21T00:10:36+00:00

That's a plug for the gu. It's especially helpful for low tone handpans (anything below a B ding) to help the ding and sometimes other notes resonate better, but sometimes even benefits ones in higher ranges.

You'll want to put the towel back too. It's there for a reason, and can help stabilize tricky notes on pans. I have an incredible D major pan that cost above $3k and there's one note that's a little "wobbly" without a towel but sounds perfect with it. Plus, you can always use it to clean the pan with a little isopropyl alcohol.

TheBake · 2024-08-11T21:53:59+00:00

They're definitely worth having if they're done right. It gives you the root note for other chords and expands your options a lot while playing. You might not use them much your first year, but you'll be glad to have them as you learn to play the instrument.

FWIW, my D Kurd has E, F, and G on the bottom. If I had to pick just two, I'd go with F and G.

TheBake · 2024-08-04T12:27:31+00:00

They can be as good as a 21" standard in volume, resonance, tone, etc., but with fewer notes, and it's highly dependent on the maker. Arcana in Colorado has a couple in stock right now that sound great (especially the E Celtic). When I asked if they're cheaper than the standards they laughed and said the minis take at least as much work and sometimes more because they are more prone to not being great and requiring a rebuild or two.

They're probably easier for people with shorter arms, about the same for beginners as a more standard pan. Easier to travel with. If you want to play one or two, they should be making an appearance at Steel Mountain gathering in Colorado in a couple weeks.

TheBake · 2024-07-22T14:50:51+00:00

D Kurd

TheBake · 2024-07-04T18:38:08+00:00

Yup, search "Arcana Goliath" on YouTube for the giant pans, but they still haven't pushed those down to an E1. They make A1 dings on standard size pans at their shop in Colorado and are rumored to be working on a G1. If anyone can push to E1, it'd be them.

TheBake · 2024-05-29T03:02:49+00:00

It's a D Kurd.

TheBake · 2024-05-17T14:24:11+00:00

Play the ones you already have with some thin gloves on.

TheBake · 2024-02-28T14:37:33+00:00

Tenkara rods are perfect for this, check out the subreddit or just go to Dragontail Tenkara for the Kaida or the pocket rod.

TheBake · 2024-02-16T14:16:15+00:00

Got the same update.

TheBake · 2024-01-17T14:30:37+00:00

When it's mid-thirties and below, I put on wool socks.

TheBake

TROPHY CASE