Did you know you can now listen to the soothing, calming sounds of a Hang Drum, otherwise known as a handpan or pantam, in Soothing Sounds? If you did, you instantly felt in touch with the resonant tones that seemed to flow into the room peacefully. However, this instrument makes it the most captivating. Why does its sound have such power to heal and relax the mind and body? Here in this blog, we get to speak more about the Hang Drum, the science behind its sound, and how this instrument can be used for healing and calming.
What is the Hang Drum?
A type of handpan drum is called the Hang Drum or just the Hang. Despite being a modern-looking instrument invented relatively recently, the Hang Drum has become one of the world’s most mysterious, sought-after instruments. The young instrument was developed by two Swiss innovators, Felix Rohner and Sabrina Schärer, only 19 years ago, in 2000. To answer a stated wish to make a steel drum that could be played by hand, like the Caribbean steel drum, but with a timbre that vibrates deeper and in a more intimate space, the duo made the Hang.
Driven from the percussion family, the Hang Drum has nothing to do with traditional drums. It consists of two convex steel shells tuned to play myriad different notes when struck by the hands. This Hang Drum is a phenomenon known as air resonance, and the tone is unique to each one.
The handpan, as it is now widely known, became an international sensation after the original Hang Drum ceased production in 2013. Subsequently, the Hang Drum became hugely popular, and that design and concept have been taken up by many other instrument makers throughout the world. Each produces an individual handpan with its own distinctive sound that has been carefully and skillfully made.
The Hang Drum vs. Handpan: Understanding the Difference
The Hang Drum and Handpan words are sometimes interchangeable but differ. Rohner and Schärer created the Hang Drum, which was the original model but has been since retired, and the term ‘Handpan,’ though widely used, referring to all similar instruments, derives from the name of this now defunct version.
The Hang Drum is closely related to the Caribbean steel drum, or steel drum, which also uses a concave shape, which is fascinating about the Hang Drum. The Hang Drum, by contrast, is convex, resulting in the sound change it makes. The distinguishing feature of the Hang Drum (and its offspring, the handpan) is its unique diatonic tone because of this structural difference. The steel drum, however, makes a metallic, resonating sound; the convex shape of the Hang Drum gives it a richer, fuller resonance and is also much more air resonant of a specific, named type of air resonance called Helmholtz resonance.
Sound Healing and the Handpan
Today’s life is about speed and rapidity, so many people seek relaxation and stress relief. Sound therapy is one of the most potent healing practices emerging. Sound and vibration have been shown to have profound effects because they have been used to restore balance and harmony to the body and mind. Additionally, when you think about sound therapy, the Hang Drum (handpan) is said to be one of the most impactful sound healing instruments.
How Does Sound Healing Work?
All things, all matter, vibrate at certain frequencies. This form of energy is felt by us and also heard. Because music and sound affect our body’s frequency—the rate at which our bodies vibrate—they can have a profound impact on our physical and emotional states. An easy example of that is when you feel the deep bass of a song resonating through your chest, vibrating directly with your own body.
About the handpan: The handpan sounds like it does due to its frequency and resonance. The Hang Drum is tuned and worked so that each note contains the frequencies of a fundamental tone, an octave harmonic, and a compound fifth harmonic. These frequencies are perfectly aligned in a ratio of 1:2:3—shown scientifically to be incredibly soothing to the human brain.
Entertainment within Sound Healing
Entertainment is a crucial principle of sound therapy. It involves the fact that when one object vibrates at a particular frequency (e.g., the Hang Drum), then an adjacent thing (e.g., your body) starts vibrating at the same frequency. The process has a powerful stress reduction effect. The hardpan’s vibrations match vibrations in the body and induce harmony and balance.
The hardpan’s frequencies are so simple and aligned that they have a particularly calming effect. The sound of the Hang Drum is so soothing because our brains love simplified frequency ratios. Gentle, harmonious tones allow our brain to receive information that safely releases all remaining stress and tension.
Legacy of the Shaolin Temple to Sacred Sounding
Because the Hang Drum brings a sense of calmness and balance, it is a very powerful healing tool. The handpan has been used in sound therapy to help alleviate anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic stress. The hand pan drum’s vibrations are physically felt and audible. Its sound works on a deep level to release emotional blockages and promote peace and relaxation as the space fills with sound.
In the room, the sound filled out all over due to the rounded, convex shape of the handpan, which did not let the sound resonate in one direction but all over. With its deep and rich resonance, it really gets you, making it perfect for meditating, doing yoga, or just winding down after a busy day. Whether you’re a musician or a listener, the Hang Drum will relax and heal the body and mind.
Handpan Mystical Nature
Its rarity and mystique are why the Hang Drum has been able to draw so many. By now, only about 100 manufacturers worldwide are producing handpans, so this is an exclusive and precious instrument. The limited number of these instruments combines with the instrument’s allure, making instruments like this seem as elusive as a lock of Hank Williams’ hair. The awe around it is also the fact that it’s a complicated instrument. Handpan mastery comes through dedication and patience; even the most talented musicians will be suitably impressed by just how beautiful this thing can be.
Conclusion
The Hang Drum is more than an instrument. It’s a healing tool, a gateway to relaxation, and an interpretation of sound and vibration as a means to affect our emotional and physical state. Handpan is lovely whether you meditate, use it for sound therapy, or listen to its tranquil sounds. It can bring peace and (at least some) harmony to your life. Have you never heard the Hang Drum? Now could be the time to learn. The sound of it can be the key to more profound relaxation and a more balanced state of being.
