Sela Handpans

The right instrument for your sound style

Anyone looking to buy a handpan will find carefully tuned instruments made from high-quality stainless steel or steel, known for their warm tones and well-balanced sound. Every Sela handpan is a handcrafted instrument, available in popular tunings such as Kurd, Amara, Aegean, or Pygmy – ideal for relaxed soundscapes and meditative sessions.

While handpans are acoustically related to the steel drum, they offer a noticeably softer and warmer tone and are suitable for both beginners and advanced players. At Sela, you’ll find high-quality handpans that are precisely crafted, delivering inspiring sounds with character.

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How to choose the right handpan

When choosing a handpan, material, tuning, and sound behavior play an important role. Stainless steel produces a soft sound and is well suited for meditative playing, while steel offers a more direct response with shorter sustain and clear articulation.

The tuning defines the character of a handpan: Kurd sounds warm and versatile, Amara open and melodic, Pygmy mystical and earthy, Minor calm and dreamy. For beginners, Kurd or Amara are good choices, while Pygmy and Minor are better suited for players looking for a specific sound character.

Important when buying: pay attention to a cleanly tuned ding note, even sustain, solid craftsmanship, and a material that supports your playing style. This way, you will quickly find the handpan that truly fits you.

Not sure which handpan is right for your playing style? Contact us – we are happy to help.

What are handpans used for?

A handpan is a versatile instrument that stands out in many different areas thanks to its warm, harmonious tones. This versatility is what makes handpans so appealing – they work just as well in private settings as they do on stage. If you are planning to buy a handpan, this overview will help you find the right field of use.

Meditation & Yoga

Handpans are ideal for meditative practices, as their soft vibrations instantly create a sense of calm and depth. Many yoga teachers and coaches use the instrument to open or musically accompany sessions. The flowing sounds help direct focus inward and support breathing techniques.

Sound Healing & Relaxation

In sound healing – a form of relaxation and therapy that aims to bring body and mind into balance through sound – the handpan has long been established. Its vibrating overtones have a calming effect and can significantly reduce stress. Warm and grounding tunings such as Amara, Kurd, or Pygmy are especially popular in this context.

Music Education & Teaching

With their harmonically matched notes, handpans are well suited for schools, workshops, and creative projects. The instrument is played intuitively, allowing beginners to achieve pleasing results quickly. This boosts motivation and makes learning easier.

Live Performance & Stage

Whether solo, in a duo, or as part of a larger ensemble, a handpan brings a unique blend of percussion and melody to the stage. Stainless steel models often offer particularly long sustain, which works especially well in live settings.

Improvisation & Creative Playing

Anyone who enjoys free playing will find the handpan to be the perfect instrument for improvisation. At home, in the studio, outdoors, or on stage – it invites experimentation and rewards spontaneous ideas with harmonious melodies.

Stainless steel or nitrided steel – the differences

The material of a handpan influences not only the sound, but also maintenance, durability, and playing feel. Handpans are generally made from either stainless steel or nitrided steel (hardened steel with a treated surface).

Stainless steel handpans are especially popular due to their long sustain, meaning the notes resonate longer and more smoothly. The warm, meditative sound is well suited for yoga sessions, sound healing, and calm improvisation. Stainless steel is also highly resistant to rust and easy to maintain.

Nitrided steel is hardened through a special heat treatment, making the surface more robust. The precise, clear sound with slightly shorter sustain supports rhythmic playing. Regular maintenance with suitable oils is important, as steel handpans are somewhat more sensitive to moisture.

Sela handpan series overview

Ember – warm sound character & balanced sustain

The Ember series is made from a special stainless steel alloy with controlled, medium-length sustain. The sound is warm, soft, and pleasantly rounded. A harmonious instrument full of expression, ideal for meditation, sound healing, and calm sessions.

Discover the Ember series

Melody – nitrided steel for clear, direct response

The Melody models made from nitrided steel sound more percussive and offer a clear, direct response. They are well suited as a first instrument for beginners who prefer a defined, direct playing feel.

Discover the Melody series

Harmony – balanced models in steel or stainless steel

The Harmony series combines the advantages of both worlds: steel models with clear articulation and stainless steel versions with soft, long sustain. This makes the series versatile and ideal for players who want to use their handpan in many different contexts.

Discover the Harmony series

Phoenix – more tone fields, more possibilities

Phoenix handpans use a modern steel blend that combines properties of steel and stainless steel. They often feature 10 tone fields instead of the usual 9, opening up additional melodic options.

Discover the Phoenix series

Unity – meditative sound in 432 Hz

The Unity series is based on stainless steel models from the Harmony range, but tuned to a base frequency of 432 Hz. This tuning is often perceived as particularly soft and relaxing, making it ideal for yoga, meditation, and sound work.

Discover the Unity series

Majesty – maximum resonance & premium craftsmanship

Majesty models are among the highest-quality handpans from Sela and are the first choice for advanced players and professionals looking for a premium instrument. Stainless steel with highly resonant craftsmanship delivers long sustain, fine overtones, and impressive sound volume.

Discover the Majesty series

Discover our matching handpan accessories

Why buy a handpan from Sela?

  • Stable tuning with clear, harmonious tones
  • Reliable instruments thanks to robust construction and precise tone fields
  • Rust-resistant stainless steel with high-quality finish
  • Balanced sustain for warm, open sounds
  • Fair price-performance ratio for beginners and advanced players looking for a high-quality product
  • Versatile use: yoga, meditation, sound healing, teaching, live performance
  • Easy entry thanks to intuitive playability

FAQs Handpans

A Sela handpan stands out through precise tuning, robust design, and a balanced sound profile. Each instrument is carefully crafted and offers a warm response that differs from classic drum instruments. Many players appreciate the calm, meditative qualities – also in comparison to tongue drums, which tend to sound more percussive.

Yes. Sela handpans are made from high-quality materials such as stainless steel, nitrided steel, and special alloys like Ember Steel. These materials differ in sustain, sound character, and playing feel. Whether you prefer soft, long-resonating tones or a more direct response – you can choose the handpan that suits you best.

Sela offers tunings such as Kurd, Amara, Pygmy, and Minor in stainless steel, nitrided steel, or Ember Steel. Each tuning has its own character: Amara sounds open and harmonious, Minor more emotional, and Kurd warm and versatile. At Sela, you will easily find a handpan that matches your style. Our instruments are suitable for both beginners and advanced players.

A handpan sounds softer and fuller than a tongue drum, which has a more percussive response. Compared to a steel drum, a handpan offers a calmer, more organic sound profile. Many players use both instruments to create versatile rhythms with drum elements. For sound journeys, handpan and tongue drum complement each other perfectly.