SAEDNEWS: If you’re also interested in the hang drum, here we will introduce you to everything about this fascinating instrument. You’ll get to know the hang drum as a melodic percussion instrument—its material, notes, history, stages of construction, and many other details related to the hang drum, all in one place.
The Hang drum is one of the most successful musical inventions of the new millennium, yet it has only recently gained widespread recognition. Its most captivating feature is its unique sound, which has an almost universal appeal.
This instrument has become particularly popular among yoga instructors and music therapists, and today, it is commonly used in meditation sessions.
Even beginners can easily play the Hang drum, which attracts many people who were previously hesitant to try an instrument, fearing it might be too difficult. As a result, more and more individuals are choosing to play the Hang drum as a way to relax and explore music.
The Hang (pronounced “hung”) belongs to the percussion family of idiophones, or self-sounding instruments. It was created in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer, founders of PANArt Hangbau AG in Bern, Switzerland. While “Hang” often refers to the Hang drum itself, the creators have expressed strong objections to the misnaming and prefer its correct designation. (Some sources also refer to it as the Pan Drum.)
In the Bernese dialect (the local language of Bern, Switzerland), the word “Hang” means “hand,” which is why the instrument was named accordingly. The first Hang drum was introduced in 2001 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Interestingly, in the early days of Hang drum production, Felix and Sabina implemented a policy to preserve the uniqueness of the instrument: potential buyers had to submit a handwritten letter explaining why they wanted to purchase the instrument.
The Hang drum consists of two steel-nitrided parts: the upper “Ding” and the lower “Gu.”
Ding: The top part, where the notes are centered, contains indentations hammered to produce multiple tones. Typically, the Ding has seven or eight notes.
Gu: The bottom part features a deep, tube-shaped cavity. This cavity is tuned to a note that resonates when the edges are played.
The design incorporates certain physical principles used in creating the Steelpan. Its distinctive sound is produced by finger techniques, creating a rich combination of tones. With a diameter of 52 cm and a height of 24 cm, the instrument has evolved over the years. Between 2003 and 2008, several versions were developed, producing variations in tone that sometimes require multiple Hang drum models in performances.
Daniel Waples is one of the most renowned Hang drum players worldwide. He started with guitar, electric guitar, and small percussion instruments before discovering the Hang drum in 2006. Since then, he has composed and performed numerous pieces and participated in many concerts. Daniel Waples is considered one of the most professional and influential Hang drum musicians today.
The Hang drum is made from Pang, a unique metal alloy invented by Felix and Sabina along with the instrument itself. Creating a Hang drum requires a combination of metalworking skill, engineering knowledge, tuning talent, and soundcraft expertise. Skilled artisans carefully heat, shape, and assemble two Pang bowls to craft the final instrument.
The Hang drum is considered a high-end instrument due to the labor-intensive production process and the limited number of skilled makers worldwide. Even today, only a few hundred artisans craft these instruments by hand. Selecting the right metals and alloys, shaping them, and achieving precise tuning requires hours or even days of meticulous work.
Tuning the notes correctly is one of the most challenging stages, often requiring specialized tools or hammering techniques. Overall, producing a Hang drum is a time-consuming project demanding precision, skill, and resources to achieve the instrument’s signature sound.
The Hang drum produces a serene, mesmerizing tone. Its beauty lies in the rich harmonics present in each note. Because the body is a single, integrated piece, striking one note gently resonates the others, creating a warm, immersive sound.
Playing the Hang drum is relatively easy, depending on your desired level of proficiency. Professional, expressive performances require dedication, practice, and musical understanding. However, even beginners can produce pleasing tones from the very first session, bringing joy and calm to themselves and those around them.
