9-Note Handpan

Q: How are the 9 notes on a handpan arranged?

A 9-note handpan most often features 8 notes arranged in a circle around the ding, which counts as the ninth note. This is known as an 8 + 1 configuration and refers to exactly the same instrument. The ding is the tonic of the entire scale—the anchor note to which the ear naturally returns. For example, a 9-note handpan in D Kurd has a low D in the center, with the other 8 notes arranged around it. They alternate from left to right in ascending order, beginning with the lowest note at the bottom of the circle. This layout is known as a zigzag pattern.

Q: Is a 9-note handpan smaller than a 10- or 12-note model?

Not necessarily: a 9-note handpan is not a separate size category. Many instruments of this type measure 21.65–22.83 in (55–58 cm) in diameter and weigh 8.82–13.23 lb (4–6 kg), which is in line with the standard diameter of a full-size handpan, approximately 20.87–22.05 in (53–56 cm). However, more compact 9-note handpans measuring 18.11 in (46 cm) in diameter are also available. You’ll find some in this size in this collection.

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The 9-note handpan, with its central ding surrounded by 8 notes, is one of the most common configurations offered by manufacturers. The Instruments du Monde store brings together a collection of 9-note handpans in a wide variety of scales, including D Kurd, Amara, and Hijaz. Below, you’ll discover what sets this configuration apart from 10- or 12-note models, so you can choose the right instrument for you.

Handpan Harmony

9 / 10 / 12 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$899

Expert pick

Premium Handpan

9 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$1,399

Celestial Handpan

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$899

Best seller

Cosmic Handpan

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 440 Hz

$1,399

$1,299

Handmade Handpan

9 / 10 / 12 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$899

Small Handpan

9 notes G Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$999

9-Note D Kurd Handpan

9 notes 440 Hz 22 in

$1,299

Handpan 22 in

9 / 10 / 12 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$1,199

Handpan Melody

9 / 10 / 12 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$899

Smart choice

Stainless Steel Handpan

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 440 Hz

$1,299

Handpan Drum

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 440 Hz

$1,299

9-Note D Minor Handpan

9 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$1,399

Smart choice

Artisan Handpan

9 notes D Kurd 440 Hz

$1,699

$1,599

Handpan Therapy

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$1,299

Concert Handpan

9 / 10 / 12 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$899

Mini Handpan 432 Hz

9 notes G Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$799

Handpan Expert

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$1,199

Amara Handpan

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Aegean

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

G Minor Handpan

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 18 in

$799

Handpan Fusion

9 / 10 / 12 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$899

Handpan in F

9 notes F Major / F Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$1,499

Handpan Mystic

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Ashakiran

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Horizon

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 432 / 440 Hz

$1,599

Acoustic Handpan

9 notes G Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$999

Best seller

Handpan Relaxation

9 / 10 notes D Kurd 440 Hz

$1,399

Handpan Ysha Savita

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Sabye

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Jibuk

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Oxalis

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Golden Gate

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Onoleo

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Romanian Hijaz

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Raga Desh

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Mixolydian Handpan

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Integral Handpan

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan Magic Voyage

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Pentatonic Handpan

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan in A

9 notes A Major / A Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$1,499

Handpan in C

9 notes C Major / C Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$1,499

Handpan in E

9 notes E Major / E Minor 432 / 440 Hz

$1,499

Handpan D Major

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Celtic Minor Handpan

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

Handpan La Sirena

9 notes 432 / 440 Hz 22 in

$1,499

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Why choose a 9-note handpan over a 10- or 12-note model?

A woman wearing makeup playing a 9-note handpan

The scale determines the instrument’s emotional character, while the number of notes determines only its range. That is why we recommend choosing your scale first and then deciding whether you need 9, 10, or 12 notes. For a first instrument, a 9- or 10-note handpan offers several advantages over larger models. Every note remains within easy reach, so you do not have to move your arms. The notes are also wider and spaced farther apart, which limits accidental strikes on neighboring notes. As a result, you can memorize your handpan’s layout in just a few hours. Its tuning is also more stable because fewer notes interact with one another. A 12-note handpan often has additional notes underneath the shell. These must be played without looking by reaching beneath the instrument, which requires a good mental map of its layout and a clean, controlled striking technique.

How much does a 9-note handpan cost?

The price of a 9-note handpan varies depending on the model and options selected. On average, a good handpan starts at $950 and can cost several thousand dollars for a premium model. Each additional note comes at a cost: for the models available in these configurations, a 10-note version usually costs more than its 9-note counterpart, and a 12-note version costs even more. However, choosing between 440 and 432 Hz does not affect the price.

However, the price does not always increase with the number of notes. Some manufacturers charge more for a 9-note C Low Pygmy handpan than for a 10-note D Kurd model because large, low-pitched notes are harder to stabilize and require more work.

How are the 9 notes on a handpan arranged?

A 9-note handpan most often features 8 notes arranged in a circle around the ding, which counts as the ninth note. This is known as an 8 + 1 configuration and refers to exactly the same instrument. The ding is the tonic of the entire scale—the anchor note to which the ear naturally returns. For example, a 9-note handpan in D Kurd has a low D in the center, with the other 8 notes arranged around it. They alternate from left to right in ascending order, beginning with the lowest note at the bottom of the circle. This layout is known as a zigzag pattern.

What scales are available for a 9-note handpan?

This collection offers a very wide selection of scales. D Kurd remains the most popular handpan scale. You’ll also find more than twenty distinct scale families, from Amara and Hijaz to Low Pygmy and Sabye, and most of these handpans are available in 440 or 432 hertz.

Does a 9-note handpan limit your progress?

No, a 9-note handpan does not limit your progress as long as you play solo. Its limitations mainly become apparent when you want to perform with another handpan player or a musician playing a different instrument.

The richness of a handpan comes first and foremost from your touch. A well-mastered 9-note handpan offers more musical possibilities than a 20-note handpan used to only half its potential, thanks to nuances, ghost notes, and rim strikes.

Can a note be added to a 9-note handpan later?

No, it is not possible to add a note to your 9-note handpan once it has been made. Each note is hammered and tuned directly into the shell during production, and adding one afterward would require reshaping and retuning the entire instrument, potentially compromising the tuning of all the other notes. Each note is tuned to three frequencies at once: the fundamental, its octave, and the compound fifth. The more notes there are on the shell, the longer the tuning process takes.

Is a 9-note handpan smaller than a 10- or 12-note model?

Not necessarily: a 9-note handpan is not a separate size category. Many instruments of this type measure 21.65–22.83 in (55–58 cm) in diameter and weigh 8.82–13.23 lb (4–6 kg), which is in line with the standard diameter of a full-size handpan, approximately 20.87–22.05 in (53–56 cm). However, more compact 9-note handpans measuring 18.11 in (46 cm) in diameter are also available. You’ll find some in this size in this collection.