Tank Drum vs Handpan. The Differences Between Two Popular Steel Percussion Instruments
Steel percussion instruments, such as the tank drum and handpan, have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their unique sound and ease of playing. For those who are new to these instruments, it is common to wonder what the difference is between a tank drum and a handpan and which one is better. In this article, we will explore the differences between the two and help you make an informed decision before making a purchase.
The tank drum, also known as tongue drum, and handpan are both melodic steel percussion instruments, but their functioning is completely different. The tank drum consists of a hemispherical body with U-shaped metal slats cut into the steel that vibrate when struck with fingers or mallets. The sound of each tongue is long and sustained, similar to the sound of church bells or Tibetan singing bowls. Tongue drums are perfect for musicians looking for new original solutions in music, as well as for those who are interested in self-development, yoga, mantras, and various spiritual practices.
On the other hand, the handpan is made by hammering oval or round discs into the steel, which vibrate at very precise frequencies when they are struck with the fingers. The sound is produced by vibrations of its hollows, the so-called "tonal areas" or membranes. Handpans are ideal for making intuitive music as they offer easy playful scales (without false notes) that allow you to focus only on the rhythm and patterns played.
The sound is the first and most important feature that makes people love these instruments. While tank drums and handpans may seem similar, especially if you haven’t listened to them live, they actually sound completely different. The tank drum sound is long and sustained, with the sound attenuating evenly and repeatedly reflecting inside the instrument's body and spreading outside. The handpan sound, on the other hand, is more intense during the first few seconds than in the subsequent time. Therefore, its vibrations fade unevenly, and you hear its typical echo sounding like "Pew-Pew-Pew." It is better to listen to this instrument once live or with headphones than to try to imagine its sound.
Both instruments are tuned in the same way, so their tuning modes are mutually adaptive. The 2 instruments are ideal for making intuitive music, as they offer easy playful scales (without false notes) which allow you to focus only on the rhythm and patterns played. Both instruments are very easy to play, and you do not need any musical education to learn to play them; having a sense of rhythm will be enough, and you can develop it in case you lack it.
When it comes to shape, both instruments look apparently similar: they both consist of two metal bowls. However, different manufacturers can use various metal and steel brands, and different fabrication methods, but the sense is always the same: you get two hemispherical halves combined together and resembling a flying saucer. Tank drums usually have a hole in their bottom to avoid excessive resonance in the instrument's body, which is usually heard as humming. Tank drums can also be double-sided, with tongues cut on both sides. The thickness of the steel used for tank drum production is usually 2 or 3 mm, which means that such instruments are quite durable, undemanding in use, and also suitable for small children.
On the other hand, handpans have no holes and no tongues. The sound is produced by vibrations of its hollows, the so-called "tonal areas" or membranes. Due to fast vibration attenuation, a handpan doesn’t get any excessive resonance. Handpans can also be double-sided, but they are much larger than tank drums. A certain surface area of the instrument is required to make the handpan membranes sound. If its size was the same as a tank drum's, there would only be just one or two membranes on it.
It's also worth noting that handpans are much more fragile than tank drums, and it's not recommended to play them with mallets as they could detune the instrument. The notes are tuned by hammering them, and a "muscular" game with mallets could, therefore, detune the instrument.
In conclusion, both tongue drums and handpans are excellent instruments that produce unique and ethereal sounds. They are ideal for making intuitive music and are easy to play. However, they differ in their shapes, sounds, and fabrication methods, so it's essential to understand these differences before making a purchase.