FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the right instrument
Both the Handpan and the Tank Drum are available in different keys. It is therefore not surprising that you may not quite know which key to choose. We can give you all kinds of advice, but the most important thing is that you choose the instrument that suits you best!
In general, a minor key is experienced as a heavier / more melancholic sound. Where a major key produces a lighter / more euphoric tone. It is important to realize that everyone has their own taste and that all we can advise is to choose a key that appeals to you the most. Read below for each type of instrument what suits you best.
Handpans
Mini Handpan
Our Mini Handpan is made of stainless steel and has a diameter of 40cm. The handpan has a unique sound for the handy size and is available in the keys: Sunset (relaxing, melancholic) and Sunrise (energetic, euphoric). With a diameter of 40 cm, the handpan lies comfortably on your lap , is easy to carry, and easy to play. Which makes this handpan ideal for for beginning handpan players or if you are a bit smaller in size.
Real Steel Handpan
Our Real Steel handpan is made of high carbon steel. The Real Steel gives the handpan a particularly expressive and euphoric sound. We only make the Real Steel handpan in the D-minor key. The Real Steel Handpan thus combines a euphoric sound with a melancholic, relaxing D-Minor sound. Therefore, it is ideal for both novice and advanced players.
Nitrated Steel Handpan
Our Nitrated Steel handpan is made of nitrated steel. This unique steel gives the handpan a particularly warm, relaxing and inward-turning sound. The handpan is available in several keys, with the most popular being the D minor keys: (D-Celtic and D-Kurd). These keys have a melancholic, relaxing sound. In combination with the nitrided steel, this is THE unique sound of the handpan many people are looking for. The harmonious sound makes this instrument ideal for relaxing, meditative and therapeutic purposes.
Ember Steel Handpan
Our Ember Steel Handpan is made from a specially treated type of stainless steel. The unique Ember Steel combines a particularly warm inward-turning sound with an extraordinarily long sustain. This gives the handpan a deep and dreamy sound in combination with an energetic character. We make the Ember Steel hand pans in different keys. These hand pans are ideal for meditation, sound therapy or other spiritual purposes.
It is important to realize that everyone has their own taste and that the only thing we can advise is to listen carefully to the sound videos and to choose the key and model Handpan that appeals to you the most. You can't make a wrong choice here!
Steel Tongue Drums
Myko Series
The Myko series has a diameter of 22cm and has 8 tones. The drum is characterized by the compact size and warm sound. The drum has a long sustain that makes the tones sound nicely together. The compact size makes it easy to take the drum anywhere. The C-Major key has an energetic and euphoric (happy) sound. The D-Minor tuning is relaxing and melancholic (sad) in nature.
Constellation Series
The Constellation series has a diameter of 28cm and is available with 8 or 9 tones. The drum is characterized by a warm and deep sound. The drum has a long sustain that makes the tones sound nicely together. The G-Major and Lydian keys have an energetic and euphoric (happy) sound. The A-Minor tuning is relaxing and melancholic (sad) in nature where the AkeBono tuning is besides a relaxing sound also mystical in sound.
Zephyr Series
The Zephyr series is 36cm in diameter and has 9 tones. This drum is characterized by its clear and dynamic sound. This causes the tones to vibrate individually. As for the Zephyr series, the Equinox key contains both minor (B-Minor) and major (C-Major) components. It offers a relaxing and melancholic sound as well as euphoric uplifting sounds. The AkeBono key mainly offers an uplifting and mystical sound.
It is important to realize that everyone has their own taste and that the only thing we can advise is to listen carefully to the sound videos and to choose the key and model Tongue Drum that appeals to you the most. You can't make a wrong choice here!
Didgeridoos
Are you looking to buy your first didgeridoo? Or are you already familiar with the instrument and is this an extra addition to your collection? In both cases you've come to the right place. We understand that it can be difficult to make a choice, hopefully we can help you out.
Didge Box: our most compact version, easy to travel with and store. Ideal to train the respiratory muscles in the context of sleep apnea and snoring.
Spiral Didge: just a size bigger which provides the deep sound. Furthermore it is a work of art in itself!
Snake Didge: The tube length is comparable to its long variant, but the twist makes for the compact size (45 cm).
Teak Wood Didge: The size of the classic didgeridoo gives a voluminous sound and long sustain. If you want the feeling of playing a bigger didgeridoo, the Teak Wood didge is the right choice. The Teak Wood provides a clear sound.
Baked Wood Didge: The size of the classic didgeridoo in combination with the consistent finish of the Baked Wood provides fine resonance and full and dynamic sound.
Listen carefully to the sound videos and choose the key and didgeridoo model that appeals to you most. You can't make a wrong choice here!
Meer vragen
We try to give you a good impression of the instruments that we offer with the images and videos on our website. However, we understand that it may also be desirable to see an instrument up close and play it yourself so you can experience the Tongue Drum, Handpan or didgeridoo even better.
We are currently due to a longer stay in our workshops in Bali, limited available for visits. There is the possibility to visit us on Saturdays between 11.30 and 13.00 to experience our different instruments. There will be someone present who is less experienced in playing the instruments. In most cases this is enough to experience the instruments and answer any questions you may have. Send us an email or WhatsApp to schedule an appointment.
You can also listen to our instruments on our website, and placing an order online might be even easier. If for any reason you do not like the order, you can exchange or return free of charge.
If you are looking for a Handpan or Steel Tongue Drum, but the variant or key you like is not available in our webshop. Then send us an email at contact@lidahdrums.nl. We can inform you further when we have the instrument available again. In addition, we can look for an instrument together in a specific tuning.
We at LIDAH Drums are specialized in the Handpan and Tongue Drum (also know as Tankdrum). Both instruments produce a magically beautiful sound. For a lot of people, these instruments are ideal for relaxing and meditative purposes. In addition, the Tongue Drum and Handpan sound fantastic in combination with other instruments. However, there are some differences between these two percussion instruments.
With a diameter of 40-60 cm, a handpan is often larger than a Steel Tongue Drum 20-40 cm. This often results in a handpan having an even richer and more voluminous sound compared to a Tank drum. Creating a quality Handpan is a very time consuming process. Because with a handpan the notes have to be made into the steel, while with a Steel Tongue Drum the notes are formed by cuts in the steel. In addition, more expensive tools and materials are used in the production of a Handpan. This results in the difference in price between these two instruments.
The Steel Tongue Drum also manages to impress in terms of sound. The smaller size makes the Tankdrum ideal to take on a trip. In addition, the Tankdrum is an extremely accessible instrument for beginning percussionists. You will learn to discover the instrument through playing it. Whether you choose a Tank Drum or a Handpan, both instruments will provide you with immense relaxation and fun.
The the handpan and Tongue Drum are ideal to use for meditation, yoga, music therapy and other spiritual purposes. Many experience playing these instruments as enormously relaxing: "as if time stands still and all thoughts disappear for a moment". In addition, the Handpan and the Tongue Drum can be beautiful together or in combination with other instruments, such as the piano, violin or harp.
It requires craftsmanship to make the notes sound harmonious when making a Handpan or a Tongue Drum. All our instruments are completely new when purchased and tuned carefully and professionally. In theory, when the instruments are played for a longer period of time, they may become slightly out of tune. Exactly how long this takes and which factors play a role vary. We are proud that we have been making these beautiful instruments for more than 4 years and that we have not had any customers back yet due to instruments that lose their tuning after long use.
Yet they (Handpans more than Tongue Drums) are fragile instruments. Therefore, make sure that you do not drop your instrument and that nothing falls on the instrument. Keep your instrument in a safe place at home. Other factors that play a role are the frequency of play, the strength of play and the outside temperature. We advise, for example, not to play in the sun, but rather find a place in the shade. If your instrument becomes slightly out of tune after a lot of playing, we advise you to have it tuned again by an expert Handpan or Tongue Drum tuner.
A Tank Drum can be played with hands or with mallets (drumsticks). Play the drum with your hands for a softer / quieter tone or with the included mallets (drumsticks) for a brighter / louder tone. These different ways of playing the Tank Drum provide a wide variation in playing experience and sound.
It's not a problem if you have no experience playing a Tongue Drum or Handpan yet. It is quite easy to learn to play these instruments for a number of reasons. First of all, they are instruments that should be played by feeling. So you play the tones that you think sound nice and with that you can't play wrong notes! In addition, the clean, harmonious tonal compositions ensure that you cannot play wrong sound combinations. In the beginning you will have to get used to the playing technique, but usually you quickly get nice sounds from the instrument! Take your time, and you will explore the instrument while playing.
We are convinced the Handpan and Tongue Drum should be played completely freely. That is why we have no fixed melodies or sheet music for our drums, because discovering the instrument through play is the goal.
Some advice regarding playing with your hands: When you use the right technique, you can get a nice sound from your instrument quite easily. It is extremely important to play the drum with a relaxed finger. You don't need to use a lot of force, it's just a light and short touch. It is therefore important to tap the tones only very briefly with a flexible / loose finger. When you play the drum with a tense finger, you dampen the vibration of the tones. Placing your finger on the drum for too long will also dampen the vibration of the drum.
Briefly:
– Loose / smooth finger
– Licht touch
- Short Touch
Sometimes it's unclear what the difference is between a Tank Drum, Steel Tongue Drum, Happy Drum, etc. However, all these names are used for the same instrument, so there is no direct difference. There is currently no consensus on the name of the instrument, and this can sometimes cause confusion.
The name Tank Drum can be confusing. Originally (and in some cases still), Tank Drums were made from old gas tanks. By cutting off the top of the gas tank, the round shape of the drum is already present. The steel was processed, the tones were cut and the instrument was finished with a coat of paint.
We quickly found out that to optimize our Tongue Drums, they should be made of a specific steel and crafted by a certain design. For example, we use high carbon steel with a round design for our Constellation drums to produce a warmer sound. The term "Tank Drum" is still often used for this instrument, but we feel that we are qualitatively a step further. So Steel Tongue Drum or Happy Drum might be a better fit.
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