Handpan vs. Tongue Drum: Comparison & 3 Easy Songs (Tabs)
As a Sound Therapist, I use these instruments daily to help clients lower their blood pressure and anxiety. But there is a confusion I need to clear up: Is that a Handpan or a Tongue Drum? And more importantly, how do you actually play music on it if you don't know chords?
In this guide, I will compare the two, recommend the right MoralGain® model for your budget, and give you 3 easy handpan/tongue drum songs you can play today.
Handpan vs. Steel Tongue Drum: Which One Do You Need?
Before we get to the sheet music, you need to know which instrument you are holding (or buying). The playing technique is similar, but the "engine" is different.
| Feature | Handpan (Hang Drum) | Steel Tongue Drum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | High Investment ($800 - $3,000+) | Affordable ($50 - $300) |
| Sound | Ethereal, complex, many overtones. | Pure, clean, bell-like sustain. |
| Playing Style | Strictly hands/fingers. | Mallets (easiest) or fingers. |
| Durability | Fragile. Heat/bumps can detune it. | Very Durable. Hard to detune. |
3 Easy Songs (Number Notation)
Whether you have a Handpan or a Tongue Drum, the easiest way to read music is Numbered Notation. Look at your drum. The lowest note (usually the biggest one or the center one) is 1. The numbers go up as the pitch gets higher.
How to read:
1, 2, 3 = Play single notes.
(13) = Play 1 and 3 together (Chord).
- = Pause/Sustain.
1. The "Breathing Loop" (Meditation)
This isn't a pop song; it is a pattern designed for anxiety relief. Repeat this loop for 5 minutes.
1 — 3 — 5 — 3
1 — 4 — 6 — 4
1 — 5 — 7 — 5
(Repeat)
2. Ode to Joy (Beethoven)
A classic melody that sits perfectly in the major scale of most drums.
Line 2: 1 1 2 3 | 3 — 2 2 —
Line 3: 3 3 4 5 | 5 4 3 2
Line 4: 1 1 2 3 | 2 — 1 1 —
3. Simple Rain (Arpeggios)
This utilizes the left-right alternating layout of most handpan drums. It sounds like falling rain.
1 5 1 5 (Low base)
2 6 2 6
3 7 3 7
1̇ 5 1̇ 5 (High octave)
(End on 1)
Which MoralGain® Instrument Should You Buy?
For the "Handpan Experience" on a Budget
If you want the deep resonance of a handpan but aren't ready to spend $1,500, the large tongue drum is the professional's choice.
Recommendation: The MoralGain® Harmony 13-Note Steel Drum.
- Selling Point: Unlike cheap 8-note drums, this has 13 notes. This wider range allows you to play real melodies (like the ones above) without running out of notes. The 12-inch body provides a deep bass resonance that mimics a real handpan.
For True Handpan Enthusiasts
If you demand the touch-sensitive, complex overtones that only nitrided steel can provide, you are ready for the real thing.
Recommendation: The MoralGain® Aeon 9-Note Handpan (D Minor).
- Selling Point: Tuned to D Minor (the "Celtic" or "Kurd" scale), this is the most popular scale for sound healing. It is physically hammered for perfect pitch and offers that "wah-wah" sound effect when you manipulate the opening.
Final Thoughts
Music is about vibration. Whether you choose the durable Harmony Tongue Drum or the ethereal Aeon Handpan, the result is the same: you stop thinking and start feeling.
Try the tabs above. If you mess up, don't stop. In this scale, there are no wrong notes, only jazz.