Hang

The hang is a percussion instrument made by PANArt it Switzerland.  Pronounced ‘han’ with a nearly silent ‘g’, it is often referred to as a hang drum but that’s not really accurate, as drums have a skin or some other membrane stretched over the top.  Instead it is part of a family of percussion instruments called idiophones which make their sound by the instrument’s vibration without strings or membranes.

Typically resting on the lap and played with the hands, the hang looks much like a UFO and makes the sounds you might expect of such a disc.  But getting your hands on one could be a tall order.  Since 2001 the original creators of the hang, Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer, are the only people in the world making this instrument.  There are a few thousand out there, so finding a used one is tough enough.  Buying a new one would involve a lengthy waiting list and a hefty price tag.

So in recent years other hand pans have been developed and instruments similar to the hang are now available.  If you’re looking to get your hands on one of these guys, the Halo might be your best bet.  Since 2008, Pantheon Steel has been developing their own hand pan inspired by the original hang.  There is clearly a distinction between the two instruments but both are great in their own right.

–Click on the images below to see videos of the hang–