Thomann Nataraj tongue 8" C-Major

I've only played handpan once before buying this one but I really loved the experience. However, it was much more expensive brand/model, way beyond my budget. So I was wondering if I could enjoy playing a cheaper one as well and in the end I decided to give it a try with basically one of the cheapest handpans I could find. And let me say upfront I'm really glad I did!

Compared to the high-end UFO shaped handpans, it obviously doesn't offer the same tone richness and variety but it's still a lot of fun and it's a great instrument to just help you unwind and relax with its pentatonic tuning as you don't have to worry about hitting false notes - there aren't any. This makes playing the handpan very accessible even for a non-musician.

One thing you should know is that this type of handpan is harder to play with your hands/fingers than the more expensive ones - it's definitely possible but you need to learn the proper technique and even then the sound tends to be quieter compared to using the (included) mallets. Speaking of the mallets I was little dissapointed to find out that their handles are made of white plastic which feels really cheap and I'm seriously thinking about replacing them with wood as soon as possible. At least they work and make playing easy from the start...

Still, I find using my hands much more enjoyable and after about only 2 hours of practicing (just experimenting, didn't really look up any tutorials) I can already say that I'm quite happy with the tones I can produce. One thing I'm curious about is whether I'll be able to use this handpan for a really relaxed way of playing as so far I feel like the choppy/snappy hand movements required to produce a reasonably loud and crisp tones are preventing me from fully relax. This is something that is definitely easier with the high-end handpans as they react nicely even to gentle taps. Then again, I think that with enough practice I can learn to relax even while doing these rather fast hand movements.

Anyway, I'm happy with my purchase! I like that this handpan is easy and safe to carry around - it's quite small and light, it feels sturdy and is shipped with handy travel bag. The sound is decent, definitely acceptable for the price. A great introduction into handpans, I'd say. If you're wondering whether you'd enjoy playing this kind of instrument and you don't want to invest a fortune to find out, this is a really good and affordable way.

Die Tonlage ist genau richtig. Man kann mehrere Anschläge gleichzeitig machen ohne das sich die Töne überlagern und wie Brei anhören. Schlägt man die Seite an und dazu Töne hört man alles sehr klar heraus. Für diese Art von Instrument ein sehr guter Preis noch dazu.

Ich habe nun 4 Arten versucht: Die Beigelieferten Sticks mit Wollumwicklung, nur aus Holz (vom Xylofon), mit Gummikopf und mit den Händen. Vorweg, mit den Händen kann man vergessen. Auch wenn es ein Hand Drum ist, diese Art von Hand Drum kann so nicht richtig bespielt werden. Sollte man aber vorher wissen. Pures Holz ist ebenfalls nicht zu empfehlen. Die beigelieferten Sticks hören sich etwa so an als würde man sehr hart mit den Händen anschlagen (darum nicht die Hände). Sie sind sehr gut geeignet dafür. Die mit Gummikopf sind jedoch die Besten wenn man einen prezisen Klang erleben will. Ich kann die Günstigen hier von Thomann empfehlen, haben genau die richtige Größe und hören sich perfekt dafür an. Man kann auch mischen mit einem aus Gummi, einem mit Wolle (hören sich tiefer an). Man kriegt den genauen Ton jeder Zunge jedoch nur mit Gummikopf aus dem Instrument. Wenn man die Seite oder die Zwichenräume bespielt (machen die Wenigsten, warum auch immer) sind Woll- und Gummistick zu empfehlen. Beide hören sich verschieden an.

Das Instrument lässt sich intuitiv mit wenig Einarbeitung sehr gut bespielen wenn man es um 180 Grad dreht. So spielt man die Tonleiter hoch und nicht runter. Macht einen enormen Unterschied! Versuchts mal! :) Mit den erwähnten Methoden ergänzt man das Spiel um entscheidende Elemente. Das man keinen Ton falsch spielen kann, wie es überall in den Vorstellungen auf YouTube usw. propagiert wird, ist dagegen völliger Unsinn. Es ist ein sehr prezises Instrument. Der Klang ist auf dieser Tonlage tiefdringend. Er geht durch Mark und Bein... Und das ist kein Spruch in diesem Fall.

Ich kann die Verwendung auf einem hölzernen Untergrund empfehlen.

Pros:
It is a good introduction to this type of instrument.
I like to practice rhythms and patterns on it.
It is small. You can easily take it out into the garden in the sun.
There was a nice small bag with it and some mallets.
I like to use "Thomann GSG20m Glockenspiel mallet" and I recommend buying them too.
The drum is very Indian sounding..
It's like raindrops after the monsoon - pure love n' harmony, hippie yeah!

Cons:
If you expect it to be concert tuned then this is not the right purchase.
If you want to play with a band, then it would be better to find something that is 440 Hz.
Mine was 444,7 Hz and that is close enough for me.
It is very Indian sounding..
If you don't like Indian sounding stuff then this is not the right one for you.
The mallets that came with it are a bit too soft, I think.
I bougth some other small mallets and I like those better..
They are called "Thomann GSG20m Glockenspiel mallet".

And now the fun part:
The Thomann Nataraj tongue 8" C-Major is pentatonic, so please call it "the Raga Bhopali" :)

On a piano that would be:
C4, D4, E4, G4, A4, C5, D5, E5

C4 is at 12 o'clock, just over the red part of the sticker.
Then it's
D4 at 6 o'clock,
E4 at 9 o'clock,
G4 at 3 o'clock,
A4 at 10:30
and then we go to C5 at 13:30
D5 at 19:30
E5 at 16:30..
You can play it as it is or adjust or tune it with some strong magnets from the inside.
This tounge drum is not made for being tuned, but I like to change the sound sometimes.
I bought neodynium magnets that are 5-8mm in diameter x 5-8mm tall and made for a chessgame or something.
Some of the tounges needs more than one magnet to be tuned.
Start near the edge of the drum (from inside) and move the magnet(s) bit by bit inwards.
Remember that the magnet(s) must be placed centered between the parallel lines (or holes) of the tounge,
like if there was an invisible line between them for a magnet-train :)
If you don't hear the little shades of tones well, then use a free chromatic tuner app from your phone.


I am very glad I bought this little drum.
Now I hope that I made your choice easier :)