Beginner Handpan Tutorials – 3 Cinematic Songs + 1 Easy Groove

Beginner Handpan Tutorials

3 Cinematic Songs + 1 Easy Groove

Pirates of the Caribbean · Interstellar · Game of Thrones · Beginner Groove

We’ve had a lot of feedback recently from customers saying the same thing:

“There are heaps of handpan videos online, but everything feels scattered.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
“I’m not ready to sign up for a full course yet.”

And honestly — I get it. 

I taught many adults during my years as a piano teacher, and I know most adults just want to play something nice right now. So I put together a simple, beginner-friendly tutorial collection with four pieces that:

• sound amazing
• are easy to learn
• don’t require any music background
• and are perfect for getting started

👇 Watch the full tutorial video here:

---

Before You Start – Getting a Clean Handpan Sound

Handpan is one of the easiest instruments to pick up, but a good tone still depends on touch. Here are a few quick tips that make a huge difference:

1. Don’t hit hard

Handpan volume doesn’t come from force (and hitting too hard increases the risk of detuning). Light, quick, relaxed strikes always sound better.

2. Use one finger at a time

More fingers = more muting.
One clean finger gives the clearest tone.

3. Imagine your handpan is a hot stove

Tap and instantly lift — don’t leave your finger on the surface because it kills the vibration. It’s more like flicking your finger rather than tapping.

4. Aim for the ring, not the dimple

Never strike the centre of the note (the dimple).
Hit the ring/edge around it, close to the dimple. Too far out and the sound becomes more metallic or “flappy.”

5. Relax your wrist

If your playing starts sounding muted or dull, it’s usually tension. Shake out your hands, take a breath, reset — the sound immediately improves.

I’ll film a full “How to Play With Good Touch” lesson soon, but these five tips will get you started.

---

Using the Stickers (Number Tabs)

To make things easier, I use numbered tabs in the video. My handpan is a D Kurd 432Hz, which is also our most common scale.

If you own a Riza handpan:

Your drum already comes with pre-cut stickers from 1 to 9.
Just follow the order you see in the video and place them the same way — 1 is the largest note, then go down to 9.

If you own a YULA handpan:

These don’t include stickers, but you can grab small round dot stickers from Officeworks or any stationery shop.
Write numbers 1 to 9 yourself and stick them on following the same order as in the tutorial.

Your layout will match mine exactly — the shape and note positions are the same.

---

Ready to Start Playing? 😎

Jump into the tutorial above and have a go. Even just 10 minutes a day for a week makes a massive difference — the handpan becomes surprisingly intuitive once you get the feel for it.

More beginner lessons, grooves and cinematic pieces are on the way.
Enjoy, have fun, and happy playing!

If you play any of these pieces, please @ us on socials — I’d absolutely love to see it!💛