How to choose your handpan, step by step.

The short answer

For a first handpan, choose a D Kurd.

Pick a D Kurd with 9 or 10 notes, tuned to 440 Hz. Ours are the Noom Starter D Kurd 9 and the D Kurd 10. Makers, shops and teachers give the same advice, and it holds for almost every beginner. The rest of this guide explains why, and what else to check before you pay.

Scale

The scale is the first choice.

A scale is the set of notes the maker tunes into the steel. You cannot change it later, so choose it first.

Kurd is a minor scale with no gaps. Whatever notes you play together, they sound good. That is why teachers start beginners on it. The D is the root note, the ding in the centre.

D Kurd is one of the most common handpan scales. That means the most lesson videos, tabs and jam tracks, and the easiest start if you learn from the internet or from a teacher.

Notes

9 notes or 10?

A D Kurd 9 has the ding in the centre and eight notes around it. The layout is easy to read, the range is enough for full melodies, and the instrument is lighter. A D Kurd 10 adds one high note, a C, for wider melodies.

Both suit beginners. More notes mean more to learn and a higher price. If you want the simplest start, choose the 9. If you already play another instrument and want more range, choose the 10.

Pitch

440 Hz or 432 Hz?

The two tunings differ by 8 Hz in the reference pitch of the note A. The difference is small. Many players describe 432 Hz as warmer and softer, and 440 Hz as brighter and more precise.

440 Hz is the international concert standard. Choose it if you want to play with other instruments, apps or backing tracks. Choose 432 Hz if you play alone most of the time and like the softer sound. Noom Starter comes in both, see the shop.

Material and build

What to look at when you hold one.

Stainless steel resists rust better than nitrided steel and needs simpler care. Most handpans made since 2020 use it. See our care guide for what that means day to day.

Listen for three things: every note rings out, the notes sound in tune with each other, and each note fades in an even way. A handpan is hand-tuned, so ask the seller for a video of the exact instrument you will receive.

Budget

What a first handpan costs.

Handpans of this standard from well-known brands start around ฿45,000, and most cost more. Noom Starter D Kurd 9 and D Kurd 10 start at ฿34,900 and ฿38,000 today, with a soft bag and a stand in the box.

I tested this series myself and approved it for sound and consistency. Each one is engraved with the Noom logo. Prices rise after launch, and the shop shows the current price.

Before you pay

Questions to ask any seller.

• Which scale and which pitch?
• What is it made of?
• Can I see and hear the exact instrument, on video, before it ships?
• What does the guarantee cover, and who pays for a retune?
• How does it ship, how long does it take, and who pays duties?
• What is in the box: bag, stand, cloth?

At Noom you get a video of your own handpan before it ships and confirm it first. If it arrives out of tune or damaged, you tell us within 15 days with photos or video, and we pay a local tuner or replace it. Shipping is a flat rate by region, and you pay any import duties.

Try one first

Play it before you decide.

The best test is your own hands. Take a lesson, or ask us about trying a D Kurd 9 at the studio in Lamai. Message us on WhatsApp for a time.

Sources and further reading

What is the D Kurd 9-note handpan like? Cosmos Handpan.

Which handpan scale should I choose? Lidah Drums.

The handpan: a complete guide to scales, sound and choosing your first one. Tapadum.

Handpan care guide. Saraz Handpans.