The Hang Lexicon
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The Hang Lexicon was last updated on January 14th, 2009.
The Hang Lexicon offers short explanations of key words in alphabetical order. If you know of a missing key word, or have questions on any of the descriptions please add a comment at the bottom of this page.
Brass | Corrosion Protection | Development Stages | Ding | Du | Dum | First Generation | Gu | Gudu Hang | Hang | Hangbauhaus | Hang Drum | Hanghang | Hanghaus | Helmholtz Resonance | High Voice | Integral Hang | Low Voice | Maintenance | Overtones | PANArt Hangbau AG | Sales | Scales | Second Generation (New Generation) | Serial Number | Signature | Sound Models | Sunlight | Tone Circle | Tuning | www.hang.ch
Brass
The Second Generation Hang and the Integral Hang have a coating made of brass. It is applied with a brass brush and annealed onto the outer surface in a kiln. Another sign of Hanghang built starting in 2006 is the added brass ring around the seam between the upper and lower halves of the Hang. 
Corrosion Protection
The Nitriding process creates a micro thin layer that helps prevent oxidation (rust) of the steel. A thin layer of Biofa Hard Oil is also applied with a cloth as a final step in the creation of the Hang.
Development Stages
The following figure shows the development stages of the Hang from 2000 to 2008. Klick on the elements of the figure for more information. Three of these stages are demonstrated in a video.
Ding
The central domed note on top of the Hang. This is the lowest note on the instrument. It corresponds with the Helmholtz Resonance of the air inside the Hang. The Ding note is played by striking either the dome or the flattened area around the dome. The upper half shell of the Hang is also referred to as the ‘Ding side’.
The First Generation Hanghang had a Ding between Eb3 and Bb3 (for the early models usually A3 and G3, the Low Hang from 2005 mainly F3). With increasing experience Hang Makers were able to get the Ding note of the Hang lower and lower. Almost all of the Second Generation Hanghang have a D3 tuned Ding. While the First Generation Hanghang had a shiny polished Ding, the Second Generation Hanghang of 2006 and 2007 had a surface coating of annealed brass.
While the 2008 Integral Hang is tuned to D3 as was the Ding of the models from 2006 and 2007 it has a several significant alterations. There is a circular segmentation in the dome creating a “dome within a dome“. It also has a significant amount of brass brushed on, annealed, and then laquered creating a rougher surface than the Ding of the previous models. Also the flattened tone field around the Ding dome no longer has a distinct border, it fades gently into the transitionary curved shoulder of the Hang.
Du
See Gudu Hang.
Dum
A small flared tube made from turned pear wood offered by PANArt. It can be placed in the Gu opening of First Generation or Second Generation Hanghang to lower the Helmholtz resonance a fifth by narrowing and extending the neck of the Gu.
First Generation
One name often used to describe the Hanghang made prior to the end of 2005. It is based on statements made by the Hang Makers when they announced the evolution of the Hanghang in the spring of 2006 referring to them as the “New Generation” of the Hang. ( More…)
Gu
The round resonating opening in the middle of the lower half shell of the Hang, opposite the ‘Ding Side’. This ‘bottom’ of the Hang is also referred to as the ‘Gu Side’. The Gu opening combined with the air volume in the body of the Hang act as a Helmholtz resonator. Helmholtz Resonance can be generated by striking the Ding or by slapping the opening of the Gu directly with the flat of the hand.
In the First Generation the rim and inside neck of the Gu was polished, the Second Generation are not polished. The Integral Hang (2008) has a Gu side which has been shaped slightly towards an oval. Since 2007 the rim of the Gu hole (Gu-Ring) has been specifically tuned: Two close tones of F5 and F#5 open new possibilities and when played together make a vibratory ringing note.
Gudu Hang
This version of the Hang has a second opening (Du) on the bottom to the side of the center Gu. Udu like effects can be generated using them both. When the Du opening is not used it can be covered with an included flexible magnetic disc. The Gudu Hang was available on models made from 2004 through 2007.
Hang
Firstly, the name of instrument is based on the fact that it is played with the hands: Hang means ‘hand’ in the Bernese dialect. It also has etymological ties to the precursor of the Hang, the Pang. The Pang family was a group of Steel Pan instruments which PANArt developed and produced before the Hang was invented. Just like the Hang, the Pang were also made from deep drawn and nitrided steel plates. The term Hang is an international registered trade mark and property of PANArt Hangbau AG. It isn’t allowed to use this name for other musical instruments or services like arranging of events, publications et al. (see databases CTM-ONLINE, Trade mark No. 969295 or TESS).
Hangbauhaus
This is what the Hang Makers call their workshop perched above the bank of the Aare. There are also guest rooms available, where those who have appointments and travel from far may spend the night.
Hang Drum
This name was used in 2002 by the then North American distributors of the Hang for sales of the instruments. Since using “Hang” with another descriptive word gave significant advantages when using Internet search engines, this name was also widely disseminated on the Internet. The Hang Makers have never used this name because it does not accurately or fully describe the features and tonal possibilities of the Hang. They have requested not to use this term to describe the Hang.
Hanghang
This term is used by the Hang Makers as the plural form of Hang: one Hang, several Hanghang.
Hanghaus
A wooden house on the bank of the Aare, which previously served as a workshop for PANArt. Today it serves as a presentation space for the finished Hanghang where those interested can choose their instrument in peace.
Helmholtz Resonance
The phenomenon of air resonance in a cavity. An example of Helmholtz resonance is the sound created when one blows across the top of an empty bottle. The interior of the Hang in conjunction with the Gu hole creates a Helmholtz resonator. The frequency with which the air in this system oscillates is based on both the air volume inside the Hang and by diameter and length of the neck of Gu. If the Gu is unobstructed it resonates at F2 with the Ding if it is set to an F3. This gives the Hang a deep fundamental and a strong harmonic resonance to the whole instrument. Even when a Hang has a Ding lower than F3 the bass tone can be brought into resonance with the Ding. If the Hang is set horizontally on the lap the bass can be adjusted by reducing the angle of the legs as until it is exactly one octave below the Ding. With the Hang held in the vertical position the resonant relationship can be achieved by covering the Gu slightly with one hand. The Helmholtz resonance can be set into motion through a damped blow to the Ding, by slapping the Gu with the flat of the hand or by striking the Hang at the ‘shoulder’ between the flat of the Ding Tone Field and the Tone Fields in the Tone Circle with the heel of hand.
High Voice
See Low Voice.
Integral Hang
In February of 2008 PANArt announced a further development in their instrument journey: The Integral Hang. The surface of the new instruments is darker and rougher than the Second Generation. Even the design of the Ding has been changed. While the overall shape of the upper side is similar to the 2007 Hang, the bottom and Gu-opening of the Integral Hang has been slightly ovaled. The positioning of the diagonal Tone Fields in the Tone Circle and the brass ring at the seams connecting the two half shells remains consistent from the 2007 model Hanghang. With the Integral Hang, the Hang Makers appear to have reached a natural conclusion to the reduction of Sound Models over the years in their attempts at finding the best overall sound quality of the instrument as well as the best interplay of the tone fields. The Integral Hang has only one Sound Model: D3 Ding with seven notes A3, Bb3, C4, D4, E4, F4, and A4 surrounding it in the Tone Circle. No other Hang Sound Models are currently being made.
Low Hang
The English translation of this entry will be published soon.
Low Voice
In the first four years, PANArt offered Hanghang Sound Models with eight notes in Tone Circle. In 2005 they introduced Sound Models with only seven notes in the Tone Circle. The Sound Models with eight notes were called High Voice, while those with seven notes were called Low Voice. The Second Generation Hanghang (2006 and 2007) were primarily Low Voice Hanghang. The Integral Hang (2008) is solely low voiced with 7 notes in the Tone Circle.
Maintenance
The Hang is well able to keep its notes in tune and does not need regular tuning. The Second Generation instruments and the Integral Hang are able to remain in tune even better than older Hanghang. With that being said, if a Hang falls on the ground or struck (intentionally or inadvertently) with too much force the Tone fields can get out of tune. A restoration of the notes is possible, unless the damage is too severe. The tuning is done not only at the fundamental, but also overtones of the affected notes are brought back on the right frequencies. The out of tune Hang should be brought to the Hangbauhaus or sent to PANArt by mail. The notes are brought back with the use of a small hammer, striking both outside and from inside through the Gu opening. Under no circumstances should the two half-shells be disassembled.
Overtones
In each Tone Field (and in the Ding) along with the fundamental frequency are first and second overtones: the octave and the compound fifth (a fifth above the octave). 
Unlike the Steel Pan, which are tuned to the octave, the Tone fields of the Hang have additional and particularly pronounced compound fifths. Tone fields have the octave stressed when striking the short side, while on the long side the compound fifth is generated. When listening to (and generating) the overtones, you can not only hear them as part of note being played, but can tune into the multiple levels of overtone music interactions that float around the main notes being played. (More…)
PANArt Hangbau AG
This is the company of the Hang Makers Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer. It was initially PANArt Steelpan-Manufaktur AG. At the end of 2003 a few years after the Hang Makers started devoting all of their time to the production and development of specialized Hanghang they renamed themselves PANArt Hangbau AG. According to Swiss trade register the purpose of the enterprise is: “the development, manufacture and sales of musical instruments, accessories and sound sculptures, and other activities to promote new forms of music.” The term “AG” (incorporated) should not be a sign that PANArt is a big company. The workshop in which the Hanghang are made consists of only the two Hang Makers.
Sales
Starting in 2001 PANArt built an international dealer network, which by 2005 had several shops in Switzerland and one distributor in each of the following areas: Australia, Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and the United States. Because they were no longer capable of addressing the increased demand PANArt stopped sales through the dealer network in early 2006. Since then, Hanghang only are available directly from PANArt in Bern.
In 2006 and 2007 buyers needed to obtain an appointment at the Hangbauhaus in Bern to purchase a Hang. Since the announcement of the single model Integral Hang in February 2008 shipping has become an option again. Even so there is still the requirement to write to PANArt an often a significant wait to obtain a purchase opportunity as the demand remains high. (More…)
Scales
See Sound Models.
Second Generation (New Generation)
A term used to refer to Hanghang built from 2006 through 2007. It is based on statements by the Hang Makers in announcements regarding the evolution of the Hang in the spring of 2006. They mentioned a “new generation” of the Hang had been made. In these instruments, the two half-shells sport a coating of annealed brass. Also at the seam where the two shells meet there is a brass ring. Furthermore the Hang Makers changed the basic approach to Sound Models with the Second Generation Hanghang. Most Hanghang of the new generation are Low Voice Hanghang with 7 tones in the Tone Circle. The Tone Fields in the circle of the instruments from 2007 were shifted to a 45° angle to the radius of the Hang. The successor of the Second Generation is the Integral Hang. (More…)
Serial Number
Every Hang has an individual serial number. First generation Hanghang had a small white piece of paper pasted inside the Hang which was visible through the Gu. On it was also written the name of the Sound Model and the signature of Sabina Schärer or Felix Rohner. The numbers went up to about 4300.
Second Generation Hanghang had the serial number engraved into the inside edge of the hole in the Gu side. They had a prefix of N. and went from N.0001 to N.0826. The Integral Hang shifted all the information that was on the Hang to the Gu side outside edge. There the PANArt Logo, the signatures of both the makers, date of finalization, and the restarted serial number are written. The serial numbers began again with 1 and now have an H in front of the number (H45 for example).
Signature
The First Generation Hang had a sticker with a handwritten Serial Number and Sound Model name along with a signature of one of the Hang Makers. The Second Generation instruments have a signature engraved on the edge of the bottom of the Hang (”Rohner Schärer” or “Schärer Rohner”). The Integral Hang now has the production date and serial number engraved in the same location. The spelling of signatures has been changed (”Sabina Schärer” and “F. Rohner”).
Sound Models
Because the Tone Fields on the Hang are limited in number, the Hang Makers felt the need to leave behind the traditional Steel Pan chromatic scales and to find new paths forward. Initially they chose an ethnomusicological approach utilizing many different scales from different cultures for the sound of the Hanghang. As the musical possibilities of Hanghang are not only based on the scale used, they chose to refer to the Hang in terms of “Sound Models”. A Sound Model is defined by the frequency of the Ding, the number of Tone Fields in Tone Circle and scale used.
In the first few years they offered 30 different Sound Models. All had 8 notes in the Tone Circle. A3 Dings and G3 Dings numbered fourteen Sound Models each, and there were two with F3 Dings. In 2004 they offered 45 Sound Models and modified some of the prior scales. The sound of the Dings shifted toward the lower tones (1 x Bb3, 13 x A3, 19 x G3, 12 x F3).
In 2005 the Sound Models offered with the Low Hang were completely changed. Only 14 sound models were newly made all with a F3-Ding in both a High Voice Hang with 8 notes, and Low Voice Hang with 7 notes in the Tone Circle. The older models and custom models were still available on request.
In 2006 the Hang Makers chose a whole new conceptual approach for the Second Generation of the Hanghang. They began with the Helmholtz resonance of the body which can be brought to a responsive D2 with the proper adjustment of the legs or with the hands. The Ding was set to D3. A3 was the lowest note in the Tone Circle and the octaves of these two notes, D4 and A4 were in the circle as well. Almost all Second Generation Hanghang are built with this basic structure. The other notes are chosen by the tuner based on each instrument according to artistic discretion. Second Generation models are predominantly configured with seven notes in the tone circle.
As time passed PANArt found that there were certain Sound Models that had better overall resonance so they continued to reduce their number in 2007. The Integral Hang (2008) now only is one model and one set of notes: D3 Ding with a Tone Circle consisting of A3, Bb3, C4, D4, E4, F4 and A4. There are currently no other models being offered. (More…)
Sunlight
Direct sunlight on the Hang from a cloudless sky, especially on or near the Ding, can quickly heat the Steel to high temperatures. This leads to a temporary de-tuning and dampening of the Hang’s tones, which resolve after the Hang cools.
Tone Circle
Around the central Ding tone there is a Tone Circle of eight (High Voice) or seven (Low Voice) Tone Fields. Among the instruments of the First Generation (2001 to 2005) and the first Hanghang of the Second Generation in 2006 there were radially oriented Tone Fields. From 2007 the Tone Fields were shifted to a 45° angle to the radius of the Hang. The changed orientation improves the radiation of the tones and gives a clearer sound. The illustrations show the sequence of tones from the lowest (No.1) to the highest tone (No. 7 or No. 8).
Tuning
With both the Steel Pan and the Hang, the term ‘Tuning’ has multiple implications. This can refer to ‘tuning’ of an instrument or of a tone field that is no longer in tune. But, more often, it is a term for the entire process of creating the instrument and how the hammers set the notes into the steel. Detailed information about the tuning of the Hang is in History, Developement and Tuning of the HANG by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer.
www.hang.ch
In spring 2002, as the Hang Makers began to focus more completely on development and manufacture of the Hang, they closed down their prior homepage www.panart.ch as well as the information on the PANG Steel Pan development and instruments. Instead, a new website was created and maintained - www.hang.ch. It had information about the Hang as an instrument, listed the Sound Models, as well as the distributors in various countries. In winter 2005/2006 along with the development of the Second Generation Hang, and the termination of the dealer network PANArt decided that the Hang was no longer be officially offered via the internet. All the information except the contact details of the PANArt was removed from the site. In summer 2006 www.hang.ch was completely shut down.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:52 am
[...] hangblog ( en ingés y alemán) [...]
March 12th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Hello. I am from France, i am 27, sorry for my bad english. I am interested in buy one hang. Can you send me the prices conditions?
Thanks
Regards
Jeremie Bonamant
March 12th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Hi Jeremie,
no I cannot send you the price conditions because this is not PANArt’s website. I’m a Hang player sharing his knowledge about the Hang. All I know about how to buy a Hang, I wrote in the article How do I acquire a Hang?.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
hello, im from portugal and im intrested in acquire a hang. can you help me? tank you
March 13th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Information is the only help I can give: How do I acquire a Hang?
March 30th, 2008 at 7:26 am
hello michael,
first of all great job on the blog, and your objective moderation skills…
i was wondering, if one were to show up at the hanghaus without an invitation, would they be refused a hang drum? i am a musician from the states and i’m ready to plan my trip… but i must plan well in advance and am worried about not being able to work around their timeframe. i wouldn’t want to ruin my chances of getting a hang by not following correct procedure, but there is only a small window of time when i can go. please help!
thanks very much,
alex
March 30th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Hi alex,
did you get a letter from PANArt with the agreement and did you send the signed agreement back? In this case I would contact PANArt to question, wether it is possible to fetch your Hang during your planned journey and get an appointment in this timeframe. If this isn’t possible it can be the better choice for you to get your Hang shipped.
If you didn’t get the letter with the agreement, I wouldn’t show up in the Hangbauhaus without appointment. I don’t think, that they would refuse you to acquire a Hang forever, but your visit would be in vain because they wouldn’t sell you a Hang at that time. In this case I would write your first contact letter to PANArt and wait for an answer and in my point of view there is only a very little chance to get your Hang this year.
For my whole view on how to acquire a Hang read this article. To discuss the topic with others visit the Hang-Music Forum.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:43 am
thanks for make thisblog, there are a lot of people hungry for know somehtink!
a huge mich
May 14th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Hello,
i would dearly love to purchase one of each model if
possible,can you help?.
As lifetime percussionist ,i would like something like this to
take into my latter years.
Thank you
roger morris
May 14th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Hi roger,
just read my comment numbered 5.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
HELLO, I JUST HAPPEND TO HEAR THIS INSTRUMENT ON YOUTUBE AND MY HEART DROP, I COULD BELIEVE MY EYES THAT SOUND IS RECORDED IN MY HEAD IS AMAZING, I WILL LIKE TO KNOW WERE CAN I PURCHASE THIS INSTRUMENT. IM A MUSICAN FROM ARGENTINA BUT I LEAVE IN CALIFORNIA FOR 15 YRS, I MUST GET ONE OF THIS PLEASE REPLY…
THANK YOU SO MUCH
May 20th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
The information you want is already on this page. Please read it. I cannot do this for you.
May 27th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I am traveling in Germany and want to take a Hang back to Mexico
I am in the Munich area, hopefuly you can help, DO YOU KNOW OF ANYBODY SELLING HANG DRUMS IN MUNICH????
thankyou very much
Armando
May 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hi armando loizaga,
you can buy new Hanghang only from PANArt directly. It is extremly seldom that a music shop sells a used Hang. Used Hanghang are mostly selled from the owner directly. The best advice is to write a post in the Hang-Music Forum.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
is there a patent on this? if so whats the number
May 29th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Hi nathan lange,
as far as I know there is patent on the PANG instruments, the precursors of the Hang (Verfahren zur Herstellung von Blechklang-Musikinstrumenten).
May 29th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
yeah i had a search done on patents for it and they didnt have one and the other question is do you know how thick does the carbinzed steel has to be on the inside or do you know of any blue prints by chance thanks alot buddy and do you work for them cause you seem to know enough.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Hi nathan lange,
you want to copy the Hang? Blue prints wouldn’t help you. It is not the shape that makes a Hang. There are published information about building and tuning of the Hang. You should study all these information carefully. And you will need years of experience in the tuning of steel. And: No I’m not working for PANArt.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Hello. Today I have found the instrument with the soul. I want to know, how I can get hang drum. I’ m from Poland.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:43 am
thanks for your patience with everyone, brother
July 10th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Hi Harry,
the information you want is in the Hangblog. Please use the navigation bar.
Hi kiel,
yes brother, patience is obviously necessary if someone runs a Hangblog
August 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am
i am very interested to play hang drun. i play african djembe that i create. let me know!
thank you
August 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hi!
I was inspired and overwhelmed with facts reading the above article! As I have only really just discovered the Hang this was a great knowledge base to find out about the instrument and the makers! Well done on a really informative blog!
I see that any chance of actually getting my hands on a Hang is pretty much impossible! It says that they have filled the quota for the Hang from all the letters they received in late 07 and early 08. Where do we send letters? I could not find an address for PANArt? I would even be willing to go to Berne to pick it up (although it isn’t needed anymore!) I could treat it as a spiritual holiday!
I understand it is a very fine art making these unique instruments and it seems that demand for them is extremely high! I live in hope that one day I will be able to Ding the hours away
Consider your blog well and truely bookmarked Michael and keep up the great work!
(i was going to finish with ‘Hang on in there’…but it was just too cheesy!)
Jonnie
August 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hi Jonnie,
the address for PANArt you can find in the article “How do I acquire a Hang?”.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the great reference pages. I recently bought an older hang, smaller than most we see now, 7 notes, relatively high-pitched compared to bigger hangs - and I’m not sure of the scale type (haven’t heard it on any sound model tracks). The PANArt logo is engraved toward the outer edge of the ding side, but there is no engraved serial number. Any idea of which hang this might be, or its worth? I paid 1,300 Swiss Francs, maybe way too much, but I had the chance to get this one now rather than wait on Panart’s list for a year. The scale has a “mystical” sound but also some Latin and Afro/Caribbean progressions can be drawn from it. Any insight much appreciated!
All the best,
Yonatan
September 1st, 2008 at 11:14 am
Salve, vorrei alcune notizie su come e dove acquistare un hang drum… Grazie
September 1st, 2008 at 11:30 am
Ciao Stefano,
Vi è un inglese e un tedesco articolo della Hangblog.
Qui si può chiedere in italiano.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Thank you so very much for the site. Do you think that a person who has NO musical skill and is advanced in age (i.e. over 50) could learn to play this instrument? Not of course for anything more than the sheer pleasure of the sound and vibrational force. Thank you again, well done.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Hi Linda,
this is a very personal question and can’t be answered generally. Why should it be impossible? There are people without experience in playing any musical instrument before who are very satisfied with the Hang. And there are others who sold their Hang because they didn’t play it after they got it. I think the best counselor is your own feeling. If you feel a strong whish to play the Hang, go for it. Some people need some time to become familiar with their Hang and others got a connection immediately. It is very different with different persons. If you want to get other points of view on this topic, you can visit the Hang-Music Forum.
September 4th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Hi Linda
I am over 50, with very little musical skills and I am one of the few lucky ones that managed to get on the buyers list for 2008. I have already paid the Hangmakers and I am eagerly waiting delivery. I heard one Hang being played in the Barrio Gotico in Barcelona in November 2006, fell in love with it and immediately decided to have one. I also am only looking for “the sheer pleasure of the sound and vibrational force”, as you so well put it, and I really hope that I will be able “tie the knot” with the instrument. Once I do get it I will return to this forum to describe what it feels like, for me, to play one.
Regards to all and thanks to Michael for the opportunity to use this forum
September 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hi to everyone! i don’t know the hang since long and here in Italy seems very new … i sow it in Mexico and like it sooo much!! i play drums but really dream to play one Hang.
Can you please inform me on it possible cost and if there is any other way to get it before 1 year?!?
Thanks to give us some more indication on the subject
September 14th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
this blog is great, i only heard the Hang live once, and that was here in Oostende (Belgium) this summer, it was played bij a Spanish street musician, and i really loved the sound and fell in love with it.
I finally got the time to look arround on the internet, and found your super blog, what a load of information you have here, it really is super. Well i guess i’ll gave to try and get on that waiting list.
thx for all the info, this got me as far as i needed, besides getting the Hang itself. If i evver succeed in buying one, you’ll be one of the first to know about it.
thx again, and carry on with this great blog
all the best,
peter
September 14th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Hi frankie,
look at the article “How do I acquire a Hang?”
Hi peter,
nice to read that the Hangblog ist helpful. Good luck and a lot of patience for you.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Hi guys just want to know how can I get a Hang drum Can toy please give me any info. about it ? thanks alot. Cheers!!!!!!
September 15th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Hi Ricardo,
look at my answer to frankie just a few lines above
October 7th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
hola soy de argentina necesitaria saber que porecios y que posibilidades tengo de adquirir este maravillosos instrumento por favor necesito todo tipo de informacion para saber si puedo obtenerlo gracias
October 7th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Hola Oswaldo Suarez,
hay un Inglés y un alemán artículo acerca de su pregunta en el Hangblog. Si usted no entiende Inglés o alemán, puede pedir información aquí.
October 19th, 2008 at 12:47 am
Hello Michael,
Thank you for providing this informative blog. I recently had the opportunity to play a hang and it is truly a magical experience. I will practice patience and submit my request letter for hopefully obtaining one after they return from there proposed break. Would you mind posting the PANArt address one needs to use to send mail to. Thanks for your time!
October 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Hi Amber,
the address is in this article.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Hi Everyone, i’ve noticed that a lot of folks are in love with this hard to get instrument. A few tips for those who didn’t know already: In Germany is a manufacturer of a so called Caisa drum (check out on you tube) there approx.€900 . Another steelpan maker is starting to sell a very good alternative called a Halo (patheonsteel.com) they also have a waiting list allready but they ship allover the globe!.Another nice creative try is the Hank drum. use these keywords and do your benifit.
Good luck to all ya’ll!
November 6th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Hi Kees,
some further information are necessary to understand the differences between the instruments you mentioned in your comment and the Hang.
The CAISA is a convex steel pan played with the hands. Its instrument design is different to the Hang. It has no cavity reacting like a Helmholtz resonator, and no gong like central dome like the Ding resonating with it. The steel used is not nitrided. The overtone tuning is different to the Hang and the tone fields are separated from the areas between by lines of little holes drilled around them while the tone fields of the Hang have soft edge conditions. Besides these technical differences the personal approach of the tuners to the tuning process and their decisions and abilities how to control the dozends of parameters that influence the sound of tuned steel plates are responsible that the Caisa and the Hang sound quite different. Many Hang players say that the Caisa isn’t comparable with the Hang. Some other like it. So everybody has to check it out and decide himself.
The HALO is a new instument annouced by the US Steelpan manufacturer Pantheon Steel. By now no photo and no sound recording of a Halo was published by Pantheon Steel. Kyle Cox from Pantheon Steel told that the instrument layout will be very similar to the Hang. It was also told that production shall start in the beginning of 2009 and that there is a list of about 1600 potential buyers. Because the sound of a instrument of tuned steel is mainly influenced by the approach and abilities of the tuner, nobody is currently able to estimate whether the Halo will be a Hang alternative or not. We will have to wait until the Halo is really brought in existence and can be seen, heared and touched.
The HANK DRUM is a not an instrument of tuned steel sheets like the Hang, Caisa or Halo. It was invented by Dennis Havlena who was inspired by the way the Hang is played. He used new propane tanks and cut a tone circle of tongues into the surface. The size of the tongues causes the tone pitch. Dennis Havlena’s approach to the hank drum was to invent an instrument that can be selfmade. It sounds very different to the Hang and the overtones which are generated by the metal tongues can not be controlled like the the overtones of a Hang tone field. In the meanwhile Dennis Havlena’s instrument concept was act on by several manufacturers. Some of them built a more Hang like shape of their instruments but this doesn’t make the sound more similar.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Hi my name is Manuel Im a professional drummer & percusionist “Prod manager for drums cymbal and percussion” working in Hermes Music Mexico we have distribution of all the best brands in Mexico ,Im a clinician and teacher too ,I love to play drum & bass jungle, dub….Since the first time I heard the hang it make me crazy, now I wanna buy one of them, can you give a quote and how long you will take to send one to mexico?
One love…positive vibes ….for ever
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hi Manuel
the Hangblog and I are not involved in the distribution of the Hang. The Hangblog can only provide information. How you can acquire a Hang you can read in the article “How do I acquire a Hang?”
December 8th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Help my,to find a hang shop,because i love his sound,and i realy want to buy one.Please!!!!
Thank you
December 13th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
you got a good set of information out in this post. thanks for doing the work. i too just heard of this now and am getting one - will get one. finland to switzerland i can probably blag somehow, the rest is a case of saving.
i take it you also checked
http://web.archive.org/*/http://www.hang.ch/ out - and probably seen some of those pages already..
December 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Hi esaruoho,
the webarchive link is in the Hang Internet Index. I have added it now also to the keyword in the Hang Lexicon.
December 26th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
i have an old friend whos brother died and knowing my self as a music, percussion, world instrument fanatic, he gifted me with his old hang. i did not know him personally and have no serial number or proof of contract with panart but one of the overtones is out of tune and i am wondering if i can get it tuned if i send it to hanghaus with letter explaining my situation. i think he bought it from a north american dealer between 2002-2004
December 27th, 2008 at 2:11 am
Dear Michael,
Thank you so much! You were very helpful. If you ever need something from Portugal, remember me and use my e-mail.
Have a 2009 full of life and success!
Ana
December 27th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Hi josiah,
send a fax to PANArt and tell them your situation. Sign the agreement (left out the price and the other dates you don’t know) and add it to the fax. Ask for a response that all is ok and that you can send your instrument as descibed in the Hang repair information from PANArt.
Hi Ana,
thank you for your whishes. Nice to hear that the Hangblog is helpful.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Hi,
I met a hang player in Barcelona, who told me about a small version of hang.
i would like to know where i can find it, and what are the main differences.
Thanks you
January 12th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Hi Laure,
there isn’t any smaller version of the Hang. All Hang models have the same size. Perhaps the hang player in Barcelona meant a steel tank tongue drum. These instruments are not a version of the Hang but quite different instruments. Search for tank drum at YouTube and you will find a lot of videos. These instruments consists of steel tanks (propane tanks or others) with tongues cut into the surface. The sound is very different compared with the Hang.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Excuse me, can you help me to buy a hang drum? I live in Saint-Petersburg, and i`m a student.
It is awful, but there is no chance to buy it in Russia!
Thenk you very mush!
P.S. Sorry for my English
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Hi Dimitriy,
I cannot help you to buy a Hang. I can only help with information how to acquire a Hang. You find it in the article How do I acquire a Hang?.
March 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Hi Dmimriy.
Я из Москвы. Ты не один. Я лично отправил факс в Швейцарию еще весной прошлого года, и только позавчера получил ответ. Надо отдать им должное, что рано или поздно, но на все письма и факсы они отвечают, это правда. Мне написали, что смогут дать какую-то более подробную информацию относительного моего заказа только в конце этого года. Когда же будет готов сам инструмент вообще не известно. Но божатся, что не забудут обо мне, и обязательно отпишутся.
Пиши письмом или факсом (что быстрее). Укажи в письме свой мэйл, ответ я получил на мэйл. Штука в том, что у меня есть несколько знакомых, которые живут в Швейцарии. Люди реально приезжали по этому адресу и уходили ни с чем. Все только по предварительным заказам письмом или факсом. Так просто они не торгуют. Таким образом совершенно не важно в какой части светы ты живешь - в России или на соседней улице. Все в порядке очереди.
All forgive for Russian!
March 27th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Hi BREATH,
thank you for your advice in Russian.
April 5th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Michael, Thanks so much for the incredible devotion and care and PATIENCE!
I have continued to seaerch for used available Hangs and also noted your site as a place to stop by and check on the status from time to time of the fate of future productions.
Will you be able to provide info as it arrives vis a vis Pan Art/ or the founders? It would appear that they have discontinued for as yet an undertermined amount of time. Is there any hope whatsoever that they might resume productions at some future date?
I wonder if there is any feasible way they could -or would- consider training others on their skills - with the intention of creating a production team?
it just seems such a shame that for lack of the ability to produce them in a timely fashion, they would limit the world to whatever has been produced thus far.
In any case I will keep looking and reading your site - and LISTENING to what is truly a sound of earth and humanity!
Thanks again. I might have mis posted these questions if there is a more appropriate place to ask them - such as a forum please let me know?
What a selfless and compassionate act you have done- by producing and maintaining this blog!
Namaste and Blessings
Michele [Blue Mermaid]
April 5th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hi Michele,
the art of sheet steel sounds on the level Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer are working on doesn’t allow a production that is oriented towards the demand. Therefor an immediate satisfaction is and will be not possible. On the other side there is no reason for the fear that “production stops”. When I read your comment today in the morning, I thought that the answer to your question, whether there is “hope whatsoever that they might resume productions at some future date” is worth to be read by a wider audience. So I wrote an entry for the new Hang Forum that started today. Here you find my post “Did PANArt stop production?”
April 13th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
??? strange
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Come posso ordinare un hang’
Producono ancora Hang drum?
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:27 pm
How many order?
The panart productly hang in to 2009?
April 25th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Hi Manuel,
you find answers to your questions here:
How do I acquire a Hang?
Did PANArt stop production?
June 29th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I heard a young Spaniard doing jazz with his hang last May, 2009, at the doorsteps of Santa María del Mar, in the Borne of Barcelona. I had never seen before this marvel. He accompanied an alto sax and they both made lovely sound. I whould have bought their CD but I recorded them with my digital camera.
Marvelled by his fantastic instrument, I asked him whether he also played tabla (having lived myself for 6 years in India, tabla came immediately to my mind); he told me he was learning tabla (a very difficult percussion instrument, by the way).
Thinking of buying a hang, I learned then of the prize. I think he told me some Euros 1500 or so. It’s not cheap, but now that I know of the craftmanship involved and the fact that one has to order each instrument, I realize the cost involved.
My question is: does anyone know whether there is any well known hang percussionist? Why Spaniards seem to have an edge with instrument? or perhaps I’m wrong? Thanks