Why there is confusion over handpan names
There is frequent confusion about the correct names of different musical instruments. This is because generic names, brand names and type designations are used interchangeably.
Handpan and steel-drum: similarities and differences
The sound of a handpan is most similar to that of a steel-drum. The handpan has a more intense, warm and mystical sound. They also differ in shape and way of playing. This is because you play the steel drum with sticks and not with your hands as is the case with the handpan.
What is a Spacedrum®?
Spacedrum® is a brand name of a type of handpan.
Spacedrum® and Sound Sculpture as brand name
Just as once happened with the brand name Kleenex ®, people have come to use the brand name for tissues in general. Finally, Spacedrum® and Sound Sculpture are brand names of a specific handpan, as there are now many.
The names Hang® and hang-drum are also still sometimes used incorrectly.
What is a Hang® and why ‘hang-drum’ is wrong
Hang® is the name of an instrument designed by the Swiss firm PANart. Other builders started making handpans based on this Hang®. People made their own combination of this name and the term “drum”.
Tongue drum, tank drum and steel tongue drum
Then there are a number of instruments that are often largely machine-made, such as the tongue drum, tank drum and steel tongue drum. Although they are sometimes confused with the hand pan, this is completely incorrect. The quality is incomparable. These instruments do not have the unique character of the handpan with its rich, profound sound. Also, the handpan offers considerably more playing options. Names like hang-drum, handpan-drum and handpan tongue drum, are mostly bastardisations of names based on the handpan.
Hand drum: a totally different type of instrument
Finally, the term hand-drum is still sometimes mistakenly used, but that is a completely different type of musical instrument.
