Many visitors who come to Museek Studio are immediately drawn to those UFO-shaped instruments that produce ethereal sounds. One of the questions we get asked most often is:
“What’s the difference between a Handpan and a Steel Tongue Drum?”
Although they look somewhat similar—both being soothing, metallic percussion instruments—they differ fundamentally in structure, timbre, and playing technique. Today, let’s break down their key differences and introduce a remarkable Hong Kong handpan brand worth supporting — Panlab!
Handpan vs. Steel Tongue Drum: The Three Core Differences
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Sound Principle & Structure
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Handpan: Originating from Switzerland in 2000, it’s a relatively young instrument. Its surface has no cut slits; instead, each tone field is created by a craftsman who repeatedly hammers and tunes the metal until the indentations form precise pitches.
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Steel Tongue Drum: As its name suggests, sound comes from “tongue-shaped” slits carved into the steel surface. Striking these tongues causes them to vibrate and resonate to produce sound.
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Timbre & Resonance
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Handpan: Extremely resonant with rich overtones and a full, powerful sound. Each strike carries a kind of “frozen-in-time” magic—perfect for improvisation, expressing deep emotional layers and dynamic textures.
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Steel Tongue Drum: Its tone is more focused and crisp, with a calm, meditative quality. Because the metal sheets are usually thicker, the sustain tends to last even longer than that of a handpan.
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Playing Style & Maintenance
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Handpan: Played mainly with fingers and palms, requiring a bit of skill to find each note’s “sweet spot.” Since it relies on the metal’s tension, it’s sensitive to temperature and can go out of tune with excessive force. Regular care and retuning are needed.
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Steel Tongue Drum: Very beginner-friendly! It can be played with hands or with mallets, so even those with no musical background can easily create pleasant melodies. It’s highly durable and rarely goes out of tune — perfect for camping or beach jams.
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Panlab: Hong Kong’s Handpan Craftsmanship
When talking about handpans, we can’t overlook Hong Kong’s pride — Panlab.
In a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, it’s inspiring to see someone slow down and craft handpans one hammer strike at a time. Panlab’s founder, Ding Ho Fung, holds a master’s degree in physics. During his travels in Europe, he encountered handpans for the first time and was mesmerized by how a few simple notes could create such textured soundscapes.
Driven by curiosity, Ding decided to study the physics behind handpan sound production. At that time, almost no one in Asia knew how to make one. He taught himself online, went through countless trials and errors, and eventually received guidance from a French maker. By 2018, he had successfully built the first locally made prototype handpan in Hong Kong.
Features of Panlab Handpans:
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Premium European materials: Panlab uses imported nitrided steel and Ember stainless steel — rejecting cheaper rust-prone metals to ensure superior tone stability and sound quality.
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Entirely handmade in Hong Kong: Every Panlab handpan is hand-forged and manually tuned locally, infused with the maker’s passion and soul.
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Innovative Bass Series: Using stainless steel’s acoustic properties, Panlab developed a Bass Series that produces deeper, warmer tones with longer sustain, opening new creative possibilities for musicians.
Beyond instrument crafting, Panlab also focuses on handpan education. Their classes encourage students to experience music rather than memorize songs — teaching improvisation, creativity, and mindful expression through sound. This philosophy aligns perfectly with our vision at Museek Studio!
Listen to the interview between Hinson and Ding on Glasses On Podcast and hear more of his story.