Ensembles and jamming
Playing a fixed-scale instrument with other musicians: who to play with, how to find common ground, and how to be heard.
Playing with others
Jamming, ensembles, busking and performance: how a fixed-scale, quiet, sustaining instrument fits alongside other musicians and in front of an audience.
Two facts shape almost everything in this section. A handpan plays a fixed set of notes, so harmonic compatibility with other players is something you check rather than assume. And a handpan is quiet with a long decay, so it is easily buried and easily turned to mush.
The good news is that both constraints have straightforward answers. Write your actual note list down and hand it to whoever you are playing with, rather than naming a scale they will misunderstand. Amplify rather than hitting harder, because striking a handpan hard does not make it much louder and can genuinely damage the tuning. And leave more space than feels natural, because the sustain is already filling more of the bar than you think.
The performance pages are deliberately unromantic about money and about what busking is actually like. The instrument is a wonderful busking tool and a wonderful ceremony instrument. Neither of those is the same as a reliable income, and anyone quoting you a typical hourly figure is guessing.
Contents#
| ID | Question | Level |
|---|---|---|
| ENS-01 | Which instruments pair well with a handpan? | beginner |
| ENS-02 | How do I jam with a guitarist when my instrument is stuck in one scale? | intermediate |
| ENS-03 | How do I accompany a singer and find a key that suits them? | intermediate |
| ENS-04 | How do I play with djembe, cajon or frame drum without clashing? | intermediate |
| ENS-05 | Can two handpans in different scales play together? | intermediate |
| ENS-06 | What is the etiquette at drum circles and open jams? | beginner |
| ENS-07 | How loud is a handpan compared with other instruments, and how do I avoid being buried? | beginner |
| ENS-08 | How do I use a looper as my duo partner? | intermediate |
| ENS-09 | Is a handpan good for busking, and what actually happens when you do it? | beginner |
| ENS-10 | What do I need to know about permits, pitches and practicalities? | intermediate |
| ENS-11 | How much can a busker realistically earn? | intermediate |
| ENS-12 | How do I protect my instrument when playing in public? | beginner |
| ENS-13 | What is involved in playing weddings, yoga classes, sound baths and events? | intermediate |
| ENS-14 | How do I structure a solo set and hold an audience? | advanced |
Files#
- Ensembles and jamming · ENS-01 to ENS-08
- Performing and busking · ENS-09 to ENS-14
See also: Recording and amplification, Scales and music theory, Business and legal
Performing and busking
Streets, weddings, yoga studios and stages: what performing with a handpan is actually like, and how to do it without losing money or your instrument.