The Tek

The Tek is a bright, dry, percussive sound that is played on the steel around the ding. It is the second stroke we are learning with the right hand, and it is a core part of every rhythm in this course. The Tek is only ever played with your right hand. The difference between the ding and the Tek is what allows rhythm to be created.

If you have played the darbuka, you’ll recognise the name. On the darbuka, the Tek is the sharp, high sound played at the edge of the skin, and it does the job of answering the deep Doum. On the handpan, the Tek does exactly the same job, answering the deep ding, which is why I’ve given it the same name. You may hear other teachers call a strike like this a “tak” or a shoulder tap; there’s no single agreed name for it in the handpan world.

The Tek is played on the shoulder: the flat band of plain steel around the base of the ding, between the ding and the tone fields. Nobody has tuned a note into the shoulder, which means the Tek has no pitch of its own. That is exactly what makes it so useful. It can never clash with any note you play, on any chord.

Technique #

To play the Tek, let two of your fingers — the two between your index and your little finger — strike the shoulder with your right hand, on the right-hand side of the ding. Aim for the flat steel just outside the ding: close to the ding, but not on it, and well clear of the tone fields. The top part of each finger, the pad just behind the tip, is the only part that should land.

Just like the ding, the Tek is a bounce. The moment your fingers land, they should spring straight back off the steel. The power comes from a flick of the wrist, not from your arm. The Tek is a smaller, quicker movement than the ding: your fingers don’t need to travel far.

The differentiation between the ding and the Tek #

The contrast between the ding and the Tek is where the real magic lies. The ding is deep, warm and rings for a long time, whereas the Tek is bright, dry and short. Playing with a wide contrast between the ding and the Tek will create a strong rhythm. If your ding and your Tek sound very similar, you might have some issues.

Try it now. Play a ding, let it ring, and then play a Tek. You should hear two completely different sounds: one a note, one a tap.

Practice Tips #

The technique to use when practising the Tek is very similar to practising the ding. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to critique your Tek and give yourself constructive feedback. Some questions to ask yourself include:

• Is the Tek bright and dry?
• Can I hear a note ringing? (If so, where did I land?)
• Am I hitting the same point on the shoulder each time?
• Is each Tek identical to the last?
• Are the correct parts of my fingers landing?
• Is my wrist doing most of the work while my arm stays fairly still?

Another great exercise is to alternate between the ding and the Tek, one stroke every second. So every time a clock goes Tick, you play a ding, and every time the clock goes Tock, you play a Tek.

Common Mistakes #

Let’s look at some of the most common mistakes that are made with the Tek. Overall, the Tek is one of the easier strokes to play on the handpan, so you shouldn’t have too much difficulty. However, it’s worth reading through the common mistakes to see if there’s anything you’re doing wrong.

A dull Tek #

A good Tek is bright and crisp. The trick to understanding this is to notice how quickly your fingers bounce away after they land. Typically, the faster they bounce away, the brighter and clearer the Tek.

To see the difference, play one Tek that bounces away quickly, and then one Tek that stays pressed against the steel. You should find that the Tek that bounces away is bright and clear, whereas the Tek that stays pressed down is dull and muffled.

Later on in this course, we will also play a light Tek — the same stroke, much softer, and still with your right hand — and meet the Ka, which your left hand plays. We use both to make the rhythm sound better. For this lesson, focus on getting your Tek as bright and clear as possible.

Landing on the ding #

If your Tek sounds like a quieter, shorter ding, your fingers are landing on the dome instead of the flat steel around it. Move your fingers slightly further out, away from the centre.

Catching a tone field #

If you hear a higher note when you play your Tek, your fingers have strayed too far out and caught the edge of a tone field. Move your fingers back in towards the ding. Take a moment to look at your handpan and find the plain steel between the ding and the tone fields on your dominant-hand side — that’s your target.

Using too much finger #

If you land with your fingers flat, or with more than just the pads of your fingertips, the Tek becomes a heavy slap instead of a bright tap. Make sure only the top part of each finger lands.

Hitting too hard #

The Tek doesn’t need much force. A hard Tek just sounds harsh, and it will tire your hand. Keep your fingertips relaxed and let the bounce do the work — and never play the Tek with your knuckles this close to the notes.