Hang
Monday, May 31st, 2004
The “hang” (pronounced “hung”) is a (relatively) new musical instrument that sounds like a hybrid steel drum and gamelan (a Thai xylophone). It is played with the hands or mallets (or whatever) on the lap or a stand and is tuned to make a variety of sounds depending on where it is hit. Hang means “hand” in the Bernese language.
It is made by a swiss company Panart but their web site is now down and they are only making a limited number of instruments duing part of the year. This is an exciting instrument so there should be a used market for it.
If you read down this rather long thread you’ll see that you can purchase a new hang by making an appointment with Hanghouse, traveling to Switzerland and… well, read the comments for more on this.
I apologize for not reading everything, I will do so right now – thank you. :)
Well… after reading this – I would like to add my name to the long list
jionita@gmail.com
I study homeopathic medicine and I would really like to incorporate this instrument during my therapy sessions for my patients.
One day, maybe… someone will help me out.
Joanne: I’m not sure what you’re after? How would you like someone help you out? Do you need advice on using a hang with your practice? Do you need help buying a hang? Do you need instruction? All of the above?
I’m pretty sure you need to speak with Ron Kravitz at Music of the Moment.
Good luck.
Hello: I am the fellow responsible for inflicting the propane tank hang drum on the world. Much time and experimentation has gone into getting this instrument up and running and once played, very few would call it a “joke”. My question: I’ve been visiting various hang forums trying to get a feel as to whether or not the equavalent of 20 pound LP propane tanks are available in Europe ?? Anyone help me here?
Thanks much & Best wishes
Dennis Havlena, Straits of Mackinac, northern Michigan
Propane Hang Drum Notes
A wealth of info on your blog here – - much appreciated!
Dennis, thanks for this, fantastic. Made me look at a lot of youTube movies of hang playing, some are excellent, like yours and this one: Hang Drum.
Hi Dennis, in case your “joke” quote was in reference to my earlier post, please know that I wasn’t talking about your propane tank drum but about a hang knock-off that sold on ebay recently. I’ve seen your clip and think your drum sounds quite nice. I wouldn’t call it a faux hang or hang-like because of how it’s made. Seems more like a tongue drum made out of metal to me. Jim Doble has been doing something similar with hot water tanks for years. He makes a very large bass drum with really low notes and crazy resonance. It’s called a whale drum. Peace.
Hi Tark – Nice to meet you & thanks for the comments.
Seems I saw Mr. Doble’s whale-drums a while back – makes them for school play-yards if not mistaken.
My tank instrument is a feeble attempt to at least come up with something that “hits” & is scaled similar to a Hang, to bide-my-time ’til a real instrument comes along. Wishful thinking eh! Best wishes
Evening Richard – & thanks for the utube link.
Dennis
Tark and Dennis: it’s all good and many people in this very thread who have been mesmerized by the hang have never heard a nice wooden or metal tongue drum and might find those a reasonable and more affordable substitute. The more alternatives we can come up with the more we demystify the hang. Don’t get me wrong, the hang is a great and accessible instrument but so are many pentatonically tuned tongue drums.
For instance, I wonder how many of you have heard of Schlagwek Percussion, a German company that makes high quality intruments including the best cajons and tongue drums on the planet? I have one of their cajons and it’s one of the finest instruments I’ve ever had of any kind. My guess is anything they make will be absolutely amazing. Worth checking out.
Schlagwek site downloading now ( only have dial-up here in the sticks). I’ve been tinkering with home-made instruments for some 4 decades. Lots of “flops” but many successes too. You mention wooden tongue —- been thinking about just such – in a “hang” configuration (see
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/round-tongue-drum.jpg (this one is not mine). One of my concerns is that you good folks think I’m trying to make light of the Hang Drum. Nothing could be further from the truth! I love everything about the it & would have one in short order were they more available. Beautiful day here in the north-
hope there too. Dennis
Dennis, I’m absolutely sure you’re not making light of the Hang and the reason you even posted here is because you have great respect for it.
By the way, that link isn’t working for me. If you post another, I’ll edit the original and make it right.
Richard – I need help with purchasing one. I understand that you have to make an appoint with Panart in Berg and it may take months before they reply.
I will email the contact information you provided, but I am not sure if he can help me out with that, is he the US supplier?
Joanne, I’m pretty sure that Ron will be able to do quite a bit for you and may even be able to get you the hang. Surely he’ll be able to talk with you about how it might be used in your practice as he’s been the US hang man for as long as there’s been a hang in the US. Let me know if you have a hard time contacting him, I might be able to help.
Hi Richard, I have a Schlagwerk marimbula and feel the same way about it as you do your cajon. It’s SWEET! Never tried their tongue drums but I’d like to. Currently I have a bass tongue drum built by Jim at Elemental Design and an African Okpa slit drum that sound well together and seperately. Between them there are a lot of possibilities though they each have only two notes and the sides and ends to work with.
Have you ever heard the band Tactequete from Spain? If not, start here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVUy7oIWI8w They’ve since added a bass player and oddly enough (me being a bassist) I prefer em without it. I think that may be a Shclagwerk tongue drum he’s playing in the vid, whatever it is it sounds great. Their first cd/dvd is well worth the $. Peace.
Tark, thanks, great stuff. Ah, a bass player. I’m a big fan of Victor Whooten (his brother Roy too, the drummer).
Hi Richard – Try this URL:
http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/round-tongue-drum.jpg — should work. Dennis (also an avid bass player)
Dennis, wow, great, thanks for that.
Hi Richard,
I just read on the Hang Forum that Ron and David are no longer going to receive hang drums to sell here. This allegedly from Ron. If that’s the case, it appears that making the trip to Bern is now the only way to aquire a new hang. At least until someone else makes a similar drum easier and more affordable to get. Ouch.
Tark
Tark: thanks for posting this here. My guess is that they’ve run into problems with the makers as they stated that they want to meet each individual buyer/player and middlemen change that equation. Too bad, I think the way they’re handling it will really hurt their community. Time for Dennis to step in and corner the market on propane tanks. ;)
Hi I am a musician from the UK And I want to buy a Hang,,
are there any places in the `uk that sell them ? or anyone who ships \
worldwide????
my email is ae1983@hotmail.com
thanks for your help
peace
Hello!
I’m from Portugal and i would love to buy a hang, but in this small country it’s impossible to get one…Can you help me with this simple question? Where or how can i get a hang drum (accessible price)?
If you can, mail me, thanks a lot! maufeitio3@hotmail.com
Hi Richard,
I was hoping to get my boyfriend a hang for his 21st birthday but travelling to Switzerland is a bit difficult. How else can i get one?
Please help me!?
Hi Katy, Fillipa and Aaron,
It appears that the hangmakers now prefer to meet each customer personally and will no longer be shipping to resellers. This means that the ONLY way to get a hang is to send them a letter via snail mail (they no longer have email) and wait for a reply as to your appointment. That way you can spend time with a bunch of hang drums and choose the one that you like best. But, with a new hang going for 800 Euros at last count plus the airfare, lost work or vacation days, it’s getting to be an expensive proposition.
Short of going to Bern, your only hope of getting a hang is on ebay or on this or another forum. Hope that helps.
Peace,
Tark
I’ve been playing percussion for 20 years now and i would like to say that this is the most amazing sound i’ve ever heard from a percussive instrument. i don’t just want one i need one. my being is not going to be complete without one. maybe a little dramatic but really…how do i get one? i’ve heard of thier rarity and expense but from the sound, that seems irrelevant. please, someone, help me find one.
if i can’t get one, are there any schematics, for someone so inclined, to try to build one? or at least a materials list?
HEY – JUST POSTING ON HERE IF A HANG BECOMES AVAILABLE – I’M TRYING TO FIND ONE – IF ANYONE HAS ONE FOR SALE, PLEASE EMAIL ME!
THX CLAY_POET@HOTMAIL.COM
Hi there, i’m yet another person looking for a hang, new or second hand.. I’m currently in Victoria, Canada, but live in London (England for whoever that isn’t obvious to)..
if anybody can help my e-mail’s laurencef2002@hotmail.com
it would be great to hear from you
Laurence
MATERIALS LIST:
24″ round of sheet metal (2)
adhesive
pencil
hammer
The rest should be cake! LOL… (sorry man, but you asked : )
You mean you bend the metal around a piece of cake? Ah, that’s the secret…
HANG ON EBAY:
There is a first generation hang currently for sale on ebay. It looks like a nice drum from an honest seller and is tuned to an aeolian scale or natural minor. The reserve is pretty high, but that’s about what I’d want for mine were I to sell it.
Hang on eBay
One thing to consider is that this scale and the other first generation hang scales are no longer made and you will have a pretty unique drum. The new hangs are tuned lower and from what I’ve heard they do sound better, but there’s a down side too them. I haven’t seen anyone talk about this on the forums but if all the new hangs are tuned to some form of D – 4 maybe 5 tunings – how long before all hang music starts sounding too similar. It’s like if all guitars players started playing only in E: e major, e minor, e pentatonic, it’s still all E. Felix and Sabrina said this was done so that hang players could play together more easily but I’m sure it’s also a LOT more convenient for them to build hang now. If you know that 4 notes out of every hang are D d A a that’s got to speed things up a bit. The tuning on the old hangs with the 5th on the bottom instead of the root is more versatile in terms of playing in different keys and different tonal centers. My dorian allows me to play in C dorian, g minor, Bb major, f pentatonic, Eb pentatonic, D minor pentatonic and a great inversion of major pent C D F G Bb c. None of the new hang tuning schemes are that versatile.
Food for thought and good luck if you go after this one.
Peace,
Tark
Hello everyone
I’ve been a musician all my life (I’m young, I guess, 25).
When I was a kid, I played piano for many years.
Since then I’m a listener for many years.
I’ve long been looking to see if I’d find an instrument that would bering me back into the playing realm.
Now I’ve found it.
I’ve been looking to find a Hang for a long time now. Didn’t realize it was so impossible.
If anyone of you can help me, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you all in advance.
Ido
Israel
Hi
Just wanted to be clear on two things if possible.
Reviewing the above information, anyone who mailed or faxed information for Bern and did not make it this year, are they put on the list for 2008? Also, is there a general alotment of instruments sold each month or until they are all sold period? For instance, if a 9 ding drum is requested is that accounted for?
Also, out side of materials is there any sound differences between the generations beyond what is noted above from the ebay note?
Thanks
Hey, Richard and everybody!!!!
Im a basque girl (Spain) and Im living in Nepal I would like buy a hang first or second hand. Im leaving to Australia now so Im everytime farest from Swiss country. So, can you give me the address in Switterland to buy the hang drum???? When I have time I want to fly there. Thank you a lot, Selene.
Seline: Scan up this thread, all the info is there….
Maybe this is what you want:
Tel/ Fax: 0041 (0) 31 301 33 32
email: info@hang.ch
Engehaldenstrasse 131
3012 Bern
With greetings from Hangbauhaus
Felix Rohner Sabina Schärer
Hangmakers
Maybe another hang(3 in a week) bringing 8 grand on Ebay had something to do with it. All 3 were 1st generation hangs. One went up to 8400 and the other two sold for 8k Buy It Now. The market is insane!
That is absolutely insane. I didn’t know musicians had so much money!
Hi Richard: I think it’s safe to say that the folks paying 8 grand for a hang are NOT musicians. Not working ones anyway. It’s like vintage guitars and guitar players. The only cats I know who have 40 year old Fenders either bought em when they were new or inherited them. Only collectors or hobbyists will pay 8, 10, or even 25 grand for a guitar. They stick em behind glass and wait for em to go up in value. I’m afraid a similar fate awaits some of these hang drums. Not that the people won’t play em or cant’, but that after they get them they just might find it’s not the shortcut to enlightenment or as easy to play as it looks and they’ll be off looking for the next best thing they ever heard/saw/ felt. Just my 2cents.
Hello to you all. I am selling one of my unique instruments in my collection. I have a C Penatonic scale Hang Drum that I have had for a few years now. It has very little mileage on it, and is in very good condition. I’ve only played it by my hands, never has a stick or a mallet has touched this graceful melodic instrument.
I am selling this – because I wish to acquire another instrument, and I rarely play this fine instrument. I am taking offers at this time, I am looking for a higher bid, however I will ship over-seas, and depending on the ship-price, it might be free, but it depends on its destination.
http://web.mac.com/vjmns/iWeb/Site/HANG.html
Kai
I’d love to buy a hang from you, if it’s not to expensive for me..
I live in Holland, is that a problem?
I’d realy appreciate it if you’d mail to: dubbelvla_leonie@hotmail.com
Thanks
Leonie
Leonie
Kai’s post was back in April, I’m quite sure they are long gone by now. Check Geofrey’s post right above yours. Although, at this juncture I’m pretty sure there is no such thing as a reasonably priced hang. Best of luck.
Tark
Hi Richard, I hear you’re into hang drums. I’m on the hunt for one. Any recommendations (not including travelling to Bern)?
hello, my name is Micha and i am in search of a hang drum.
i tried to contact the developpers but failed…
is there another way to obtain one?
Jim and Micha, read the thread above and you’ll learn I’m not into hang drums, I just posted about them a while ago and this thread has become popular. If someone is selling one, you might find it here or you could also try eBay.
I am interested in purchasing a hang drum myself… waiting on a reply back from Ron Kravitz but will “hang” on your replies as well LOL!! couldn’t resist that pun!
How much is the hang drum for in Switzerland? Might be able to get one in December.
please help i need one of these amazing instruments… will pay up to 6500.00 US… Please let me know
Brian et al, I have a first generation hang here, with travel case in perfect shape and will sell it to you for $6500 which includes shipping to the US. If overseas I’d want to add a bit for shipping.
email me at rwanderman at gmail.com if you want to go ahead with this.
Richard… have you been holding out on us? : ) Just kidding, I think I know who’s it is.
I’ll tell you, with the current prices I have been severely tempted to sell mine. Even went so far as to take the pics for EBay. Oddly, about the same time I started finding all kinds of cool tunes and patterns on it I never knew were there. I have so many other things to play but I know I would miss it. And it is pretty neat to see the faces of people who see and hear it for the first time. My niece who is 8 danced around me while I played the other night saying she couldn’t stop and that it was the most magical sound she ever heard. About that time my sister walked past and said “That thing could get on your nerves after awhile.” LOL… Good thing I ain’t married to her.
WOW…………gotta have one……..my life goal is to get one and learn to play it…..among other things
I WILL GET ONE IF I HAVE TO BUILD IT MYSELF
I would rather have a true HANG……….how do I get One?
Hi,
I am searching for a Hang to purchase. Please if you have one for sale, my email is resalevintage@shaw.ca. I live in British Columbia, Canada
Thanks
Louise
Tark, it’s not David Darling’s, his is no doubt in less than perfect shape as he travels all over the place with it and is pretty rough on his stuff. I have another friend who bought one a while back but has hardly touched it. I told him about the fact that they’ve become rare and he went for it. Time will tell.