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Understanding the Language

Vince Myst

Updated: Nov 2, 2024

A

Arpeggio : A broken succession of notes forming a chord, spanning an octave or more, including repeated notes.


B 

Bémol : see 'Flat'


Bottom Shell : It's the lower half of the handpan. Some handpans have additional notes added to this part, which is why we bother to consider this section of the instrument.


C

Chord : A set of at least three notes played simultaneously.


Chromatism : A musical scale comprising all twelve existing tones, with each tone separated by a half-step from its neighbor.


Crosstalk : Undesirable interaction between two or more notes, occurring when the sound of one or more notes negatively interferes with other notes.


D

Dimple : A small cavity at the center of a handpan note. It is designed to reduce unwanted high frequencies but also to serve as internal support for the note due to the tension induced in its design.


Ding : Generally The fundamental note and typically the lowest note of a handpan, located at the center of the instrument.


Dynamic (plage dynamique) : The dynamic range of an instrument, ranging from softest to loudest.


E

Ember Steel : Ember Steel defines a marketing term coined by Ayasa regarding a specific reference of stainless steel (441) they provide to other manufacturers.


F

Flat (bémol) : A musical note lowered by a half-step, such as D flat. A flat is also the sharp of another note. Indeed, a D flat is the same frequency as a C sharp.


G

Gamme Diatonique : Les gammes diatoniques sont des échelles de sept notes. La plupart des gammes majeures et mineures utilisées dans la musique occidentale sont diatoniques. Par exemple, la gamme majeure et la gamme mineure naturelle sont des gammes diatoniques.


Gammes Pentatoniques : Les gammes pentatoniques ont cinq notes. Elles sont largement utilisées dans de nombreuses cultures musicales à travers le monde. La gamme pentatonique majeure et la gamme pentatonique mineure sont des exemples courants.


Gammes Hexatoniques : Les gammes hexatoniques ont six notes. Elles sont moins fréquentes que les gammes diatoniques et pentatoniques, mais certaines sont utilisées dans des contextes spécifiques.


Gammes Heptatoniques : Les gammes heptatoniques ont sept notes. C'est la catégorie la plus courante de gammes, comprenant la plupart des gammes majeures et mineures. La gamme diatonique est un exemple d'une gamme heptatonique.


Gamme Mineure : L'une des deux divisions principales d'une gamme, l'autre étant « majeur ». De nature mystérieuse et mélancolique.


Gamme Majeure : L'une des deux divisions principales d'une gamme, l'autre étant « mineur ». De nature positive et joyeuse


Gu : The circular opening in the lower part of the handpan, allowing air to escape and often tuned to complete the scale.


H 

Harmonics : The keys that accompany the fundamental of an individual note. Most notes of the handpan have a fundamental, harmonics at the fifth, and an octave above the note, for example, D3, A4, and D4 for a Ding in D.


Helmholtz Frequency (Résonance de Helmholtz) : A phenomenon of air resonance in a cavity, which the handpan player can reproduce with the Gu by using the cavity of the handpan.


I 

Impédance : A phenomenon in handpan where, due to the diameter or depth of the instrument, certain tones have a muffled or dissonant sound. This is caused by sound waves or frequencies that do not align properly as they traverse the shell.


Interstitiel : The areas of the handpan that are not tuned, often played using percussive techniques.


N

Nitruration : Nitration is a chemical process aimed at making metal more resistant to rust and more stable during tuning, while also altering the tone and sustain. Nitrided steel is one of the types of steel commonly used in the manufacturing of handpan shells.


P

Pantam : An alternative popular term for the handpan, often used by manufacturers to describe an instrument with a more ceramic sound, is "Pantam".


Pattern : A melodic phrase of notes or a basic rhythmic pattern, used in playing and for composition.


R

Rim : The non-resonant rim that connects the upper and lower shells of the handpan, sometimes protected by a rubber ring or braiding, is commonly referred to as the "rim" or "rim area."


S

Scale - Diatonic : Diatonic scales are seven-note scales. Most major and minor scales used in Western music are diatonic. For example, the major scale and natural minor scale are diatonic scales.

 

Scale - Pentatonic : Pentatonic scales have five notes. They are widely used in various musical cultures around the world. The major pentatonic scale and the minor pentatonic scale are common examples.


Scale - Hexatonic : Hexatonic scales have six notes. They are less common than diatonic and pentatonic scales, but some are used in specific contexts.


Scale - Heptatonic : Heptatonic scales have seven notes. This is the most common category of scales, including most major and minor scales. The diatonic scale is an example of a heptatonic scale.


Shell (Coque) : The handpan is comprised of two shells, which are concave half-spherical metal domes.


Shoulder : The flat area surrounding the Ding and connecting it to the interstitial/non-tuned areas of the handpan is commonly referred to as the "shoulder."


Slap : A percussive technique performed by striking an area other than the "tonefield" with a slap of the hand, fingers, or part of the hand.


Stainless Steel (Acier Inoxydable - STL) : The newest type among the steels commonly used in the manufacturing of handpans. Handpans made from stainless steel often include an alloy of chrome or titanium, particularly resistant to air and moisture, and thus less prone to rust..


Sustain : It refers to the ability of an instrument to sustain a sound over time after being played. See also "Resonance".


T

Tak : The percussive sound that occurs when striking the side of the handpan.


Tonefield : The flat area of the note, oval-shaped, surrounding the "dimples" on a handpan. This area can produce three harmonics (typically the fundamental, the octave, and the fifth, for example, D3, D4, and A4 for a Ding in D). The flat area around the Ding is also a "tonefield".


Tongue Drum :  An instrument of metal percussion featuring tongue-shaped or blade-like cutouts that vibrate and produce sound when struck with hands or mallets is commonly known as a "tongue drum".




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