User Guide

Welcome to handpan studio. This application is designed to simulate the authentic sound and layout of high-end handpans, allowing you to explore scales, chords, and melodies directly in your browser.

Core Controls

1. Ding (Center Note)

The Ding is the central bass note of the handpan. Use the first dropdown to change the root key. We support a full physical range from C2 to B4.

2. Model (Scale Type)

This determines the "flavor" or mood of the instrument. We offer two modes:

• Common: A curated list of the most popular scales, categorized by emotion.
• All: A complete library of over 50 scales for professional exploration.

Playing the Handpan

Simply click or tap on the circular notes to play sounds.

• Center Note (0): The Ding (Bass).
• Side Notes (1-9+): Arranged in a Zigzag pattern, starting from the bottom (Note 1).
• Visual Index: Small numbers at the bottom of each note indicate the pitch order.

Monster / Mutant Scales

For scales with more than 11 notes, the layout automatically switches to a Double Ring mode:

• Outer Ring: Contains the standard 9 bass/mid notes.
• Inner Ring: Contains the extra high notes (Mutants) for easier reach.

Advanced Tools

Arpeggiator / Preview

Use this tool to hear the scale without clicking manually.

• Mode: Choose playback direction (Up, Down, Random, etc.).
• Speed: Adjust playback tempo (0.5x to 2.0x).
• Play Button: Starts/Stops the sequence.

Chord Detection

The system automatically analyzes the current notes on your handpan and detects available chords.

• Click Show Available Chords to expand the list.
• Chords are grouped by type (Major, Minor, 7th, etc.).
• Click a chord tag (e.g., Dm) to hear it strummed.