2021 EDITION

Updated & Expanded

The all-in-one handpan course for beginners.

Name: Essentials
Rating: 5 (493 reviews)
Author: David Charrier

Learn fast and have fun!

Start learning for free

Enroll in 'Essentials'

With
David Charrier

Start learning for free

Enroll in 'Essentials'

Intended for beginner players

You just got your first handpan or have been playing for less than 2 years.

79+ exclusive video lessons

Learn fast and have fun with step-by-step lessons and a progressive course.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

479 reviews

Trusted by 7,500+ players

Students give MasterTheHandpan's courses an average rating of 5/5.

Introduction to the course

Welcome on board! (6:58)

Grasping the big picture (6:22)

How to navigate through the course (8:17)

How to track your progress (and why it's important) (2:45)

Get plugged in to our family (4:37)

E-book 📘

Download all the training sheets

Section 1: Foundational Skills

Getting your posture right (6:02)

All the sounds you can make with your handpan (12:54)

Positioning your handpan (2:53)

Striking techniques (6:44)

Understanding the symbols (14:07)

Section 2: Warm-ups

Introduction to the Warm-ups (4:17)

Warm-up #1 (6:57)

Warm-up #2 (8:11)

Warm-up #3 (6:39)

Warm-up #4: Make it your own (4:24)

Warm-up #5: Strengthening your right hand (2:32)

Warm-up #6: Strengthening your left hand (2:55)

Warm-up #7: The distribution exercise #1 (8:45)

Warm-up #8: The distribution exercise #2 (4:08)

Warm-up #9: Alternating distribution (4:01)

Warm-up #10: Dynamic variations (4:56)

Section 3: Discovering Binary Grooves

Introduction to the Grooves (1:23)

Groove #1: My first melodic and rhythmic groove (14:46)

Groove #2 (7:50)

Groove #3 (6:56)

Groove #4 (10:27)

Groove #5 (7:54)

Groove #6 (7:14)

Next steps: creating your own grooves (3:03)

Section 4: Coordination and Hand Independence

Introduction to Coordination and Hand Independence (2:50)

Exercise #1: Breaking habits (7:43)

Exercise #2 (6:57)

Exercise #3: Exploration and composition (9:12)

Exercice #4: Paradiddle (6:27)

Exercice #5: Adding crazy accents (7:10)

Exercice #6: Paradiddle Exploration (5:51)

Exercice #7: Coordination Medley (6:33)

Section 5: Coordination and Polyrhythms

Introduction to Coordination and Polyrhythms (0:59)

Pattern #1: The Sandman (9:15)

Pattern #2: The Dreamer (7:18)

Pattern #3: The Milky Way (10:41)

Pattern #4: The Wanderer (6:05)

Pattern #5

Section 6: Discovering Ternary Grooves

Introduction to the Ternary Grooves (1:56)

Exercise #1: 3/4 Groove (4:28)

Exercise #2: 3/4 Groove + Notes (8:41)

Exercise #3: The Galactic Pattern (7:47)

Exercise #4: Irish Pattern in 12/8 (7:05)

Exercise #5: Irish Pattern in 12/8 + Melody A (5:12)

Exercise #6: Irish Pattern in 12/8 + Melody B (6:43)

Exercise #7: Irish Pattern in 12/8 + Melody C (6:48)

Section 7: Arpeggios and Melodies

Introduction to the Arpeggios (1:24)

Exercise #1: Arpeggio #1 (8:45)

Exercise #2: Arpeggio #1 + Melodic Exploration (8:13)

Exercise #3: Arpeggio #1 + Variations/Transitions (10:09)

Exercise #4: Arpeggio #2 (6:23)

Exercise #5: Arpeggio #2 Grooved up (11:09)

Exercise #6: Arpeggio #3 (11:34)

Section 8: Ear Training

Introduction to Ear Training (0:56)

Exercise #1: Basic Groove (5:32)

Exercise #2: Radio Groove (4:23)

Exercise #3: Drummer Groove (4:10)

Exercise #4: Spotify Groove (5:45)

Section 9: Fat Grooves

Introduction to the Fat Grooves (2:04)

Exercise #1: Helicopter Groove (10:17)

Exercise #2: Helicopter Groove + Notes (10:54)

Exercise #3: Helicopter groove + Variation 1 (5:40)

Exercise #4: Helicopter Groove + Variation 2 (11:38)

Exercise #5 : Hip-Hop Groove (7:16)

Exercise #6: Hip-Hop Groove + Notes (8:46)

Exercise #7: Hip-Hop Groove + Variation 1 (Baseline) (5:58)

Exercise #8: 12/8 Groove (4:49)

Exercise #9: 12/8 Groove + Notes (4:53)

Exercise #10: 12/8 Groove + Chord Noodling (5:07)

Exercise #11: Complex Groove (7:59)

Exercise #12: Complex Groove + Notes (5:42)

Exercise #13: Complex Groove + Variation 1 (4:05)

Exercise #14: Complex Groove Exploration (7:33)

Conclusion

Where to go from here (your next step) (4:22)

7,500+ players with amazing results.

Read all reviews

Your clear, frustration-free guide to playing the handpan

At last, you own a beautiful handpan. But you’re not sure how to get a good sound, how to keep to a beat, how to create new patterns, how to switch seamlessly between them, how to compose your first melody. You’re frustrated and feel like you’ll never grasp this wonderful instrument...
‍
‍Sound familiar? This course is for you!

Videos that make sense.

Ever tried to learn a tune with only the front view of a handpan? Tricky, isn’t it? All our lessons are shot from above, so your left is his left, your right is his right. No more complicated reverse thinking that melts your brain. No more squinting and pausing to see which notes are being played. Every pattern is shown slowly and progressively so you can study and copy what David’s hands do on the handpan.

Fun & innovative notation system.

Symbols, colours, numbers and ghosts (booooo)... To help you get the most out of the tutorials and make you smile, David has created a very intuitive notation system for your hands. With just a few minutes’ practice each day, you can learn and remember any pattern. Follow the notes and enjoy rocking these new grooves.

100%

Progress at your pace.

Enjoy lifetime access to the course: dip into each lesson whenever you want, finish whenever you want. Play each lesson as many times as necessary and keep track of your overall progress to stay motivated.

Join our lovely community to keep learning.

MasterTheHandpan is more than an online course. We also give you coaching and provide ongoing support. All the members of the family can join our private Facebook group. It’s the perfect place to get to know other players, share your progress and be inspired. David does Facebook Live Q&As, gives you feedback on your videos, encourages you to develop your skills and knowledge, and also offers you the chance to win some great prizes

Try this course for free!

Master your handpan & have fun playing in no time

Enjoy 11 video lessons instantly (forever accessible & free)

Bonuses & fun delivered in your inbox every day for 6 days straight!

Learn new skills & start playing your first rhythms & melodies

Be able to express your creativity through your handpan

Start playing beautiful music

We handle your data with the utmost care and you can opt out at any time. By signing up you agree toour Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive occasional emails to help you develop your handpan skills, offers, updates and blog posts (you can unsubscribe any time).

Meet your teacher: David Charrier

David’s engaging teaching style means you will pick up knowledge and skills without falling asleep at the back of the class. He has developed a unique and innovative way to help you get the most out of your handpan and create your most beautiful compositions.

Read full biography

I love seeing people introduced to the handpan and its infinite possibilities. I love watching my students blossom in their musical journey.

Learn to play handpan with David Charrier

Say hello to rapid progress!

Learn everything you need to take your rhythmic and melodic skills to the next level.

How to make your handpan sound perfect

How to position yourself and your instrument

How to warm up your fingers

How to build up patterns

How to create a melody from a pattern

How to compose on your handpan

How to play chords on your handpan

How to reproduce everything you hear

How to structure a perfect rhythm

How to develop hand coordination

How to develop hand independence skills

How to play 3/4 Rhythms & 4/4 Rhythms

Learn tricks & fingerstyle techniques

And so much more!

At the end of the course, you will know some cool grooves and catchy tunes and you’ll be armed with the skills to create as many variations as your fingers can cope with.

Start learning for free

Enroll in 'Essentials'

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Just brilliant. Clear and fun lessons, straight to the point and clearly designed for quick progress built on solid foundations. Feel very glad to have found MasterTheHandpan and the inspirational David!

Rachel Bibby

Why an online course?

Good question! Here are just a few amazing advantages

Lessons adapted to your level

Step-by-step Curriculum

Qualified teacher

Progress tracking

Immersive view

Notation system

100% Money back guarantee

Investment

Rewatch lessons as many times as you like

Supportive online community

Learn at your pace, anytime, anywhere

One-time purchase for a lifetime access

Recurring fees based on an hourly rate

Private course

Online course

Your Best Choice

This isn’t a stuffy course. Here's why.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

We want you to be 100% satisfied, that's why we offer a 30 day money back guarantee. If you follow the entire course and are not satisfied with all that you have learned, email us and we’ll reimburse you promptly. No question asked.

Adapted to your instrument

Handpan, Space Drum, Pantam, Hang drum, Tongue Drum, etc... All players are welcome, no matter your instrument's name! If you have a central note on the top of your handpan, this course is 100% compatible with it. Learn more

Compatible with your scale

This course is designed to be fully compatible with all handpan scales. The aim of the course is to teach you rhythms & movements so that you can learn to play them whatever the scale you have. Learn more