AYA Sounds F2 Pygmy | Ember Steel

The wonderful instruments of Aya Sounds are built with the utmost precision, attention and love. The founder of Aya Sounds started making handpans under the guidance of deep spiritual experiences. For him, making each instrument is like a spiritual practice and as if someone was simply guiding him through the process. The result of his dedication is a very high-vibrating instrument that surpasses many other well-known handpan manufacturers in quality. It is an instrument that inspires and relaxes and that allows you to leave your earthly body, at least for a short time, and immerse yourself in these healing sounds.

Diameter: 53 cm
Height: 26 cm
Weight: approx. 4kg
Material: Embersteel

Tuning name: Low Pygmy
Standard tone sequence: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# C
Atmosphere: Meditative - Introverted - Floating
Tonal center: first tone
Mode: Aeolian minor
Tone range: Pentatonic
Semitones: 5 –2-1-4-3-2-2-1

Mood description Low Pygmy:

The name Pygmy is probably based on the pygmies. This scale is often used in Central African music. The Low Pygmy scale is a pentatonic variant of the Dorian minor scale. Such a combination creates a dreamy mood. The repetition of four tones over two octaves ensures a broad harmony in the mood and creates a carpet of sound rich in overtones that fills the room.

Compared to Pygmy, the sound impression of Low Pygmy remains similar and the pitch intervals are also maintained. The difference is that the top note of Pygmy is now two octaves lower and thus reflects the pitch of the DING, so that an ascending fourth is created between the DING and the first note. This means that with Low Pygmy the first note in the circle and not the DING represents the tonal center. Overall, the LOW version sounds a little more floating in comparison.

The Low Pygmy tuning is a classic in the world of handpans for good reason and has recently become more and more popular. The pentatonic arrangement of the notes is easy and intuitive to play and creates a melancholic, dreamy atmosphere. The tone arrangement opens up a huge melodic horizon.

Possible tone sequences:

Tone sequence with 9 notes: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD#
Tone sequence with 10 notes: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD#
Sequence with 11 notes: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD# ( F)
12-note sequence: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD# ( FG)
Sequence of 13 notes: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD# (FG  G#)
14-note sequence: F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD# (FG G# C)
Sequence with 15 notes: (C# D#) F2/ GG# CD# FGG# CD# (FGG#)
Tone sequence with 16 notes: (C# D#) F2/ GG# (A#) C (C#) D# FGG# CD# (FG)
Sequence with 17 notes: (C# D#) F2/ GG# (A#) C (C#) D# FGG# CD# (FGG#)

* Bottom notes are additional tone fields on the bottom of the handpan and are written in round brackets e.g. (DE).

Mutant handpans have additional notes on the upper shell in the second row - between the chorus and the root note. Mutant notes are written in curly brackets, e.g. {DE}.

→ You can read a detailed article about Mutant & Bottom Note Handpans here: Blog post

→ Discover our full range of Mutant & Bottom Note Handpans here

We only list the standard layouts under "Possible note sequences". On request, our handpans can also be made with other notes and in other arrangements. Simply write an email with your request to: service@handpan.world

Suitable moods:
Very suitable for collaborative, improvised playing:

• Ab Major (Parallel Tuning)
• Ab Sabye (parallel tuning)
• Bb Celtic Minor /Amara
• F Kurd
• Eb Ragadesh
• F Equinox
• F Magic Voyage
• C Aeolians
• C Low Pygmy
• Db Jibuk
• F Mystic
• F Integral
• Db Aegean
• Bb La Sirena

Also good for composing together:

• C Hijaz
• F Romanian Hijaz / Kaffa
• C Celtic Minor / Amara
• C Kurd
• Eb Celtic Minor / Amara
• Eb Sabye
• G Hijaz