HANDROMEDA Handpan C# Pygmy | Stainless Steel

Diameter: 53 cm
Height: 26cm / 28cm
Weight: approx. 4.4kg
Material: stainless steel

Tuning name: Pygmy
Standard key sequence: C#/ F# G# AC# EF# G# A
Atmosphere: Meditative - Introverted - Floating
Tonal Center: DING
Mode: Aeolian minor
Tone range: Pentatonic

Semitones: 2- 1-4-3-2-2-1-4

Mood description Pygmy:

Pygmy is an extremely popular scale. Apart from the name, this scale only has the number of notes up to the octave in common with pygmy music (pentatonic). The equi-pentatonic scale, which some African peoples traditionally use, would probably also be very unusual for our western ears. Nevertheless, this hemitonic pentatonic scale is very good for both rhythmic patterns and melodic phrases.

A special feature of both Pygmy versions is that four of the five tones are present again one octave higher, allowing the overtones to be amplified well (cf. natural scale).

Pygmy is often referred to as Dorian pentatonic . We don't understand this term because there is no sixth degree. The term Dorian pentatonic probably came about in analogy to church scales. In connection with pentatonics, this approach makes little sense because in this example the major sixth note, which is absolutely important for the Dorian mode, is missing. Apart from that, Pygmy is a very cool sounding scale!

The special thing about this Pygmy tuning is that it is a hemitonic pentatonic. This means that, unlike a normal major or minor pentatonic (anhemitonic pentatonic), there is also a semitone. This is between the first and second tone, so the first three tones of the natural minor scale (Aeolian) are present in Pygmy without a jump. In the example F Pygmy, that would be FG-Ab. From this tone, there is a jump of a major third (also called a major third) to the fifth tone (in the example: tone C). This is followed by a minor third jump and a whole tone step that leads to the octave. From here, there is the same sequence of tones up to the twelfth tone (fifth tone in the upper octave).

Despite the presence of a semitone and its potential for friction, Pygmy is very easy and intuitive to play. Clearly recommended even for beginners!

Possible tone sequences:

• 9 pitches: C#/ F# G# AC# EF# G# A
  
• 10 pitch fields: C#/ F# G# AC# EF# G# A C#
• 12 pitch fields: C#/ (D3 E3) F# G# AC# EF# G# A C#
• 14 pitch fields: C#/ (D3 E3) F# G# AC# EF# G# A C# {EF#}
• 16 pitch fields: C#3/ (D3 E3) F#3 G# A (B) C# (D) EF# G# A (B) C# (D)
• 18 pitch fields: C#3/ (D3 E3) F#3 G# A (B) C# (D) EF# G# A (B) C# (D) {EF#}
• 19 tone fields: (B2) C#3/ (D3 E3) F#3 G# A (B) C# (D) EF# G# A (B) C# (D) {EF#}

* 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:

• E Major (Parallel Tuning)
• E Sabye (parallel tuning)
• F# Celtic Minor /Amara
• C# Kurd / Annaziska
  
• B Ragadesh
• C# Equinox
• C# Magic Voyage
• G# Aeolians
• G# Low Pygmy
• A Jibuk
• C# Mystic
• C# Integral
• Aegean
• F# La Sirena

Also good for composing together:

• G# Hijaz
• C# Romanian Hijaz / Kaffa
• G# Kurd
• B Celtic Minor / Amara
• B Sabye
• G# Celtic Minor / Amara
• D# Hijaz