Svaraa Handpan D Celtic Minor / Amara Embersteel

We have rarely held such resonant and sophisticated handpans in our hands. The Svaraa handpans are made with the aim of creating highly resonant instruments that sing poetic stories. Made in Delhi, the Svaraa handpans are the highest quality handpans from India. They have a magical and mystical aura. The sound is particularly touching and invites both players and listeners to immerse themselves in another world.

These Svaraa handpans are extremely well-balanced and professional musical instruments that are ideal for studio recordings and concerts. Their easy and versatile playability makes them equally suitable for ambitious beginners as well as experienced handpan players.

Under "About the manufacturer" you can also read the story of Abhinav Dheodar, the tuner and developer behind the Svaraa Handpans.

Svaraa Handpans made of Embersteel:

To manufacture the Svaraa stainless steel instruments, Abhinav Dheodar Ayasa uses bowls made of Embersteel - a special type of stainless steel. These are particularly resonant and have a fine sound. The long reverberation ensures a strong overtone richness and makes the whole instrument sing. This creates a versatile soundscape that is particularly inviting for melodic, meditative playing. This extremely mystical, spherical sound lets the player dive into other spheres and can lead to trance-like states.

Svaraa Handpans made from nitrided Ayasa Shells:

Ayasa shells are used for the nitrided Svaraa handpans. In the handpan scene, these are considered the best base material for making instruments from nitrided steel.

Nitrided steel is a heat-treated steel sheet into which nitrogen has been added. Nitrogen increases the rigidity of the material, making it harder and more stable against the strikes. This increases the tuning stability of the handpan and the player can enjoy the instrument for longer before it needs to be retuned. This type of material is initially used to make the first handpan drums and is then further developed by the handpan, pantam and sound sculpture makers.

Although handpans are now made of both nitrided steel and stainless steel, nitrided steel, the original material of the first handpans, still seems to have the greater demand among handpan enthusiasts. This type of material offers a medium sustain range, more ceramic and clay sound and high frequencies in the notes, which makes it good for outdoor playing. In addition, notes have a clearer and separated sound, which optimizes the Svaraa nitrided steel handpans for faster and more professional playing.

Pricing Svaraa Handpans:
Basic price for Classical Scales (Base-Note C3-G3), nitrated, 9 notes = 1990€
Basic price for Classical Scales (Base-Note C3-G3), Ember-Steel, 9 notes = 2190€
Basic price for Low Scales (Base-Note B2, A#2 or A2), Ember-Steel, 9 notes = 2350€
Base price for Super Low Scales (Base-Note G#2, G2, F#2, F2 and E2), Ember-Steel, 9 notes = 2650€

Each additional sound field +150€
Polished designs on the lower shell (only for stainless steel instruments) +120€

Custom-made Extended Handpans & Low Scales:

Abhinav Dheodar is one of the most versatile and experienced handpan makers in the world. He is one of the few instrument makers who has perfected the construction of complex instruments with up to 21 tones and very low tunings with fundamental tones of E2, F#2 or F2. We cannot display his full range and variety of possible instruments in our online store. If you are interested in his extended handpans or very low tunings, send us a separate inquiry.

The process of manufacturing these special instruments is much more time-consuming and risky than with conventional handpans. Production can therefore take up to three months and is much more expensive than conventional tunings.

Diameter: 53 cm
Height: 26cm
Weight: 4.2 kg
Material: Embersteel

Tuning: Celtic Minor
Synonym: Amara
Standard tone sequence: D/ ACDEFGAC
Atmosphere: Melancholic - Archaic - Medieval
Mode: Minor - Aeolian
Tone range: Hexatonic

Semitones: 7 -3-2-2-1-2-2-3

Tonal Center: DING

Mood description:

With this timeless selection of tones (Amara) you can easily conjure up sounds that are reminiscent of times gone by with pure fifths and fourths. This instrument might have found its place in spiritual ceremonies in Celtic times. Compared to the full Aeolian mode, the sixth step is missing here, which makes this tuning a little more open. You can play very beautiful harmonies, especially in the upper range. This is one of the most popular tunings in the world of handpans.

Characteristic of Amara/Celtic Minor is the jump from DING to the first note in the interval of a perfect fifth (example DA). This fifth jump immediately opens up the tonal space and gives context to the notes above it. The next note is a minor third above the fifth, which in turn is reminiscent of the natural tone series. From here there are two whole tone steps, a half tone step, two whole tone steps and the jump of the minor third to the highest note of the tuning, which results from the absence of the sixth degree (example D Celtic Minor: note Bb).

This tuning sounds particularly archaic because it allows the playability of many pure intervals (fifth, fourth, octave) that were already used in the Middle Ages.

Another special feature arises from the arrangement of the notes: In the example of D Celtic Minor, the notes on the right side form the triad of the fundamental note, in this case D minor (ADFA). On the left side, however, all the notes of the major triad are one note below the fundamental note, i.e. C major (CEGC). When playing harmoniously, the sound impression of major can easily be reproduced. It is not for nothing that this is probably the most common handpan tuning.

Possible tone sequences:

Sequence with 9 notes: D/ ACDEFGAC

Sequence of 10 notes: D/ (E) ACDEFGAC

Sequence with 11 notes: D/ (E, F) ACDEFGAC

Sequence with 12 notes: D/ (E, F, G) ACDEFGAC

Sequence with 13 notes: D/ (E, F, G) A (A#) CDEFGAC

Sequence with 14 notes: Version 1: D/ (E, F, G) A (A#) CDEFGACD (with highest grade D5 as top grade)

Sequence with 14 notes: Version 2: D/ (E, F, G) A (A#) CDEFGAC (D) (with highest note D5 as bottom note)

15 note sequence: D/ (E, F, G) A (A#) CDEFGACD (E)

16 note sequence: D/ (E, F, G) A (A#) CD (D#) EFGACD (E)

Sequence with 17 notes: D/ (E, F, G) A (A#) C (C#) D (D#) EFGACD (E)

* 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, improvisational playing:

• F Major (Parallel Tuning)
• F Sabye (parallel tuning)
• E Aeolian
• A Celtic Minor / Amara
• D Kurd
• G Ragadesh

Also good for composing together:

• B Celtic Minor / Amara
• C Aegean
• E Celtic Minor
• E Kurd
• C Celtic Minor / Amara
• C Kurd
• G Sabye

Hello dear handpan enthusiasts, I am Abhinav Dheodar - tuner and developer of the Svaraa handpans. I would like to tell you my story here.

On my musical journey, the art of building handpans caught my attention and never let go. Fascinated by the simplicity of the construction and the dynamic, complex sound of the handpan/pantam, it is my aim to build the most resonant instruments. It is more than a passion, it has become a way of life.

I discovered the handpan in 2008. Learning to make a handpan is a long and difficult road that demands a lot. But I never gave up and kept experimenting with the craft. It took five and a half years and numerous setbacks to hold the first perfect handpan in my hands. That was a special moment that still influences me today and shows me that dedication, passion and perseverance can create something special.

During my apprenticeship I did extensive research to deepen my understanding of materials, tuning, metal crafting and much more. I was lucky enough to spend very valuable time with and learn from some of the best handpan/pantam makers in the world in Russia, France, the Netherlands and the USA. It was a very long learning process and every day I learn something new about steel and its sound.
Today, my biggest goal is to develop the warmest and most sonorous instruments that can deeply touch a player and a listener alike.

Abhinav Deodhar - Tuner, Svaraa Handpans