Playing with a Hang (drum)

Kirby Ramanan Hang drum

My friend who rents me healing space for my Craniosacral practice has a Hang (Drum) which is in that space. I have been using it as a tool for cathartic release for the past few months, sometimes arriving at harmonious sounds in the process. [It is difficult to get a good picture while actually playing the Hang. So here are some eyes-downcast shots of Ramanan and Kirby at play.]

Recently, my friend Ramanan Schultz and I have begun to jam away on the Hang, and we have discovered that we produce amazing little pieces. Unfortunately my recording device (which is good for voices) does not do our sets justice, so I am reluctant to post them here. However I am putting up the “best” one of four that we recorded.

The Hang is made from two steel sheets that are clamped together. It is hollow, so it looks a little like a UFO or a strange grill (stove). You play it by hitting one or more notes which have been hammered into the nitrided surface of the steel. On this particular Hang, there are seven notes around the outside with a central deep note, plus you can hit the rim to produce yet another tone. It is played with the hands like a drum.

The owner of this Hang says that this drum is more masculine, as she has a smaller higher pitched Hang in her living room. I am much more drawn to playing on this larger, deeper, more masculine drum.

The Hang has a stand which it sits upon to be played. However, from Wikipedia, it seems you can also play the Hang with it on your lap. This drum is pretty large though, so that might be awkward.

I was first introduced to the Hang drum by Toby Christensen, a healing drummer, who played this Hang and then put it on youtube. Not sure if that short video is still up or not.

In the future, I will try recording using an Iphone and hopefully that will produce better sound. In the meantime, enjoy!