The Hang

The Hang is an excellent accompaniment instrument for the Native American Flute! I purchased the Ake Bono model in November 2003 and have used it many times in performance and recording sessions.

This page has information on the Hang in general, as well as my recommendations for which of the 45 tunings complement NAFs.

Web Resources

Hang Camp USA is scheduled for Sept 18-21 in Elmer, NJ.

The manufacturer of the Hang is PanArt. You can go directly to their English web site at http://www.hang.ch/en/.

The US importer and dealer is at the Music in the Moment web site.

The Canadian importer and dealer is at the Hang-Canada web site.

History

For a history of the Hang, please visit the Hang Web Site History Page.

Tunings

There are 45 standard tunings produced by Panart, but it is possible to get almost any set of notes. I am sure you are limited by the physical size of the metal pads, but you can probably get any scale you want.

To help narrow down the choices, I have selected a few tunings that I believe work with certain keys of NAFs:

Hang Tunings
Hang Scale Sound Samples Notes
MP3 The Ake Bono plays nicely with a C-minor NAF for a tranquil Japanese sound.
MP3 Yu Diao is similar to Ake Bono, but has a more Chinese sound (to me). It also goes well with a C-minor NAF.
MP3 The Gong Diao is a variant of C major pentatonic that would work well with an A-minor NAF.
MP3 The Zhi Diao tuning would work well with an D-minor NAF, and has primarily a "New Age" sound to me.
MP3 This tuning evokes "enigmatic" imagery, and works well with a C-minor NAF.
MP3 The blues scale is a natural for a C-minor NAF, when played with "blue notes".
MP3 This tuning sounds like it would work well with some key of NAF, but I have not figured out what would work. If you have suggestions, please email me.
MP3 This tuning sounds like it would work well with some key of NAF, but I have not figured out what would work. If you have suggestions, please email me.
Zhi-Diao Low Voice   This newer 8-note is used by David Rose in his performances and recordings with a G minor NAF. The notes on this Hang are F ding, G, Bb, C, D, F, G, Bb. Check out David's web site at www.painted-raven.com.

Web site by Clint Goss - Last updated September 19, 2008.