NEO DRUM - AS A GOOD ALTERNATIVE TO HANDPAN AND HANG DRUM

GUDA DRUM NEO is a percussion instrument that belongs to the class of instruments known as idiophones. 

The idiophone (from the Greek ἴδιος, meaning “own,” and φωνή, meaning “sound”) is a musical instrument in which the source of the sound is the body of the instrument itself or a part of it. You play it by tapping the body of the instrument with your fingers or with soft-tipped mallets. Unlike string or percussion instruments, idiophones do not require preparation (tuning strings or adjusting skin compression) to produce sound.

Idiophones are one of the oldest categories of musical instruments on earth, after the human voice, of course. These instruments are found in every culture, without exception, in both the East and the West.

Today, the Swiss Company PANArt, and its hang drum, can rightfully be considered pioneers in the creation and popularization of idiophones. The hang drum was created by the two founders of PANArt – Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer – after many years of studying the Caribbean steel drum (steelpan), as well as other metal resonators. Other predecessors to the hang drum are the Chinese gong, the Indonesian gamelan, the Indian ghatam, various metal bells and an unusual, exotic instrument called a “musical saw.”

The term “hang drum” is a play on words invented by the craftsmen who created the instrument, but the official version is that it is associated with the word “hand” in the Bernese dialect of German.

After its creation and official release, the demand for hang drums in the early 2000s far exceeded supply, and so it wasn’t long before many similar instruments started to appear. To avoid infringing on the intellectual rights of the creators of the hang drum, all these new drums are called handpans. This compound consists of two words: “hand,” which indicates that the instrument is mainly played with the hands, and “pan,” which refers to the ancestor of these instruments, the steelpan or steel drum, which is the national instrument of the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

The hang drum and handpan quickly gained popularity not only among drummers and percussionists, but also among people far removed from the realm of music. The secret to the global popularity of these musical instruments is their exotic appearance, incredibly beautiful sound and the ease with which they can be mastered at a basic level by musical novices. However, producing hang drums and handpans is both difficult and labor-intensive. It requires special knowledge, patience and time to tune these instruments, and creating a quality handpan is a process that borders on art.

Thus, it’s no surprise that many of the makers of these instruments refer to them as sound sculptures and charge as much as $3,000- $5,000, with professional, customized versions costing $5,000-$8,000. In addition to the high cost, as a rule, all of these instruments are made to order, with a waiting period ranging from several months up to one or two years. Under these circumstances, there was a real need for an accessible, high-quality and balanced instrument.

The GUDA DRUM Neo series of instruments was originally conceived as a type of handpan that could be produced within a reasonable time at an affordable price while still retaining a great sound. Moreover, the GUDA DRUM Neo series is also easy to master at a basic level even if the learner is musical novice.

The GUDA Neo belongs to the class of steel tongue drums, consisting of two metal half-shells fastened together using a special technique. The upper shell produces notes in a tonal circle of 8 or 9 notes, depending on the user’s selection (the GUDA Neo 8 and GUDA Neo 9 models)

In the 9-note model, the bass note (tonic) is centered, which is a copy of the tonal circle of the hang drum (handpan), designed to facilitate the generation of musical parts and rhythm patterns. The tonal range of the drum is much broader than that of the GUDA DRUM Freezbee model, letting you access a wider scale. The GUDA Neo model is available in approximately 20 different handpan scales, all of which have gained worldwide popularity.

The GUDA Neo model is fashioned from high-quality stainless steel from an elite supplier; thus, these drums are protected against corrosion. Also, all of the drums in the GUDA DRUM Neo range are equipped with a special waterproof carrying case, which means you can easily take the drum along with you on your travels.

The visual design of the GUDA NEO model will please even the most stringent aesthete. The drums feature several surface textures in various color combinations with about 30 ornaments, ethno-cultural designs, meditative symbols and drawings. All of the designs are hand-engraved on the surface of the instrument, which means each instrument is a work of art. You can also order a custom design for your drum.

An FX version of the GUDA NEO drum was developed for professional musicians who want to use the drum on stage or in the studio. This means that, using acoustic pick-ups and a standard audio connector, the GUDA Neo drum can be connected to external sound amplification systems and effect processors, as well as other production and recording tools, which is certain to appeal to musicians and also make it easy for them to use the drum both on stage and in the studio.

In short, the GUDA DRUM Neo series is a great option for you if what you want is a well-balanced, high-quality instrument with great sound that's also easy on the pocketbook. It's sure to be a hit not only with professional musicians, but also with novices who lack special training, but who want to immerse themselves in the world of sound and rhythm.