Specs
Backpan: facts
Free web app for handpan players. Configure any handpan, play patterns, compose in the studio, share what you make.
What it is
- Algorithmic handpan layout generator (any tonic, any scale, 8–21 notes)
- Multi-instrument backtrack: percussion, bass, drone, chords, melody
- Composition tool with visual tablature
- Polyrhythm practice (3:2, 4:3, additive meters)
- Selfie-video overlay for sharing recordings
- Mobile-first, runs in any modern browser
Numbers
- Scales
- 20
- Chord progressions
- 72
- Chord patterns
- 88
- Percussion kits
- 16
- Extra percussion samples
- 26
- Sampled instruments
- 98
- Curated flows
- 33
- Melody presets
- 14
- UI locales
- 5 (FR, EN, ES, DE, JA)
Auto-derived at build from ../HandpanerBest/src/{core,data}/*.ts
Supported scales
- Kurd — Aeolian, Natural Minor, Annaziska
- Major — Ionian
- Dorian — Magic Voyage
- Phrygian — minor
- Mixolydian — major
- Harmonic Minor — minor
- Celtic Minor — Amara
- Integral — minor
- Hijaz — Phrygian Dominant
- La Sirena — minor
- Equinox — minor
- Sabye — Ashakiran
- Romanian Hijaz — Kaffa
- Pygmy — Dorian Pentatonic
- Akebono — minor
- Aegean — major
- In Sen — minor
- Pentatonic Minor — minor
- Pentatonic Major — major
- Blues — minor
Sample sources
- Handpan: real recorded samples (Freepats CC0)
- Other instruments: VCSL (Versilian Community Sample Library, CC0)
- Synthesis: Tone.js, used for percussion synth slots and ambient drones
Tech stack
- React 19 + TypeScript strict
- Vite 7 build, Vitest test runner
- Tailwind 4
- Tone.js 15 for audio scheduling and synthesis
- Supabase for beta feedback persistence
- Framer Motion for transitions
License and status
Active open beta. Free core, no feature wall. A patronage tier is planned.
Code currently private during beta. Sample assets ship under their respective CC0 licenses.
Founder
Built by Melo (DevHays), handpan player. Solo project, weekly ships.