An overview of the structure, geometry and organization of the Rav Anima.
Hello Friends!
Just like other Ravs, this instrument has particular tonal areas that are better for contact.
The large center chord tongues are very forgiving, allowing you to strike nearly any portion.
The most balanced area is somewhere between the two wings and the lettering.
The further you go beyond that stem area, the more the harmonics are prominent. Using one hand to alternate between the harmonics and fundamental, you can develop some better strike habits. This allows for more seamless transitions and fluidity long term!
How do the Anima's Chord Tongues differ from the traditional tone fields?
With the addition of new tongues, we need to adjust our ideal striking area to achieve a balanced sound.
Hey friends,
On to the fun part!
Here we discus the layout, in relationship to the chord tongues, provide multiple song based practice tunes to work on these relationships. I also give tips of finding others, using this same structure.
If you discover a favorite progression, share it in the comment section below. I would love to hear it!
Ricky
Musician, Teacher, Instrument maker
Ricky Hillson is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and instrument-maker who is a leader in the world of Rav and Handpan. With a background in guitar and songwriting, he has studied world music such as Sitar and Rubab. He teaches Rav, Handpan, guitar and ukulele online, performs regularly at handpan festivals and concerts. He is featured at Rav and Handpan workshops and retreats.
Ricky is also an avid forager and trained as an herbalist.