Melodic Forest

Melodic Forest Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Melodic Forest, Musical Instrument Store, Sydney.

Formerly Little Kalimba Shop
Now Melodic Forest® 🌿
Instruments with character and depth
Handpans • Tongue Drums • Lyre Harps • Ocarinas & more
AU stock🇦🇺 Fast 1–4 day shipping
Sydney showroom open to visit

07/09/2026

Celtic needs a little more love. 😇❤️

Before the Kurd takeover, Celtic was THE handpan scale for a while — and honestly, I can see why.

It can be soft, flowy and emotional, almost like storytelling… or you can absolutely headbang a groove on it like I’m doing here. 😂 It’s such a versatile scale.

The only downside is there’s still less learning material online compared to Kurd — although more and more Celtic tutorials are popping up now.

So if you really connect with Celtic and don’t need to rely 100% on online tutorials, it’s still a beautiful choice.

Sometimes the scale that resonates with you matters more than choosing what everyone else is playing. ❤️

06/09/2026

A little memory from our latest tuning session. 🔨❤️

We opened this session to handpans from all makers — because part of why we wanted to offer local tuning support was to give damaged instruments a chance to be played again.

Most makers and tuners understandably prefer working on their own instruments, or handpans with construction they know and trust. Taking on an unknown instrument — especially one that’s badly damaged — can mean a huge amount of time, uncertainty and risk.

After a massive fall, the dent and change in tension meant returning it to its original D Kurd was basically impossible. It was the kind of job most tuners simply wouldn’t take on.

But Ben from Octopans just… wouldn’t give up on it. 😆

After hours of experimenting, reshaping and trying different possibilities, he eventually found a completely different solution: Eb Lydian.

Is D Kurd easier to play? Absolutely. 😂
Would we have chosen to turn a perfectly healthy D Kurd into this? Probably not.

But this handpan couldn’t go back to what it was.

And when that’s the reality, I think finding it a completely new voice — one that actually sounds beautiful and can be played again — is a pretty special outcome. 🧡

06/09/2026

Squeezing in a little time to practice. ❤️

20 notes can be a little tricky at the beginning — there’s a LOT going on, and you can feel pretty busy travelling around all those notes. 😂

But once you get comfortable with the layout, the possibilities are kind of endless. So many scales, so many songs, and I’m still finding new things to play on it.

Definitely one of those handpans that grows with you. ❤️

06/09/2026

I ordered this handpan for myself… and while I was waiting for it to be made, I slowly realised: Why the hell did I order myself a handpan when I have absolutely NO time to play my own music? 😂

Between running the business and chasing a two-year-old around, almost every time I pick up an instrument these days, it’s to film something for the store.

But when I ordered it, I was VERY excited 😂 and I picked everything specifically for how I use a handpan.

D Kurd 440 · 12+2 · 14 notes — probably my favourite all-round setup. Super versatile, easy to play, with so much room to explore.

I wanted exceptionally clear notes for recording, long but clean sustain, lots of expression, and most importantly — STABILITY.

I travel with my instruments. I’m clumsy. I don’t have time to baby them or constantly oil them. 😂 This maker makes some of the most stable handpans I’ve come across, while still keeping that beautiful clarity and responsiveness I love.

I even custom-picked this slightly battle-worn finish because little scratches, marks or me forgetting to oil it for a while just blend right in. 👀

So yes… I basically custom ordered my perfect everyday recording/travelling handpan, then realised I have no time to enjoy it. 😂

It’s now sitting brand new in our showroom.

$3,500 · One only.

I genuinely LOVE this one and I’m extremely happy with how it turned out. If you’re interested, DM us and come try it.

And if it’s still here next year when I finally get my life back… I’m keeping it. 👀

05/09/2026

Gotta love that slightly awkward first jam with someone new 🥹

👀Are you leading? Am I leading? Where are we going?

04/09/2026

👀It’s so fascinating watching Ben work.

Also… SO LOUD 🤣🔨

People sometimes wonder why professional handpan tuning costs so much, or think the knowledge is being gatekept. But honestly, a lot of the theory is already out there.

I’ve learned different formulas from different makers, studied the theory and tried it myself — and that’s exactly when you realise how difficult it actually is.

Knowing the theory is one thing. Having the ear, touch and instinct to understand how every tiny change in tension affects the whole instrument takes years of experience.

Handpan making really is an art and a craft. There’s so much human knowledge, judgement and feel involved at every stage. It’s knowledge, experience, feel, patience… and apparently a willingness to spend your life surrounded by VERY LOUD HAMMERING. 🤣

Apparently I collect hammers now🔨🤣Here’s what happened. I always thought handpan tuning needed some magical special tool...
03/09/2026

Apparently I collect hammers now🔨🤣

Here’s what happened. I always thought handpan tuning needed some magical special tools, because every maker seems to have these very cool hammers I can never find anywhere.

Then one of my makers said:
“You don’t do this for a living. Just find a hammer you like. Short enough to fit inside. One soft, one hard.”

I’ve learned bits and pieces of tuning from different makers over the years—not to become a tuner, I just got obsessed with understanding how handpans are made, damaged, repaired, and what actually makes one stable. It gives me much more confidence choosing what’s genuinely the best handpan we can offer at each price point.

Also… banging metal is weirdly relaxing. 😂

Anyway, tuning day today. My hammer obsession finally feels justified.

02/09/2026

Why are there SO many handpan scales? And do you need the same scale as the tutorial? 👀

Usually, nope.

Same grooves, rhythms and techniques can work across different scales — you learn the pattern, then make it yours.😉

01/09/2026

Hijaz is definitely my guilty pleasure. 🔥

There’s something about that groove, that tension, that Middle Eastern flavour… it just ignites something in me. It feels like every cell in my body wakes up. It’s fiery, dramatic, a little wild — and somehow, after letting all of that energy out, I feel incredibly relaxed.

Maybe that’s my kind of meditation. Not always slowing down, but letting the energy MOVE first. 😎

This is a handmade Italian Battiloro handpan, and it has such a distinctive character. The sound has so much texture and depth — rich, powerful and incredibly alive. Even the steel itself has a very particular feel under the hands.

Battiloro handpans are still completely handcrafted in Italy, shaped and tuned by hand, and I think you can really feel that individuality in the instrument.

Powerful, soulful, full of character — and Hijaz just brings that personality completely to life.

🔧HANDPAN TUNING SESSION — THIS WEEKOur handpan tuning session is happening this Friday to Sunday!If you’ve already booke...
31/08/2026

🔧HANDPAN TUNING SESSION — THIS WEEK

Our handpan tuning session is happening this Friday to Sunday!

If you’ve already booked your tuning with us, please make sure to drop off your handpan at our warehouse before Friday so we have enough time to work on it during the tuning session.

If your handpan needs tuning and you haven’t contacted us yet, please register through the link below as soon as possible — we only have around 2 spots left.

🔗 Register here: https://www.melodicforest.com.au/pages/handpan-tuning-repair-sydney

Address

Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+61432250887

Website

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