Here is our guide to playing a brass singing bowl. For information on our Crystal Singing Bowls, see below

 

  HOW TO PLAY A TIBETAN SINGING BOWL

Many people enjoy singing bowls by simply tapping the bowl with a wooden stick and letting the bowl ring.  For a sustained note, more suitable for meditation, chakra balancing or cleansing work, the stick is rubbed around the rim of the bowl.

To achieve this, hold the stick in your active hand (ie: depending on whether you are right or left handed) and place the bowl on your other palm, keeping the fingers straight to avoid touching the bowl’s sides and dulling the sound.

You can start the bowl’s sound by a small tap and then rub the rim of the bowl by rolling the stick in an anti-clockwise motion.  The stick should be dragged slowly around the rim, with a reasonable amount of pressure.  The vibration created will be felt in your hand, and as this builds, the bowl will start to sing. 

Once the bowl is singing, you can either stop using the stick, and hold the bowl up to your ear to listen, or continue with the stick.  Try varying the pressure and you will find different effects in a range from a light touch, where the stick skims, to a heavy pressure that can produce a deep note, but with the tendency to drag and make a strong metallic cry. 

As our singing bowls are handmade, each will respond differently to speed and pressure.  For all of them, keep the pressure constant to ‘sing’ the bowl.  Try varying the angle of the stick to explore the multi-tonal nature of the individual bowl.

To add another dimension, just add water!   Bottled or spring water is best.  It will change the note and tone of the bowl while you are playing.  Watch the pattern that the ripples make, as some bowls will produce beautiful mandalas.

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Crystal Singing Bowls

Here is a table we've drawn up to explain the crystal singing bowl notes in relation to the Charka.

CHAKRA

NOTE

RIGHT

LOCATION

PHYSICAL ASSOCIATIONS

EMOTIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

CRYSTALS

7th

Crown

B

To know

Top of the Head

Pineal gland, upper brain, right eye

Understanding, depression, exhaustion, obsessive thinking, confusion

Amethyst, Clear Quartz, Herkimer Diamond, Tektite, Moonstone, Danburite, Apophyllite

6th

Third Eye

A

To see

Centre of Forehead

Pituitary gland, lower brain, left eye, ears, nose

Intuition, nightmares, learning difficulties, hallucinations

Amethyst, Purple Fluorite, Azurite, Clear Calcite, Labradorite, Moldavite, Iolite, Kyanite

5th

Throat

G

To speak

Centre of throat

Thyroid, bronchial, throat, mouth, gums, lungs

Communication, perfectionism, suppressed emotions, blocked creativity

Lapis Lazuli, Turquoise, Aquamarine, Celestite, Sodalite, Blue Lace Agate, Sapphire

4th

Heart

F

To love

Centre of chest

Thymus, heart, blood, circulatory system

Love. Fears about betrayal, co-dependent, melancholic

Watermelon Tourmaline, Rose Quartz, Rhodocrosite, Emerald, Green Calcite, Malachite, Kunzite, Peridot

3rd

Solar Plexus

E

To act

Below breast bone

Pancreas, abdomen, stomach, liver, nervous system

Power & vitality, controlling, low self-esteem, aggression, addiction

Aventurine, Sunstone, Citrine, Amber, Pyrite, Honey Calcite, Malachite, Ametrine, Fire Agate, Ocean Jasper, Prehnite

2nd

Sacral

D

To feel

Navel

Reproductive system

Emotional instability, sexuality, feelings of isolation. Fear, shock and guilt

Carnelian, Citrine, Golden Topaz, Moonstone, Tiger’s Eye, Sphalerite, Fire Opal, Desert Glass

1st

Root

C

To have

Coccyx

Adrenal glands, spinal column, kidneys.

Mental lethargy, ‘spaciness’, incapacity for inner stillness

Hematite, Smoky Quartz, Red Jasper, Black Tourmaline, Garnet, Obsidian, Jet, Onyx, Ruby, Rhodonite

 

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