After going to my first sound bath group session, I wanted to get my own singing bowls. So I did some research to see how to choose a singing bowl that’s right for me.
If you’re wondering that too, then I’d like to share what I found out. Typically the right singing bowl is the one that moves you when you hear it playing. I know that doesn’t seem to really answer the question, but you’ll know it’s the right one in your soul. But there are some things to think about when looking for a singing bowl.
What is the bowl made of
This will be the biggest decision for you to think about since there are two main types of singing bowls:
- Tibetan Singing Bowl
- Crystal Singing Bowl
I discussed what singing bowls are made of before, but quickly the Tibetan singing bowls are a metal alloy and the crystal singing bowls are made from quartz crystal.
Many practitioners these days enjoy using the crystal singing bowls because they are closer to the notes than the Tibetan singing bowls. On the down side, they are more fragile, so moving them can be a challenge sometimes.
But the beauty of the Tibetan singing bowls is that they are more harmonic because of the different metals vibrating at different frequencies. Most are also handmade whereas the crystal bowls are manufactured.
What is the purpose of the singing bowl
Why are you getting the singing bowl? Do you want to meditate with it? Clearing chakras? Are you looking to do sound healing or sound massage? For many of us, the first time we are looking at singing bowls, it’s just because the sound was so moving and drew us to want more of it.
Will you use it for your own modalities or are you getting it to help others with their frequency and sound healing journey?
With that we can look to get a base set and then build from there.
When looking at each singing bowl, think about what you’re looking for.
The bigger the bowls, the deeper the sounds and those would work better for root or grounding work. The smaller ones are better for clearing your thoughts.
The crystal bowls can be made to correspond with certain notes. This will work well if you’re looking to balance chakras since different notes can correspond with the different chakras and you can use several bowls together to produce the balance that you’re looking for
What type of mallet will you need
The softer woods are better for striking the bowls, but the harder woods do better for creating the vibration while moving it around the bowl. You can also choose between the different covers on the mallet. There are suede, leather, and felt covers to choose from. Each type will make slightly different sounds for the singing bowls.
How a bowl looks or makes you feel
You also want to have a bowl that “speaks” to you and might be pleasing to have on your shelf for others to see.
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