How to use singing bowls to enhance meditation

Tibetan singing bowls are renowned the world over for their distinctive tones, vibrating frequencies and calming sounds. From ambient recording artists to people experimenting with mindfulness practice for the first time, the unique qualities of a singing bowl are always sure to make a long-lasting impression. 

It’s remarkably simple to learn how to use singing bowls – but before we get started, there’s a little more you should know about them. It’s important to understand some of the background behind these unusual artefacts.

Why do people learn how to use singing bowls?

The specific reasons people use singing bowls vary. Some people have a deep belief in sound healing and feel that singing bowls can aid with a range of restorative effects in their mind and body.

For others, it can be linked with related – but often distinct – ideas about chakra notes, with the aim of restoring proper function and balance to the body. 

And of course, some people simply find that a droning noise – like the one that a singing bowl produces – is a useful aid for getting into a meditative state of mind. 

So if you’re using a singing bowl in a group setting, don’t be surprised to find users that have varying ideas about the sacred, the mundane and their relationship to singing bowls within the same room. 

Though the jury remains out on how useful they are when it comes to dealing with serious physical issues, there is some research indicating that they can be useful for reducing anxiety. 

How does a singing bowl work?

Despite their name, singing bowls are actually a type of bell.

If you strike a singing bowl, you’ll discover that it generates a distinctive tone with considerable resonance.

Singing bowls are also well-known for the unique sound they generate when a mallet is run around the rim of the bowl.

Now, this distinctive sound comes from the metal the bowl is made from vibrating. It’s very similar to the way instruments like a glass harp or glass harmonica work.

However, a singing bowl is used to produce a drone with overtones, rather than melodies. Some people feel this drone helps them relax and move into a meditative state of mind more easily.

How to play Tibetan singing bowls

There are two main techniques – ringing and rimming. Other variations do exist, but they primarily draw on these two styles. 

Ringing

Ringing is exactly what it sounds like – simply strike the bowl with its accompanying mallet, and let the sound ring out and gradually fade.  

Rimming

To generate the unique drone noise, all you need to do is run the mallet around the rim of the bowl at an angle. At first, you may need to try a few different angles to get the right sound, but it will eventually become second nature with practice. You’ll be able to hear a bright, clear tone when it’s working correctly.

You will need to exercise a constant, even pressure at a slow speed. Make sure to use your whole arm, not just your wrist. Too much pressure or speed will create a rattling sound, rather like a school bell ringing – which is less pleasant than the intended tone.  

When using these during a meditation session, many people use a mix of both sounds. There isn’t a prescribed formula – we’d just suggest that you experiment and play around with a variety of techniques to find the sound that you like.

Water bowl sound method

One of the most popular variations of these techniques is to fill the bowl (3/4 full) with water. This will allow you to change the bowl’s intonation, whether ringing or rimming. Just make sure to wipe it out afterwards, to prevent corrosion.

And when you’re all done using your singing bowl, it should be stored on a dedicated cushion. This will help maintain the integrity of the metal and prevent it from being damaged. 

Different sized singing bowls and using mallets

There aren’t hard and fast rules about which mallet should be used on a specific bowl. But a good rule of thumb is that the mallet and the bowl should be roughly proportionate with one another. 

Similarly, it also depends what you want to do with a bowl. Smaller bowls tend to be easier to perform rimming with, while larger bowls tend to pronounce more resonant sounds when striking them. 

So when looking at the types of mallets, the main things to keep in mind are its size and purpose. 

Discover more about singing bowls at Mindful Store

Here at Mindful Store, we stock an extensive range of singing bowls and other meditation accessories. We also provide a range of resources for novice and experienced users alike, right here on our blog. So make sure you browse through some of the other articles.

And if you have any questions about our product range, make sure to get in touch with the team here at Mindful Store.