Choosing a Singing Bowl

By Lyz Cooper

Choosing a singing bowl is a chance to explore what you enjoy hearing, how you want to use the instrument and what feels comfortable to play. You may be buying your first bowl, adding to a collection or looking for a different sound for your practice.

Pitch, size and budget are helpful starting points. But give yourself time to listen, too. A bowl’s character is richer than its appearance or the name of its musical note.

Begin with how you want to use it

Will your bowl be mainly for your own sound practice, for working with individual clients or for playing to groups? Will it stay in one room, or travel with you?

For personal use, you might want a bowl you can comfortably hold while listening. For professional work, you may be looking for a particular sound quality or an instrument that complements those you already have.

You don’t need to decide everything before exploring. Having a sense of its purpose simply helps you choose.

Pitch: listen beyond the musical note

Pitch describes how high or low a sound is. You might enjoy a deep, rounded tone, a brighter sound or something in between.

A Himalayan singing bowl produces several tones together. Listen for the lowest tone, then notice the higher sounds woven through it. These are part of what gives each bowl its individual voice.

Sound the bowl gently and let it ring out. Notice how its sound develops and changes as it fades. Is it soft and spacious, clear and bright, or rich and complex? Do you want to hear it again?

A musical note can be useful when choosing bowls to play together. For a bowl played on its own, your enjoyment of its whole sound matters more than finding a particular note.

If you’re adding to a collection, try the new bowl alongside your existing instruments where possible. Listen both separately and together, noticing whether the combination offers what you’re looking for.

Size: consider sound and handling

Larger bowls often have lower tones, but size alone won’t tell you exactly how a bowl will sound. Its shape, wall thickness and construction also influence its voice.

Think about how you will handle it. If you want to play a bowl in your palm, check that its weight feels comfortable and that you can hold it steadily without gripping the sides.

A larger bowl may suit you better resting on a cushion on a stable surface. A smaller one may be easier to carry between appointments or take with you when travelling.

Try the bowl in the position you expect to use it. A beautiful sound is more useful when the instrument is comfortable and practical to play.

Try the mallet as well as the bowl

The mallet makes a difference to the sound you hear. A soft-headed mallet will generally bring out a gentler sound, while a firmer striker can make the attack and higher tones more prominent.

Ask to hear the bowl with a suitable soft mallet. If you also want to make it sing by moving a stick around the rim, try that technique too. Striking and singing can reveal different aspects of the same instrument.

You don’t have to master rim playing before choosing a bowl. A gentle strike followed by attentive listening is a lovely way to begin using it.

Budget: choose within a comfortable range

Set a spending range before you start, leaving room for a suitable mallet, cushion and a protective bag if you need one.

Price may reflect a bowl’s size, weight, craftsmanship, age or other characteristics. A higher price doesn’t automatically mean you will prefer its sound.

Listen to several bowls within your range. Give each one time, and return to your favourites. One carefully chosen instrument can offer plenty to explore.

If you’re building a collection, think about what the next bowl will contribute. You might want a different pitch, a contrasting character or a sound that works especially well with a bowl you already enjoy.

Give yourself time to listen

When trying bowls, allow each sound to fade before moving on. If you can, compare them at a similar, comfortable volume.

Notice your response without expecting anything dramatic. Which sounds hold your attention? Which feel comfortable to return to? Is there a bowl you keep wanting to hear again?

Your preference is useful information. You don’t need to choose a bowl because its note, size or appearance suggests you ought to like it.

Explore bowls with Soundworks

At Soundworks, we can help you explore pitch, size, handling and suitable mallets, whether you’re choosing one bowl or adding to an established collection.

Our Private Selection appointments offer time to hear and compare instruments in person and consider what suits your practice and budget.

Once you’ve chosen a bowl, A moment of balance with your singing bowl offers a gentle listening exercise to help you get to know its sound.