Buying Singing Bowls

Singing bowls are musical instruments.  Just like buying a drum set, guitar or any other instrument there are entry level and professional level.  Many people use a simple collection of one or a few bowls for personal enrichment, to help them relax, pray or meditate while they play the bowl.  Various types of singing bowls are made from various materials, but the most common are crystal and a bronze alloy mix.  

Crystal singing bowls have a beautiful rich sound.  The bowl does not require as much energy to have them "sing" as the bronze bowls. Since they are translucent, it is easy to add soothing lighting effects to the crystal bowl and provide a meditative sound experience.  Crystal bowls are designed to be specific notes--C, D, E, F, G, A, B-. These bowls can range from$200 to over $1000.

These bowls have one disadvantage - they are fragile.  I would only recommend the use of crystal singing bowls in an environment where they will not be moved around.  If you do intend on travelling or using these for a live performance, make sure and purchase a padded travel case. These are an excellent choice for studios or home prayer and meditative use.

Bronze singing bowls also come in specific notes --C, D, E, F, G, A, B- They may be machine made.  These are usually the smaller bowls and can be purchased as a set. These can be used for personal meditation, small group sessions and as a musical supplement to events like group yoga.  They take more effort to play.  Since they are small, they require constant work to keep them singing and vibrating.   Machine made bowls cost about $30 each and a set of seven will run about $160.

Hand beaten singing bowls are made, well, by hand. After being heated in a red hot-furnace, they are molded and pounded by mallets into the thickness, size and sound the creator desires.  Properly made hand beaten singing bowls have incredible sound, vibrating stamina and can be played to "sing" quickly.  Lessor quality bowls can take what feels like an eternity to warm up and "sing".  Master quality hand beaten bowls will cost between $100 to over $2000, depending on the size.

When purchasing singing bowls, especially if you are buying them online, insist on a sound sample.  This ensures that you have the tone (note) that you want and allows you to hear if the singing bowl sings easily or requires effort.  I have found that most of the singing bowls online that advertise that they are a particular note, are not that tone at all.  You can easily check the tone by using a music instrument tuner.  There are tons of these available for free via your mobile phone's app store. While listening to the sound sample, have your instrument tuner rate the note. You can use this technique for sound files, virtual demonstrations, or hands on listening. 

There are two basic notes that each singing bowl can be played, the rim tone and the fundamental tone.  The rim tone is the area at the top of the bowl whereas the fundamental tone is the note heard when hitting the side of the bowl. Strike each of the areas one at a time and let each strike vibrate the bowl until the sound fades away. With a beater, try and get the rim to "sing".  Use the leather end of the beater.  If it is difficult to get the bowl to sing using the leather end, try the uncovered wooden end.  Listen to each note and vibration carefully.  The bowl should easily "sing" and the sound made by hitting it with a beater should vibrate with a long. peaceful sustain.

You will also need to consider the types of mallets and beaters  to play your singing bowl.  I will talk more about that in another article.

The appearance of the singing bowl should also be a factor in your purchase.  Many of the the hand beaten singing bowls are inscribed with words which I don't understand.   I'm not sure if they are words that I am in agreement with or not, so I prefer singing bowls that are smooth, without any drawings or text.