Singing Bowls are made of at least seven alloy metals that create an invigorating tune to get a peaceful mind. If you’re wondering how singing bowls work then you have arrived at the right place. Also we have explained how it can be used and how to play in detail.
But first, let us explain a few things in case you don’t know much about singing bowls.
Tibetan Singing Bowls are alternative natural medication for all mental health ailments. They have such soothing sound effects that anyone hearing it will be intrigued in a fraction of second. To some extent, singing bowls are traditional physics for growing modern health issues.
Their rich and resonating sound can cure anything from depression to traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. Singing Bowls address the unconscious mind and serve them with healing energy to prevent stress.
The traditional singing bowls have scored their reputation for the sake of the healing properties. The powerful sound transpired from the instrument improves cognitive power, gives better sleep, and blocks mood swings.
You can play it both by rimming or striking the mallet on the rim of the bowl. This will eventually create a tranquilizing sound that can cure stress and chronic pain.
Contents
How Singing Bowls Work?
Singing Bowls are designed to make a delicate sound by rubbing the cylindrical wooden stick around the bowl’s rim. They create physical vibrations through scraping motion against the bowl.
The high and low pitch sound waves depend greatly on the bowl’s shape, size, and compositions. Singing bowls made of bronze alloy produce a different sound to that of crystal, providing its high thermal conductivity.
In that case, even semi-padded mallets and wooden mallets impact the tone of bowls. Charging the singing bowl with water forms another great sound effect as the vibration distorts the shape of water, forming waves.
Regardless of different notions, how singing bowls work counts on the application of energy on the rim that causes the bowl to generate a smooth tone. When the water-filled bowl is kneaded with a mallet on the rim, it stimulates vibration at specific frequencies.
Using electronic speckle pattern interferometry, several studies have shown that the rim alternately changes its shape to the rhythm of the bowl. The edge contract and magnify simultaneously from one oval shape to another.
This visible shift in the shape causes energy to relay into the water and form a sine wave pattern with an increase in the ferocity of rubbing. Pouring water in the bowl dampens vibration and creates a long-standing rich sound.
When tap the bowl, it creates a sequence of frequencies in which each frequency triggers another in an infinite number. On a musical scale, the initial tone is always low while the semitone is higher than the adjacent pitches.
The harmonic series of a fundamental wavelength occurs in a sequential order from weakest to strongest intervals. The deep booming sound in the interval is octave while the second strongest is the perfect interval of fifth.
The diatonic interval is the interval of the fourth and has five scales in notes with two-half steps in each octave. Singing Bowls of different sizes produce different tunes, some are in-sync while others out of key.
But that happens only because the brink is hammered to create a perfect shape and density. Hence, the difference in tune amidst the bowl is more due to handiwork and design rather than the metal used to construct the vessel.
Is Singing Bowls really a sound healer?
Singing Bowls have become quite in-demand over the past few years and you know why. They are the best natural remedy for stress and several other emotional disorders. Unlike pharmaceutical medicines, singing bowls have no adverse effects, making it a perfect foe of depression.
Their incredible healing properties and aptness to relax muscles are making more people inclined towards singing bowls. Their subtle calming sound generates so many positive vibrations that are great for alleviating the mind and soul.
There are so many healing benefits of Tibetan singing bowls, including pain relief, mental happiness, and improvement in blood circulation. Their way of approaching stress is different from that of therapy. Singing bowl purifies the body and soul by getting rid of all negative waves. In some communities, singing bowls are even practiced for new age spirituality.
How To Play Singing Bowls?
After learning what singing bowls are and their worldly goods, it’s time for you to know how this tool works. Unlike most instruments, playing singing bowls isn’t complex, and neither it requires weeks and months of practice. Interestingly, anyone with little knowledge can manipulate the bowl as per their convenience.
There’s no key to playing the singing bowl except you do it with little care and fluency. But you still have to be conversant with the size and shape of singing bowls. It’s often tough to work with a wide shallow vessel compared to deeper shakes that have low pitch.
Don’t just rub the stick randomly and have a bit of practice to lessen the challenges and get improved results. Subsequently, work on the posture of your hand especially the one in which you’ll place the bowl.
Singing Bowl comes with a wooden mallet which can be tricky to operate at first. There are basically two ways to play Tibetan Singing Bowls. You can either tap the mallet on the rim of the bowl or rub it to produce a deep voluminous sound.
Method: Striking
It’s possibly the easiest way of playing the singing bowl. In this technique, all you have to do is gong the bowl with a mallet and leave it to produce energy. Striking the bowl is so easy that people of all ages can play it without any effort.
Steps:
- First, hold the bowl flat of your non-dominant hand and mallet on the other
- Secure the grip of the mallet, just like the one with a truncheon so that you can pivot it faster and smoother
- Now, gently strike the bowl’s rim from the side that’s cushioned
- Don’t jab the bowl any further as it generates a rich comforting sound
Method: Rimming
This approach of playing the singing bowl is a bit challenging and needs a lot of practice before implication. For the first-timer, it’s going to be even tougher so take some time and train yourself until you don’t champion it.
Steps:
- Make yourself comfortable and be prepared to stay still for some time with a straight spine
- Like the one in previous, place the bowl on the palm of your non-presiding hand and grab the mallet with pressure
- Hold the mallet like a paintbrush and go easy on the center. Allow the weather-coated side to rest on the web, between the forefinger and thumb. This position will give you better control over the mallet.
- Softly tap the mallet on the bowl’s rim to put life into it. Before the vibration dispels, rub the padded side on its mid-exterior wall in a clockwise motion. Don’t lose the connection and keep stirring the mallet on the brim so that it can start quivering.
- Spin the mallet up to five times or more in a full arm motion until you start to hear a moving sound.
- Once you succeed to generate the female overtone, slow down your speed and rather centralize in making a strong contact of the mallet and brim. By doing so, you will receive a clearer and melodious tone from the bowl.
Final Verdict
After learning about singing bowls, you now know that the change in the sound has nothing to do with a supernatural force. It all happens due to the vibration that fills the empty vessel and produces a resonating sound. It’s scientifically proven that the rich tone of the singing bowl has positive mental and physical effects with healing properties.
