Tibetan singing bowls can be used to promote relaxation and healing. They are often used in sound therapy or as background music during meditation.
They can also be used in vibrational meditation where you relax into the feeling of sound waves traveling through your body from the singing bowl.
Tibetan bowls are easy to play, but if you are a beginner or have never used one, you may need some help to get started. This article will explore 4 techniques for how to use a Tibetan singing bowl.
4 Techniques to Use a Tibetan Singing Bowl
Technique 1: Striking
The striking technique is the easiest way to start playing your bowl. It involves lightly tapping the outside of the bowl with a striker or a mallet, producing a bell-like sound.
The technique is commonly used at the beginning or end of a meditation session to mark its start and finish. Beginners of all ages, including kids, can play singing bowls with this technique. You may try it with different sizes of bowls and mallets.
How to Do It
- Depending on the size of the bowl, you can place the bowl on a stand or hold it at its base in the palm of your nondominant hand. Ensure that your fingers do not touch the bowl’s rim or sides, as that would reduce the sound vibrations.
- Hold the mallet like a baton with your dominant hand.
- Lightly strike the bowl on the exterior wall with the padded end of the mallet. A soft strike produces a deeper tone, while a harder strike produces a higher tone.
- Allow the bowl to ring and the sound vibrations to fade before striking the bowl again.
Technique 2: Playing the Rim
Compared to striking, playing the rim requires a little more technique and can be challenging initially. However, you can quickly master it with a bit of practice.
It produces a sustained singing/humming sound, which can be used as background sound for meditation or as sound therapy for deep relaxation and healing.
How to Do It
- Once again, depending on the size of the bowl, you can hold it in your palm or place it on a flat surface, on a cushion, or on a ring stand. Ensure that your fingers do not touch the bowl’s rim or sides, as that would reduce the sound vibrations.
- Hold the mallet like a baton with your dominant hand.
- Lightly strike the bowl on the exterior wall with the padded end of the mallet.
- Adjust the mallet so that it is vertical and the side of the mallet is touching the rim of the bowl. Depending on the sound you want to make, you can use the padded or wooden side of the mallet against the rim. It may take some practice adjusting your grip so that this is a comfortable and fluid movement. Some practitioners find it helpful to hold the mallet like a pen.
- Beginto circle the bowl’s outer rim with the mallet, creating gentle friction between the mallet and the bowl. Make sure that the bowl is still singing from the strike you played as you begin to circle the bowl. This will help the sound vibrations continue to sing as you play the rim.
- Continue circling the mallet several times, feeling the friction and vibration between the mallet and the rim. Remember to keep the mallet vertical and the pressure of the mallet consistent.
- As you continue to circle the rim, the bowl will make a singing tone. If the tone becomes too harsh or shrill,, slow down the circling speed and lighten the pressure you are using.. You can also stop playing the rim and let the bowl ring out for a moment until the tone softens, then continue playing the rim once again.
- Once you have gotten the hang of it, you can experiment with different pressure and speed variations to create different sounds.
Technique 3: Water Bowl Sound
The water bowl technique is more advanced. It is similar to playing the rim, except you add some water to the inside of the bowl. It produces a tone similar to the sound of dolphins singing. The sound can be used for meditation or relaxation.
How to Do It
- Fill the bowl halfway with water to start. You can experiment with using more or less water in the bowl to create various tones. However, ensure there is no water on the rim or outside surface of the bowl, as this would dampen the sound.
- For this technique, the bowl will be heavier and you may want to place it on a singing bowl cushion on a flat surface. If the bowl is small, you can hold it in the palm of your non-dominant hand.
- Hold the mallet like a baton with your dominant hand.
- Lightly strike the bowl on the exterior wall with the padded end of the mallet.
- Once again, adjust your grip and hold the mallet vertically against the outer rim of the bowl.
- Begin to circle the bowl’s rim with the mallet.
- Keep circling the mallet several times, feeling the friction and sound vibration. You may need to use more pressure when the bowl is filled with water. Experiment with your speed and pressure until you hear a nice, consistent tone.Then move the mallet away, and let the bowl sing. The water will begin to ripple.
- You may tilt the bowl slightly to the side until the water begins to swirl.
- When you’re done, empty the bowl and dry it thoroughly before storing it.
Technique 4: Wah Wah Technique
The wah wah technique is an advanced Tibetan singing bowl method. It involves using your mouth to alter the sound vibrations from the bowl.
How to Do It
- Hold the bowl in your palm or place it on a flat surface, cushion, or ring stand.
- Hold the mallet like a baton with your dominant hand.
- Strike the bowl on the exterior wall with the padded end of the mallet.
- Play the rim by circling it with the mallet a few times
- Withdraw the mallet and let the bowl sing.
- Bring your mouth a couple inches from the rim of the bowl, either by lifting the bowl or bringing your head next to the bowl if it’s on a stand.
- Continuously open and close your mouth like you are mouthing the words “wah wah”. You aren’t actually making sound with your voice. The shape of your mouth is altering the sound vibrations coming from the bowl. This technique takes practice but is quite fun once you master it.
Tips for Using a Tibetan Singing Bowl
Here are a few tips to help you in mastering how to use a Tibetan singing bowl:
- Assume an upright position, with the spine straight. It gives you better control of your hands when playing.
- Apply consistent pressure on the outer rim to produce a well-balanced sound or vibration.
- Do not hold the bowl by the rim or on the sides. It disrupts sound and vibration transmission.
- Tilt the mallet a little bit towards the inside of the bowl to achieve a higher tone.
- Hold the mallet at a 90-degree angle to play a deeper tone.
Conclusion
Playing a Tibetan bowl is fun and easy once you get the hang of it. It’s great for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. With some practice, you can master the various playing techniques.
Start with the striking technique and proceed to playing the rim. You can then try more advanced techniques such as the water sound bowl and the wah wah techniques.
Experiment with speeds and pressure to create different sound effects. Like any other instrument, it takes consistent practice to establish what works for you and the best way to play it.