Singing Bowl: Five Simple Sound Exercises for Beginners

An instrument, not a health device

A singing bowl is an instrument that produces a sustained sound. Its Himalayan origins are debated (see our guide to singing bowls). What can honestly be said is that many people find listening to this sound soothing. An observational study of 62 adults after a one-hour meditation session with bowls (Goldsby and colleagues, 2017) recorded a self-reported drop in tension and fatigue, but it had no control group and other instruments were present. We therefore cannot conclude that the bowls are the cause. Treat the exercises below as moments of listening, not as a treatment.

Before you begin

• Set up the bowl on a cushion or a fabric ring, on a stable surface. Never place it on glass or a fragile table.
• Hold the mallet like a pencil, without gripping it tightly.
• Adjust the volume by striking gently. A bowl often rings louder than you expect, and a repeated high pitch can tire the ears.
• Consider your surroundings: neighbours, a sleeping baby, pets. They do not always enjoy it.

Exercise 1: listen to a sound until silence

1. Sit down, with the bowl in front of you.
2. Gently strike the outer rim with the mallet.
3. Close your eyes and follow the sound. Note when you think it has disappeared, then keep listening.
4. When silence returns, stay for one breath, then open your eyes.

Duration: two to three minutes. A bowl’s sound can last around thirty seconds or more, depending on its size and alloy.

Exercise 2: counting your breaths

1. Strike the bowl.
2. While the sound lasts, count your breaths: one inhalation and one exhalation make one.
3. When the sound fades, note the number. Repeat three times.
4. Observe whether your breathing slows down over the attempts.

This is an observation, not a goal: do not try to beat your last count.

Exercise 3: making the bowl sing by rubbing

Rubbing the rim with the mallet makes the bowl “sing”: a continuous sound builds up, like a wet wine glass. This takes patience.

1. Place the bowl on your open palm or on a cushion.
2. Press the mallet against the outer rim.
3. Slide it slowly along the rim, with light, steady pressure.
4. When the sound starts, do not change your rhythm. Keep it going for a few turns, then stop by laying your hand flat on the rim.

If the bowl does not sing, it is usually because you are moving too fast or pressing too hard. Try again more slowly.

Exercise 4: exploring the space

1. Strike the bowl, then close your eyes.
2. Listen to the sound up close, head still. Then gently tilt your head to the left, then to the right.
3. If you are two people, one strikes while the other slowly walks away with eyes closed, then comes back closer.

You will notice that the sound seems to change with distance: the high notes fade before the low ones. This comes from the bowl’s acoustics, which produces several notes at once (a main note and its harmonics).

Exercise 5: the bowl as a pause marker

Set a five-minute timer for a work or reading break. At the start, strike the bowl once; at the end, strike it again. In between, do whatever you like: breathe, look out of the window, stretch your shoulders. The bowl replaces the phone’s ringtone, but more gently.

Common mistakes and precautions

• Striking too hard: the sound becomes harsh.
• Holding the mallet stiffly in your hand.
• Ringing the bowl near someone who is sensitive to it or near a baby.
• Using the bowl to “heal” someone: do not do this, and never place a vibrating bowl on a person’s body without their consent.
• Leaving the bowl on the edge of a table.

If listening to a repeated sound causes you discomfort or tinnitus, stop and ask a doctor for advice.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Step-by-step tutorials.