Have you ever heard of singing bowls? These incredible tools have been used for millennia, dating back over 5,000 years in historic records. Since then, they have maintained their popularity, their truly mesmerising sound and their vibrational qualities, making a difference to people all over the world.
In the last 45 years, singing bowls made of pure quartz crystal have made their appearance, starting off, unusually, as vessels used in laboratories. The beautiful sounds they made during lab work were soon noticed, and this original version was modified for an entirely new world. Loved for their pure and captivating singing, crystal singing bowls have found their way into homes and practices across the world.
What are crystal singing bowls?
Crystal singing bowls are bowls made of solid quartz, used to produce sound for meditation, sound healing exercises such as sound baths, and relaxation. These pure tones are produced by either gently striking the bowl’s body or swirling around the rim with special mallets. The bowl’s size dictates the pitch of the sound, and its frequency can be dictated by its diameter, thickness, and shape.
What do crystal singing bowls do?
These bowls are named after what they do: sing. Crystal singing bowls produce beautiful, resonant sounds - loud, clear, and long notes that people often find incredibly calming and therapeutic. It is thought that the sound waves of these tones can help relieve stress and soothe the mind, as well as promote balance both physically and emotionally.
How crystal singing bowls work
The sounds produced by crystal bowls are special. When struck with a mallet, the crystal vibrates, which produces rich, continuous, resonant sounds which last beyond the initial strike. The sound waves from these vibrations are thought to stimulate brainwaves - this is a scientifically observed phenomenon called brainwave entrainment.
Brainwave entrainment is a technique used to synchronise a person’s natural brainwaves with the frequency of external periodic stimuli, such as the vibrating tones of a crystal bowl. It’s believed that this synchronisation can alter a person’s physiological state to help improve mood, cognition, and sleep, as well as help to achieve a deeper state of relaxation.
What is the best mallet for a singing bowl?
The mallets used to pull these sounds from crystal bowls differ to achieve varied results:
Rubber mallets
Rubber produces strong, pure, pulsating tones, which can vary depending on where the bowl is struck. This material is also capable of creating secondary tones in larger bowls. Rubber mallets are recommended for use with frosted bowls.
Rubber mallets typically come with wooden handles, which are easy to handle and boast that lovely, natural wood look. However, if they accidentally hit the bowl, you do risk scratches or damage, so care when using is essential.
Silicon mallets
Silicone mallets produce a beautifully smooth resonance. The sounds created are consistent and long-lasting, with no hissing against the crystal while playing. The silicone material ensures no scratches to the bowl, and it’s lightweight enough that using the mallets for long periods of time doesn’t cause discomfort.
Silicone is incredibly popular for the truly stunning tones it creates, but it must be used at the correct, 30-degree angle to produce the right sounds. The sounds aren’t as complex as those made using a rubber mallet, but many prefer the notes this way - it is down to the user’s personal tastes.
Suede mallets
Wonderful to hold in your hand and perfect for softer tones, the suede mallet is the most gentle tool of the three. The sounds produced with suede are more textured, with a very subtle hiss present that many people enjoy in their healing or meditation practice. Varying volumes are more achievable when using suede mallets with clear crystal bowls.
Due to the softness of the material, you do need to use more pressure to reach some volumes. If used with frosted bowls, some find the hissing sound too distracting or overwhelming, so we recommend keeping your suede mallets for clear bowls.
How often should you use a singing bowl?
There is no limit on how many times you can use crystal singing bowls. Experience a few minutes of sound per day for quick moments of stress relief, enjoy them once a week at a group sound bath, or delight in their notes whenever the mood strikes. How often you use singing bowls is down to your preference, and how often you feel you could benefit.
The longevity of crystal singing bowls
Crystal singing bowls can last an eternity, producing their mesmerising songs with the right care. This is thanks to the pure quartz material, which is non-porous, resistant to scratches, and incredibly durable.
Despite the surface strength of quartz crystal, it’s important to note that this is still a fragile material. While striking it with your mallet using the correct pressure will cause no harm, dropping a bowl can result in either chips, cracks, or total breakage. Bowls can also suffer from overplaying, when you hit the bowl too hard or too fast, resulting in overvibration - this can result in cracks, and even the bowl snapping entirely in half from the stress.
Fortunately, with the right use and care, your bowls will look and work just as beautifully as when you first brought them home.
Caring for your crystal singing bowls
Take care of your bowl and handle it with care to avoid damaging it and shortening its lifespan. Soft coverings, sturdy carry cases, and rubber stands or o-rings are perfect for protecting the bowls physically, while practising a steady hand and the right striking pressure helps you avoid causing damage when playing.
Never place any hard objects inside the bowl, especially while you are playing. Adding small crystals or stones to the bowl and then making it sing can cause the objects to vibrate and potentially scratch or crack the bowl. You should also avoid stacking your bowls, in case they click together and break.
Are there fake crystal singing bowls?
Unfortunately, imitation crystal singing bowls have become quite an issue in the market, popping up on dubious sites online for low prices. This can leave customers feeling like they have found a good value product but ultimately being left disappointed. Such products tend to have been made to mimic the aesthetic only and are entirely without the craftsmanship and tonal qualities of those that have been made with care and expertise.
The majority of these bowls are incapable of producing the vibrational sounds that provide the therapeutic qualities associated with them. Bowls made from glass or other low-quality materials instead of at least 99.9% quartz crystal will produce dull, flat, and short tones. Test your bowl for a long-sustained sound to know it’s genuine crystal.
If you are looking for genuine, well-made crystal singing bowls, make sure to buy from a reputable supplier to ensure you receive only the highest quality. At Maya Shanti, our Crystal Singing Bowls are handcrafted by skilled makers who are able to ensure precise tuning and clear, resonant sound quality.
Do singing bowls really work?
Crystal singing bowls are an incredible prop to incorporate into your meditation, sound healing, or relaxation time if the vibrational sounds do something for you. If you find them soothing and if they strike something within you through their deep waves and resonating notes, then we highly recommend bringing them into your practice.
Maya Shanti offers two 432Hz frequency crystal bowl bundles. Our first set includes three crystal singing bowls, covering B, F, and C notes. Our second set includes seven crystal singing bowls, covering C, D, E, F, G, A, and B notes. 432 Hz frequency aligns with the universe’s natural rhythm, believed to support and promote happiness, relaxation, and a sense of calm. Each set of bowls also includes a carry case, a rubber mallet, a suede mallet, and rubber o-rings, ready for you to begin using your bowls as soon as you’re ready.
For more advice on singing bowls and how to care for them, don’t hesitate to get in touch - we have many years of experience in meditation and yoga, and we’re here to help you better understand these beautiful tools. Explore our range of our sound healing equipment to elevate your meditation even further.