How to Use a Singing Bowl

A singing bowl is a bowl-shaped bell that makes a long, steady tone when you strike it or rub its rim with a wooden or leather-covered striker. Many people use one to mark the start of meditation, and you can learn the basics in minutes.

That is the whole idea. A bowl, a stick, a sound that hangs in the air. Our range of singing bowls covers every size and budget, from pocket-sized to statement pieces.

Singing bowls are used in Tibetan, Nepalese and Himalayan Buddhist practice. Bowls of this kind are often made of bronze alloys, and many modern ones are brass. Today you will also find them in meditation and yoga classes across the UK.

What does a singing bowl mean? There is no single answer. Traditionally the bowl is a tool of attention. The sound gives you something to listen to and follow until it fades. Many people use that fade as a marker: begin now, finish now. In chakra tradition (the idea of seven energy centres along the body), chakra bowls are each associated with one of the seven. We cover that in our chakra meaning guide.

Want something with a story? The Handcrafted Brass Singing Bowl (from £27.49) comes in Large 17cm or Medium 12cm. Each has a striking tone and a singing tone, so you can try both techniques on one bowl. It suits the curious beginner who wants a real bowl without a big spend.

Prefer a bowl made as one piece? The Nepalese Moon Singing Bowl (from £85.49) is carved from a single piece of metal alloy, in 13, 15 or 17 cm sizes. It suits anyone who wants a showpiece that also plays.

Good news: it is easier than it looks. Here is how to play a singing bowl, whether you are brand new or just rusty.

1. Set it down safely. Place the bowl on a cushion, on a flat, stable surface. Or hold it on an open, flat palm. Keep your fingers away from the sides. If you grip the bowl, the sound dies.
2. Start with a strike. Hold the striker like a pen. Tap the outer rim once, lightly. Listen to the tone grow and fade. Wait for silence before you strike again.
3. Try the singing technique. This is called rimming. Press the striker gently on the outside of the rim. Then glide it round in a steady circle.
4. Keep a steady pace. Go slow and even, like stirring a thick soup. Use light pressure. Too hard and the bowl squeaks. Too fast and it will not build.
5. Let it build. After a few laps the bowl starts to hum, then sing. Slow down and lift off when you want it to fade.

A wooden stick gives a warm, soft tone. A leather-covered striker is smoother for rimming. Both are traditional.

The kit is cheap, and it matters. The Singing Bowl Striker 18 cm Double Ring (£4.49) is an 18 cm wooden stick in the medium double ring size, made for players who want a bowl that sings. It suits anyone whose bowl came without a stick.

For a stable base, the Singing Bowl Velvet Cushion 16 cm (£4.49) is a 16 cm velvet cushion with woven trim, made for larger bowls. Shades vary from piece to piece. If you have a bigger bowl, the Singing Bowl Hoop Cushion (from £4.99) comes in 18, 20 or 24 cm. Pick 18 cm for bowls of 20 to 24 cm, 20 cm for 22 to 26 cm, and 24 cm for 26 cm and up. The colour is chosen at random.

Four things matter: size, metal, sound and whether you want a set.

Size. Small bowls fit a palm and a bag. Bigger bowls give a deeper, longer tone and need a cushion. The bigger the bowl, the more space it takes up and the heavier it feels.

Metal. Traditional bowls are bronze alloy. Many of ours are brass. Handmade pieces vary a little, which is part of the charm.

Sound. Listen for what you like: bright and short, or deep and long. Bowl sound is a personal taste.

Set or single? A singing bowl set for beginners gives you everything in one box. A single bowl suits you if you already have a cushion and stick.

Here is how to match your budget:

• Best starter set. The Meditation Singing Bowl Set with Cushion (£40.49) has a bowl, cushion and wood stick. The bowl is 10.5 cm across and the set weighs 390 g. It comes boxed and suits beginners and chakra fans.
• Chakra bowl. The Heart Chakra Singing Bowl (£23.49) is brass, 8 x 8 x 5 cm. In chakra tradition the heart chakra is linked with love and the colour green. It suits collectors building a chakra singing bowl line-up. See our chakra shelf for more.
• Big sound. The Extra Loud Mushroom Singing Bowl Moss Green (£45.49) is 23 cm across and 1.3 kg. It has hand-etched mushroom motifs outside and a seated meditating figure inside. It suits anyone who wants presence and a bold display piece.
• Splurge. The Tibetan Singing Bowl with Mantra 16 cm (£156.49) is a 16 cm Tibetan singing bowl, engraved with a mantra (a repeated phrase used in meditation) and handcrafted in the Tibetan tradition. It suits the buyer who wants a lasting centrepiece.

Shopping for singing bowls in the UK? Orders over £60 get the first £6 of delivery covered by us.

Simple. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth after use. That is it for most bowls.

A few rules keep it looking good:

• No dishwasher. Heat and harsh wash cycles are not kind to hand-finished metal.
• No harsh polish. It can strip finishes, especially on blackened or hand-etched bowls.
• Hold it right. Use a flat palm or a cushion. Gripping the sides mutes the tone, and a hard surface can rattle it.
• Store it dry. Keep it in a pouch or box, away from damp.

Like the look of a darker finish? The Black Beaten Singing Bowl (from £46.49) is blackened brass, in small 14 cm, medium 15 cm or large 18 cm. The small has a striking tone of A♭4 (415 Hz) and a singing tone of A4 (440 Hz). It suits players who like a moody look and a choice of sizes. Keep that finish looking its best with a dry cloth only.

Some people like to set the scene before playing, with a tidy shelf and a little incense. Our sage meaning guide covers one traditional way to mark a fresh start.

A bowl is great alone. With a few extras it becomes a full routine.

Cushion and striker. These are the basics. They keep the bowl steady and the tone clean.

Tingsha bells. Tingsha are small pairs of cymbals joined by a cord. In Tibetan Buddhist practice they mark the start and end of meditation. The Brass Tibetan Tingsha Bells 6 cm (£17.99) are solid brass, about 6 cm and 155 g, engraved with traditional Tibetan symbols. They suit anyone who wants a crisp chime to open or close a session.

Incense and a candle. Light incense and a candle before you begin. Many people use the scent and flame as a signal that it is time to sit.

An altar. A small altar gives your bowl a home. Our how to set up an altar guide shows you how.

Meditation. Strike once, close your eyes, and follow the sound until it ends. That is a simple way to begin. Some people keep a crystal nearby too: see our amethyst meaning guide.

A simple sequence: light a candle, ring the tingsha, strike the bowl, sit. Strike or ring again when you finish.

Yes. They look beautiful, they come with a sound, and they feel personal. Here is who each one suits.

• Small budget, big charm. The Mini Singing Bowl Gift Set (£27.99) has a brass bowl, cushion and wood stick, 6 x 8 cm, in red, black or green. It suits first-timers and desk shelves.
• Buddhist-inspired. The Five Buddha Singing Bowl Set (£42.49) is a handmade brass set with cushion and wood stick, made in Nepal by traditional artisans. It weighs at least 400 g and comes boxed. It suits someone drawn to Buddhist practice.
• Night-sky lovers. The Moon Phase Singing Bowl Set (from £41.99) is black with moon phase motifs, in 10.7 cm or Large 14cm. The smaller set has a wooden striker, padded ring cushion and soft drawstring pouch. It suits moon fans.
• Collector pick. The Earth Powder Singing Bowl Om Five Buddha 16 cm (£32.99) is handmade, 16 x 8.5 cm, with an Om Five Buddha design. It suits collectors.

See our gift sets for more ideas. Order before 12 noon Monday to Friday and we dispatch the same working day, with tracked UK delivery.

Ready to find your sound? Browse all our singing bowls now, pick your bowl, and start playing. Every order has 14-day returns.