Singing BowlsTypes - which Singing Bowl is the best & right one for me?
What is Singing Bowls and where does it come from?go to section
Which Singing Bowls are the best?go to section
How to find the right Singing Bowl for yougo to section
What types of Singing Bowls are there?go to section
Which Singing Bowl for which body region?go to section
Tones and sound characteristics of Singing Bowlsgo to section
The most important facts in brief

The most important facts in brief

  • There are many different types of Singing Bowls. In this guide, we list the most important types that are tailored to the needs of sound practice.
  • The therapeutic singing bowl is the jewel among the Singing Bowls. It is mainly used in professional sound work.
  • Singing Bowls differ in shape, size and material used.
  • The quality of the Singing Bowl is decisive for its sound.
  • Singing Bowls are used in meditations, sound journeys, concerts and sound therapy.

What is Singing Bowls and where does it come from?

Originally, Singing Bowls came from the East Asian region - from China, Japan and Burma. Their predecessors were the so-called standing bells. These were hemispherical bronze vessels that stood on the floor with the opening facing upwards and were struck with a wooden clapper. Depending on where they were used, they developed into the various types of Singing Bowls that we know today. Most Singing Bowls are made of brass or bronze.

The Singing Bowls that are available in the West today mostly come from India, Nepal, Tibet, Japan or China and sometimes vary greatly in quality. This mainly affects their sound and vibration behavior. In most cases, Singing Bowls are used as instruments for meditation, sound massages, sound therapies, concerts or sound and fantasy journeys.

Peter Hess has been developing the sound massage, in which Singing Bowls is positioned and played on and around the clothed body, for people in the West since 1984 based on his experiences in Nepal - it is therefore a Western method.

Which Singing Bowls are the best?

The high-quality therapeutic singing bowls produced by Peter Hess® are considered the "jewel of Singing Bowls". Inspired by the healing power of the sounds that Peter Hess experienced on his travels to Nepal, he began to build up his own production of Singing Bowls in 1989. To this day, Peter Hess® Singing Bowls are subjected to the highest quality criteria so that they have an incomparable quality of sound and vibration.

Only pure, high-quality metals (copper and tin) are used in Peter Hess® singing bowl production and no metals from waste products or scrap. The bowls consist to a large extent of tin. This high-quality raw material is often reduced by other manufacturers or replaced by lead because tin is much more expensive.

Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowls are forged from a cast blank. The elaborate forging technique ensures that the bowls vibrate much longer and more evenly. Even though a good pre-selection takes place in Nepal and India, some Singing Bowls do not meet the requirements for the "Peter Hess® Therapy" quality seal. For this reason, all bowls in Germany are intensively tested again for quality and classified into different quality levels.

How to find the right Singing Bowl for you

  1. Think about the main purpose for which you want to use Singing Bowl .
  2. Listen to Singing Bowls samples online to find out which sounds and frequencies you like.
  3. Pay attention to quality and check the materials used and the manufacturing process in particular - both have a significant effect on the sound.
  4. Set a budget that you are prepared to invest in your new instrument.
  5. If you are unsure, speak to an expert and get advice on the different types of Singing Bowls.

What types of Singing Bowls are there?

To find out which Singing Bowls is best for you, you need to understand what types of Singing Bowls there are and what differences the individual Singing Bowls have. The pioneer in working with Singing Bowls, Peter Hess, has developed various types of Singing Bowls since founding his first own productions in 1989, which are optimally tailored to the needs of sound practice. Be it for sound massage, sound meditation, fantasy journeys or concerts. They all impress with their incomparable sounds that touch the body, mind and soul. In terms of the type of singing bowl, a basic distinction must be made between bowls that are cast and those that are forged in the traditional way.

Forged Singing Bowls

Therapy singing bowls

The therapy singing bowl is the jewel among the Singing Bowls types. It has an excellent sound and vibration quality. This type of singing bowl is based on the Tibetan Singing Bowl and is characterized by a wide shape and a sound rich in overtones. They are available in a wide range of sizes up to around 4 kg. 

The rim thickness can vary, but the traces of hammer blows on the surface are typical. A high-quality bronze alloy of 12 metals forms the basis of these bowls, which are a masterpiece of blacksmithing. Only the best examples receive the Peter Hess® Therapy seal of quality after multiple quality checks. This type of singing bowl has been optimally adapted to the needs of professional sound work over more than 30 years of development work. Different types of singing bowls - each of which addresses specific areas of the body particularly well - are used in a targeted manner: universal bowl, pelvic bowl, heart bowl, head bowl, larynx bowl, solar plexus bowl and XL-Singing Bowl.

Areas of application:

  • Main instrument of professional Peter Hess® sound work
  • Sound exercises for self-application
  • Experiments and sound games with children
  • Sound and fantasy journeys
  • Concerts

The use of these excellent instruments is one of the three pillars on which the beneficial effects of Peter Hess® Sound Massage and Peter Hess® Sound Methods are based. The full potential of the sounds can only unfold in the interplay between the technique of the method, its principles and these extraordinary Singing Bowls .

Special singing bowls

The special singing bowls are special designs that have a small hole in the bottom of the bowl with a handle or hanging loop. They are available in Therapy Premium and Therapy Classic quality. The sound and frequency characteristics of the latter are slightly lower than those of the Premium quality.

The handle of the Peter Hess® special singing bowls can be attached inside or outside, the suspension eyelet can be screwed on. The handle and eyelet allow the Singing Bowl to be used absolutely safely around the body and on uneven parts of the body. It is also possible to move the Singing Bowl, for example during fascia sound massage. This special type of singing bowl has proven its worth particularly in the field of work with the disabled and in the healing/medical professions. The special singing bowls are available in three different types: Universal Bowl, Heart Bowl and Pelvic Bowl.

Area of application: Complementary instrument for professional sound work

BoloSinging Bowls

The boloSinging Bowls is a special development for professional sound work. These Singing Bowls, which are available in Therapy Premium and Therapy Classic quality, have a hole cut out of the base. This special feature makes it possible to place the Singing Bowl on uneven parts of the body such as the shoulders, knees, elbows or heels. The cut-out is designed to ensure an intensive yet relaxing vibration emission, which can be used specifically for therapeutic purposes. The vibration is more inward than with a conventional Singing Bowl. The Bolo-Singing Bowls is available as different types of singing bowls: Universal bowl, pelvic bowl, heart bowl, laryngeal bowl and solar plexus bowl. This special Singing Bowl is also popular for self-application of sound exercises, as it enables easy and safe positioning, especially for relaxing the knees or shoulders.

Areas of application:   

  • Complementary instrument for professional sound work
  • Sound exercises for self-application
  • Sound and fantasy journeys, concerts

Sangha meditation singing bowls

Sangha meditation singing bowls are characterized by a particularly clear, long-lasting, pleasant and sustaining sound and a very fine vibration. Originally developed for meditation, fantasy and sound journeys, this Singing Bowl has also proved to be a wonderful addition to therapeutic singing bowls for sound massages and sound education and sound therapy sessions. The Sangha meditation singing bowls originate from the therapy singing bowl production, but undergo four additional forging processes. These additional production steps require around four hours of extra work per kilogram Singing Bowl . In addition, there is a complex surface treatment in which the bowl is polished by hand for six hours. The result is a unique, room-filling sound character that is second to none. Sangha meditation singing bowls are available in various sizes and in Premium and Classic quality levels. When played as a set, the vibrations overlap to create an overall sound that cannot be achieved with any other type of singing bowl. Sangha meditation singing bowls and therapy singing bowls can be ideally combined.

Note

The term "Sangha" means "meditating community".

Areas of application:

  • Meditations, sound and fantasy journeys, concerts, opening and closing events
  • Centering of groups
  • Complementary instrument for professional sound work
  • Sound exercises for self-application (especially for people who are highly sensitive)
  • Aura care
  • Chakra balancing

Bengali Singing Bowls

The BengaliSinging Bowls are characterized by a distinctive sound that lies between that of a Singing Bowl and a gong. They are forged from a bronze alloy consisting of high-quality metals. The forging process is not quite as complex as for the therapy singing bowls. After the forging process, the surface of these Singing Bowls is only finished on the inside and around the edge, which gives them their special appearance. As fewer metals are required for production and the manufacturing process itself is less complex, this type of singing bowl is comparatively cheaper. They are also very robust, which is why they are particularly popular in nurseries for free play and experimentation. BengaliSinging Bowls are available in different sizes and in Premium and Classic quality grades.

Note

These Singing Bowls are not suitable for working on the body, especially for sound massage.

Areas of application:

  • Experiments and free sound games (especially with children)
  • Signal instrument in groups
  • Sound and fantasy journeys, concerts

Cast Singing Bowls

Zen Singing Bowls

Zen-Singing Bowls, Zen cymbals and Zen bells are cast from a high-quality metal alloy and then machined. The alloy contains a high proportion of tin, which produces a very clear and centered sound. Zen-Singing Bowls are available in three sizes: 6.5 cm, 9 cm and 10 cm in diameter. The Zen-Singing Bowls, Zen cymbals and the Zen bell are also used in professional sound work. For example, the ZenSinging Bowl is mainly used around the head area or to direct attention. Played individually or as a set, ZenSinging Bowls, Zen cymbals and Zen bells are ideal for introducing and ending meditations or concerts. However, they can also be used wonderfully to set fantasy journeys to music.

Note

Due to the high tin content, this Singing Bowl is very sensitive and can break like glass if it falls on a hard stone floor, for example.

Areas of application:

  • Complementary instrument for professional sound work - mainly used in the body environment (e.g. closure, individual sound elements)
  • Sound and fantasy journeys, concerts
  • Signal instrument in groups    

Assam Singing Bowls

Like the Zen-Singing Bowls, the Assam-Singing Bowls are cast from a high-quality metal alloy and then machined. They also contain a high proportion of tin, but due to their bowl-like shape, their sound is somewhat more open and wider than that of the ZenSinging Bowls. The Assam-Singing Bowls is available in three sizes: 9.5 cm, 11 cm and 12.5 cm in diameter. The Assam-Singing Bowls can be used as a supplement in professional sound work, for example to direct attention or to address the head area (usually only in the body area). Played alone or in a set of 3, they offer a wonderful timbre for concerts, meditations or for setting fantasy journeys to music.

Note

Due to the high tin content, this Singing Bowl is very sensitive and can break like glass if it falls on a hard stone floor, for example.

Areas of application:

  • Complementary instrument for professional Peter Hess® sound work - mainly used in the body environment (e.g. closure, individual sound elements)
  • Sound and fantasy journeys, concerts
  • Signal instrument in groups

Further Singing Bowls types

With the increasing interest in Singing Bowls , a growing market for Singing Bowls of different shapes, sizes and sound and vibration quality has developed. Only a few of these instruments are suitable for sound work on the body - as practiced in the Peter Hess® sound methods and especially in sound massage.

The most widespread type of singing bowl, also known as the classic Singing Bowl, is the so-called Tibetan Singing Bowl. However, the name is misleading as these bowls are usually made in India or Nepal. This type of singing bowl was the model for the Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowl developed by Peter Hess for sound massage.

Note

There are considerable differences in quality between the many different Singing Bowls products on the market. This guide will help you to find out which Singing Bowls is the best for you. You can convince yourself of the first-class quality of Peter Hess® Singing Bowls in our article "Production of Peter Hess® therapy Singing Bowls".

Types of singing bowls - which Singing Bowl for which part of the body?

The therapy singing bowl series is available in different types of singing bowls, which address specific areas of the body particularly well and can be used by professionals in a targeted manner. The individual types each have a characteristic shape and size as well as sound and vibration quality.

Peter Hess has succeeded in optimizing the manufacturing processes of Singing Bowls in such a way that certain types of singing bowls have been created that appeal particularly well to certain areas of the body. To put it simply, the lower sounds appeal primarily to the lower parts of the body, while the higher sounds are particularly perceptible in the upper half of the body.

Note

As the Singing Bowls are made by hand, each bowl is unique. This uniqueness is also reflected in the sound experiences - they are always individually different, just as every person is unique.

Universal tray

As the name suggests, this Singing Bowl responds well to the entire body with its particularly extensive frequency spectrum between 100 and 2,800 Hz. This makes it the ideal "beginner'sSinging Bowl" that can be used universally.

It also has particularly intense vibrations, which is why it can be used in sound massages and sound methods to release blockages and tension. Visually, this Singing Bowl has an open shape, a thin rim, a diameter of around 21 to 22 cm and a weight of 900 to 1,000 g. Depending on which mallet is used to strike it, a different main sound range can be heard.

Tip

For professional sound work, but above all for private use, we recommend a mallet set consisting of a large, medium and small felt mallet, each with a different degree of hardness. This opens up a particularly wide range of possible applications for these Singing Bowl, especially in the context of self-application of sound exercises. The universal bowl is also one of the three most important Singing Bowls for professional sound work.

Small and large bowl

With its deep tones of 100 to 1,000 Herz, the pelvic bowl is particularly appealing to the lower abdomen and lower back. Its sound is often described as particularly "grounding". Its deep sounds, which can be heard through strike with a large felt mallet, are particularly appealing to the pelvic area. If, on the other hand, this type of bowl is played with a medium-hard felt mallet, frequencies are heard that are perceived as particularly pleasant and intense in the solar plexus area (area above the navel).

The small cymbal bowl, which was primarily developed for working with children, weighs around 1,500 g and has a diameter of 25 to 26 cm. It is also used in professional sound work for people for whom the large cymbal bowl is too heavy. This has an impressive weight of around 2,000 g and a diameter of 28 to 29 cm. The large version is one of the three most important Singing Bowls for professional sound massage.

Small and large heart-shaped bowl

The sound of the heart bowl is often described as very warm and bright. As the heart area is a particularly sensitive part of the body, the vibrational behavior of this bowl was designed to sound rather gentle. Here too, there is a large and a small version.

The Small Heart Bowl, originally developed for working with children, has proven to be a valuable addition to professional sound work with its bright tones. The bowl has a similarly thin rim as the universal bowl, weighs around 600 to 650 g and has a diameter of around 16 cm. The small heart bowl is usually played with the small felt mallet.

The large heart-shaped bowl is easily recognizable by its thick rim. With a weight of 1,300 g, it has a diameter of 21 to 22 cm. It has a much more voluminous sound than the small version. Depending on the mallet used - small or medium felt mallet - frequencies of 200 to 1,200 hearts can be elicited from this Singing Bowl . The large heart bowl is one of the three most important Singing Bowls for professional sound work. It is mainly used in the chest area on the front and back of the body as well as in the area of the shoulder blades and the base of the neck.

Head bowl

The head bowl is available in a wide, rather open shape and in a bulbous shape, where the walls are slightly inclined inwards. Both have a high-pitched sound. The sound of the wide bowl is usually a little more agitated. This Singing Bowl primarily addresses the forehead and sinuses and can be used for specific problems with the appropriate background knowledge and training. The Belly Head Bowl also has its place in the wellness and beauty sector, where its high, soothing sounds support facial treatments of various kinds. The wide head bowl has a diameter of around 14 cm and a weight of 250 to 300 g, while the bulbous head bowl weighs slightly more at 260 to 320 g, but is slightly smaller at 12 cm in diameter.

Laryngeal bowl

The larynx bowl was developed as a supplement for professional sound work. Due to its forged shape, it sits more securely and more easily on the upper chest area, i.e. the area of the body that produces voice and sound, than the heart bowl.

It has a diameter of 17 cm and a weight of 600 to 680 g and differs visually from the small heart-shaped bowl in that it has a thickened rim and a more open shape. Members of the healing and medical professions such as remedial teachers, speech therapists and physiotherapists use them specifically for their work. In the cosmetics and wellness sector, this bowl is also known as a décolleté bowlSinging Bowl and is used specifically to relax and stimulate this part of the body.

Solar plexus bowl

With a diameter of around 23.5 cm and a weight of 1,200 g, the solar plexus bowl forms a gradation between the universal bowl and the small cymbal bowl and was developed for use in professional sound work.

With its characteristic sound and vibration pattern, it particularly appeals to the upper abdomen and stomach area, a part of the body that is particularly sensitive to stress in many people. The sounds of this Singing Bowl can have a particularly relaxing and soothing effect here.

XL-Singing Bowl

With a diameter of 35 to 53 cm and a weight of 5 to 12 kg, the XLSinging Bowl is a real heavyweight. It is very popular for getting into the right mood, but can also be used by specialists to stimulate circulation or relax or "straighten" the spine. Accordingly, it can often be found in physiotherapy and occupational therapy practices or clinics. In addition, most clients can stand in this Singing Bowl and (ideally) experience how the sound vibrations flow upwards from the soles of the feet through the entire body - a very special experience.

XXL-Singing Bowl

The XXL-Singing Bowl is a true masterpiece of the blacksmith's art. It is extremely difficult to produce a Singing Bowl in the high quality of a therapeutic singing bowl with a diameter of 53 to 84 cm. This is because the brittle bronze becomes increasingly sensitive with increasing size and weight and breaks easily during the forging process. With a weight of 60 kg and a diameter of over 80 cm, Peter Hess has succeeded in producing the largest forged Singing Bowl in the world.

The XXL-Singing Bowls is also available from 12 kg. Not only is it an extraordinary piece of jewelry, but its voluminous sound also enables a very special sound experience.

Tones and sound characteristics of Singing Bowls

The tones of the Singing Bowls are created when you place the Singing Bowl on the flat of your hand and strike it on the upper edge with a mallet or rub it with a friction mallet . Singing Bowls have a wide variety of tones and vibrations. Depending on the type of singing bowl and the mallet used, low or high tones are produced. The larger the Singing Bowl, the deeper its tone usually is. 

Forged Singing Bowls transport the tones and vibrations better than cast Singing Bowls. The sound lingers longer and the vibrations can be felt on the body.

Tip

Felt mallets dampen the tones of Singing Bowl, which is particularly important for sound massage. This allows the sound to spread gently through the body and lead to deep relaxation.

Singing Bowls-Application

Guide

Singing Bowls-Application

To enjoy the unique sound experience of a Singing Bowl , the right application is crucial. We give you tips on how to make the most of the full sound spectrum of your Singing Bowl !

Learn more