Medium Antique Singing Bowls
The typical styles of singing bowls in this category are, Thadobati, Manipuri, Mani, Pedestal bowls, and Shiva Lingam. Usually, medium size singing bowls 6-9 inch / 15- 23 cm in diameter are covering the higher notes of the third octave (G, G#, A, A#, and B / Sol, Sol#, La, La#, and Ti) and may sound as high, as F / Fa of the fourth octave. The fundamental tone of a medium singing bowl also depends on the thickness of its wall.
Singing bowls that range from 6 to 9 inches in diameter are the most popular instruments in sound healing practice. Medium size singing bowls are easier to transport than large singing bowls. Due to their lightweight, it's more comfortable to play them. Some of the medium singing bowls sound deep as large singing bowls, some emit a high-pitched tone like small singing bowls. The pitch of any singing bowl depends not only on its diameter but the thickness of the bowl's wall and the presence of a shaped lip (thicker rim).
The acoustic properties of medium size singing bowls are making them great instruments for private and group sound healing journeys (sound baths). Also, due to their relatively lightweight, medium size singing bowls are good for vibroacoustic massage. The vibrations are clearly felt but the weight of a singing bowl does not feel heavy on a body.
Playing a singing bowl with the wooden or leather wrapped mallet around the rim can emphasize one of its overtones. Striking the bowl with a soft mallet brings out a more complex tone with a blend of the fundamental and overtones.
Playing a singing bowl around the rim should be done slowly. If your playing stick jumps off the singing bowl's surface, it will produce an unpleasant sound. This effect can be countered by slowing down and applying more pressure. Some singing bowls with extra-thick walls cannot be played around the rim.
