Medium Singing Bowls: A (La)

The typical styles of medium singing bowls in this category include Thadobati, Manipuri, Mani, Pedestal sound bowls, and Shiva Lingam sound bowls. Generally, medium-sized singing bowls, which are 6-9 inches / 15-23 cm in diameter, cover 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.

Tibetan medium singing bowls that range from 6 to 9 inches in diameter are the most popular instruments in sound healing practices. Being easier to transport than large singing bowls and lighter in weight, medium sized singing bowls are more comfortable to play.

You may also find a medium-sized singing bowl that emits sounds as deep as a large singing bowl, while others produce a high-pitched tone similar to small singing bowls. The pitch of any singing bowl depends not only on its diameter but also on the thickness of the bowl's wall and the presence of a shaped lip. These acoustic properties make medium-sized singing bowls excellent instruments for both private and group sound baths. Furthermore, due to their relatively lightweight, medium-sized singing bowls are ideal for vibroacoustic massage. The vibrations are clearly felt, but the weight of the vessel doesn't feel heavy on the body.

Playing a Tibetan medium singing bowl with a wooden or leather-wrapped mallet around the rim can emphasize one of its overtones. Striking the singing bowl with a soft mallet brings out a more complex tone, blending the fundamental note and overtones. It's important to play the singing bowl around the rim slowly. If your playing stick jumps off the singing bowl's surface, it will produce an unpleasant sound. This effect can be minimized by slowing down and applying more pressure. Please note that some medium singing bowls with extra-thick walls cannot be played around the rim.