A complete introduction to the sounds and singing bowls of Tibet.

Ever considered how a singing bowl's sound or frequency changes while it is played? This blog covers all the necessary information on singing bowl tones, notes, and frequencies in this article. 

The distinctive and meditative sounds that Tibetan singing bowls produce when played are among its many exceptional characteristics, but maybe the most notable one. The frequencies, notes, and octaves of singing bowl sounds may be used to quantify, sort, and categorize them in a variety of ways. Due to differences in size, weight, and composition, modern metal singing bowls, vintage crystal singing bowls, and newly produced metal singing bowls all have unique frequencies and tones.

How do singing bowls generate sound?

Tibetan singing bowls and all other musical instruments rely on friction and vibration to produce the sound we hear. Singing bowls are idiophones. Idiophones are devices that "produce music primarily through physical vibrations of the real instrument.". In other words, The sounds are created by the bowl's vibration when it is played. The vibrations are produced by the friction that develops when a mallet is used to hit the bowl or brush the rim. These vibrations are audible and palpable to us. As we shall explore below, singing bowl sounds can include a variety of harmonics or dominant tones.

 What are singing bowl frequencies?

Singing bowls may create a variety of frequencies. The number of cycles, or "speed," of vibrations undergone during one unit of time is referred to as "frequency." Frequency is also known as "pitch" at times. To determine the frequency of a singing bowl, measure its vibration while it is being played. The unit of frequency is commonly given in Hertz (Hz). human hearing can detect frequencies between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Singing bowls have a frequency range of 110 Hz to 660 Hz but can reach the 800s or even 900s.

Due to the intricacy of singing bowls' sounds and fluctuating frequencies as they change between tones and octaves, Hz values for them are typically approximations. The measured frequency is also affected by the parts of the singing bowl that are being played. Compared to a modest tap on the side wall, a high tap will produce distinct waves. Vibrations produced by playing the singing bowl's lip as opposed to its side will differ. A frequency reading can also be complicated by the physical surroundings since severe temperatures might change the measurement.

A singing bowl's frequency may be affected by a number of elements, such as its diameter, density, form, material composition, and side thickness. When it comes to the aforementioned components, there are a few general guidelines for estimating the frequency of a singing bowl. For instance, the pitch will be deeper the greater the bowl's diameter. Additionally, the pitch will be higher the thicker the bowl is.

What is singing bowl resonance and harmony?

The sound is sustained by the friction as you brush the bowl's rim; this is called resonance. Resonance is the sound that persists even when the singing bowl and mallet are no longer in touch. The sound is the accumulation of several mallet strokes around the singing bowl's lip. The resonance of a singing bowl is rather complicated since it depends on the interactions of three variables: vibrational frequency, amplitude, and time. You may feel resonance with practically any bowl. However, resonance is most easily felt with bigger singing bowls, such as Jambati bowls.

However, not all singing bowls can generate the same harmonies or pitch. A singing bowl creates a chord when it is struck. Harmony is the mixture of many chords performed simultaneously, whereas a chord is a set of notes played collectively. Many bowls are tuned to a particular chord, such as the flat fifth. On the other side, crystal bowls typically generate a harmonic of the third interval. You will generate several levels of overtones depending on the chord the singing bowl produces. Singing bowls can typically create the basic overtone, the feminine overtone, and a mid-tone.

The lower, or deeper, tone of a singing bowl is its dominant tone. The basic sound is made when the external wall of the bowl is scraped with a leather mallet. The female overtone is a singing bowl's highest note. The feminine overtone may be heard when the outside lip of the bowl is scratched with a wooden mallet. Large and medium-sized bowls have a mid-tone. This mid-tone is created and played after the female overtone once the bowl has warmed up. Small bowls, on the other hand, often don't have a mid-tone. The peculiar but beautiful tones of Tibetan singing bowls are produced by these harmonics.

Singing bowls with different musical notes.

Singing bowls can be compared to many tones. The majority of singing bowl users work with the C major scale, which comprises seven notes. These seven notes are identified by the letters C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. 

Particularly crystal singing bowls may be tuned to one of these tones. When purchasing many singing bowls, one can want to obtain one that just plays a single note so they can use Western instruments to perform it or just out of preference.

However, there is another important aspect of singing bowls with certain tones that can catch your attention: they are in harmony with the seven major chakras! Each of the seven major chakras is represented by one of the C major scale's seven notes. By utilizing these singing bowls during meditation, you may correct or restore your chakras. To find out more about the connection between singing bowls and chakras, read our in-depth tutorial on chakra notes and singing bowls.

Why Would You Want to Know Your Singing Bowl's Tone or Frequency?

There are a few reasons why someone would be interested in learning what frequency their singing bowl emits. 

Many people feel it necessary to be aware of their singing bowl's frequencies, tones, and notes even though originally singing bowls were not made with these things in mind. For instance, if you want to add another singing bowl to your collection, knowing the frequency of your present bowl can help you choose a new bowl that complements the ones you currently have.

If you play your singing bowl with Western instruments, that is another reason to measure the frequency of the instrument. Western instruments are made to produce certain frequencies and are tuned to specific scales. The frequency of your singing bowl will enable you to combine and match instruments that flow well together, despite the fact that singing bowls are not made in the same manner.