The 11 Best Singing Bowls of 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you use a singing bowl?

  A singing bowl can be used at home for meditation, or for the simple enjoyment of its particular sound, according to Janet Fouts, a meditation teacher who uses singing bowls and sound healing in her practice. “The vibration is soothing and can heal our spirit,” she says.

  Singing bowls can be played a few ways. One way, Fouts says, is tapping the sides or the rim of the bowl, which each emit different tones. “Usually the rim has a higher, sharper pitch than the side,” she explains. You can also rub the mallet around the rim with just enough pressure to cause it to vibrate and hum. 

  “It’s not easy to create that hum in all bowls, and many believe that one bowl will play for one person and not another. They sort of have personalities,” Fouts explains. “Thinner bowls that are stamped can be harder to play than thicker-bodied bowls, but it can depend on who is playing.”

  Additionally, Fouts says that using singing bowls is a form of meditation in its own right—as is playing several bowls in one sitting. “Deciding which bowl to play when and how is an art,” she adds. One way is a sound bath, which Trattner explains as an experience “where you immerse yourself in sound frequency. Sound all around you creates a ‘bath’ of visceral sound where you can feel the frequency of sound in the deepest parts of your body,” she says.

• Do you put water in a singing bowl?

  Placing water in the singing bowls will change the frequency and sound of the tones, according to Michelle Thielen, a yoga therapist and meditation trainer who uses sound therapy and singing bowls. And while it’s not required, it is possible, Hausman explains. “Some people put water in their singing bowls, it may change the vibration and even the sound,” she says. “I prefer to use the bowl dry and work with the natural elements of the stone.” 

  On occasion, Fouts says that she puts water in the bowls. “People love to watch them as a demonstration of how much vibration is really happening,” she explains. “I don't usually use water to tune bowls though.” And while Heidi Dalzell, PsyD, a psychospiritual coach and singing bowl practitioner at Soulful Connections Coaching, doesn’t use water in her bowls, she cautions against consuming any water that has been in a singing bowl. “I don’t think that the charged water is safe to drink,” she says.

• Can I wash my singing bowl?

  Yes, it’s possible to wash a singing bowl, but do so with caution. “Do not put any bowls in dishwashers or machine cleaners,” Hausman says. “Simply wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and avoid any harsh cleansers or surfactants.” Dalzell usually cleanses her bowls with a soft cloth.

  “Caring for singing bowls is simple, but one must be gentle,” Thielen says. “A soft cloth that you would typically use for dusting works well. If one gets soiled from travel or being passed around, simply use a non-acidic sanitizing cleanser to gently wipe down. I suggest people take care of their bowls as you would a marble countertop.”

• How long should I use a singing bowl for?

  This depends on how and why you’re using it. “A typical meditation/sound therapy session can go anywhere from five minutes to over an hour,” Hausman says. “Sometimes referred to as a sound bath, it can incorporate the use of many different types of bowls and other sound instruments as well.”

  Most sessions with bowls are about 45 minutes, and follow a certain sequence if you are balancing all the chakras, Dalzell explains. “The bowls are placed around the body with the note pertaining to the particular chakra,” she adds. “They are then striked in sequence to balance each energy center.”

  If you’re looking to add sound healing to your daily practice, Laine recommends starting with three to five minutes. “My personal magic number is 11 minutes and 11 seconds for any sort of sound healing meditation,” she explains.”But honestly, 30 seconds of sound healing to offset negative sonic experiences in the day is better than nothing.”