Singing Bowls

Tibetan singing bowls are one of the strangest types of instruments out there. At first sight, they don’t look any different from traditional dinner bowls. But they can produce musical notes when you rub them with a leather-covered wooden mallet.  

Singing bowls are not like other musical instruments. When you consider other musical instruments, there aren’t many instruments that can sustain a note for more than a few seconds. But in the case of these bowls, they can hold the same note for as long as you keep the water vibrating using the mallet. Although it might be difficult for a new player to hold the same note for more than a couple of seconds, this becomes easier as you learn more. Read this article to know more about this instrument. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choices when you are shopping for them.  

A beginner’s guide to singing bowls 

For a layperson, almost all the singing bowls look the same, except for the crystal bowls as they have a very distinctive appearance. However, there are more than a dozen different types of bowls. Each one of them varies in their shapes, thickness, and material composition. Based on that, the octaves and tones that they produce also vary. This article will tell you everything that you need to know. In this article, you will also find a few tips that will help you choose the right type of bowl you need as well. Since there are a lot of brands and sellers out there, it is important for you to be prepared. So, let’s read!

Thadobati 

This type of singing bowls is a bit larger than other types of bowls. Even though the bottom side of these bowls are curved, the walls are high and straight. One notable feature of Thodabati bowls is that the lips do not have much finishing. You might even see some deformations in the lips. However, this design contributes to the unique tone of the bowls. Thadobati bowls can produce five different octaves if you are playing the bowls with a mallet. Another interesting fact about Thadobati is that it is one of the oldest types of singing bowls. People used to play this even during the fifteenth century.  

Jambati  

When it comes to the finish and decoration of the bowls, jambati bowls take the cake. The decoration on the exterior of the bowl is made using patterns of hammer marks. While these bowls are capable of producing five different octaves, most musicians play them at the second or third octave. Because of its size and the complexity of the finish required, it would take three or four craftsmen to produce one single jambati bowl. Therefore, it is not surprising that these bowls are also expensive. A full set of jambati bowls will cost you anywhere from two thousand dirhams to thirty-two thousand dirhams.  

Mani  

It is easy to recognise Mani singing bowls from others because of their inward-facing lips. They are also distinctively short and stout as well. Mani bowls can only play three different octaves. However, because they are relatively easier to play, they do make good beginner bowls. But some people might find the high tone of Mani bowls annoying. At least when played for an extended period of time. You can easily find a set of Mani bowls for as cheap as 700 dirhams. If you want a better finish and build quality, you will have to pay a little more. But even the highest quality Mani bowls cost less than 2000 dirhams.  

Crystal  

Crystal bowls are the modern adaptation of the traditional singing bowls. In these bowls, quartz crystals are used instead of brass. The benefit that crystal bowls have over the traditional bowls is that they can produce a wide variety of tones depending on their sizes. Crystal bowls come in four types, namely frosted, clear, handle bowl and mineral fusion. Each one of these has a unique tonal characteristic that is unique. The loudest bowls among these are the crystal bowls. Clear bowls produce the cleanest tones, but they are not as loud as other bowls.