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How to Play Crystal Singing Bowls - Sound Healing LAB

How to Play Crystal Singing Bowls

Using Crystal Singing Bowls to Reset Your Mind

Playing a musical instrument can be a great way to reset your mind and relax. Crystal singing bowls, in particular, are known for their soothing and calming effects. When you play a real quartz singing bowl, the vibrations produced can make your mind and body at ease.

Before You Begin Using Crystal Singing Bowls

Remember these few simple steps.

  • Find a quiet and comfortable place to sit down - usually the bowls are placed on the floor a top of the included silicone rings and you sit on the floor. However, if more comfortable you can use a chair and place the bowls on the table in front of you.
  • Focus on the sound of the bowl and allow yourself to relax - it's not about the performance but rather about a connection with and being a conductor of the positive energy.
  • Take deep breaths and allow the vibrations and sound to wash over you and your listeners - allowing yourself and others to be calm and relaxed is the experience that most people are looking in the sound baths.
  • When you're finished playing the bowl, take a few moments to sit in silence and notice any changes in your mind and body - allow the sounds to subside naturally rather than stopping the sounds.

Remember to be patient with yourself and allow yourself to fully immerse in the experience. With practice, playing a crystal singing bowl can be a powerful tool for resetting your mind and finding relaxation.

Steps for Playing Crystal Singing Bowls

Crystal singing bowls are known for their soothing and calming effects, and playing them can be a great way to relax and find inner peace. Here are a few steps to get started:

  • Find a comfortable place to sit. You may want to use a cushion or blanket to support you.
  • Place the crystal singing bowl on a flat surface on top of the silicone ring. If you're using a mallet, hold the handle in your dominant hand.
  • Gently strike the bowl with the mallet to activate it, and use the mallet to follow the rim of the bowl until the volume starts increasing.
  • Control the volume be decreasing/increasing the speed and pressure of teh mallet on the bowl. Don't go overboard and try to keep the sounds at balanced comfortable levels.
  • Close your eyes and focus on the sound of the bowl. Take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to relax.
  • Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you. You can try striking the bowl in different places, using different amounts of pressure, or using various mallets to circle the rim at different speed. You can also try singing or chanting while playing the bowl to create a harmonious sound and open up your throat chakra.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to play a crystal singing bowl. The most important thing is to allow yourself to relax and enjoy the experience while being in the present moment.

Notes of Singing Bowls that Sound Great Together

Using the 7-note scale of our crystal singing bowls in 432 Hz or 440 Hz tuning with the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B we can form many harmonic combinations. Play the bowls in the same sequence to create the harmony or scale to help you elevate your sound baths. Here are some examples:

Perfect Fifth (2-note harmony): The perfect fifth interval is considered to be a very stable and pleasing harmony. It is often used to reinforce the root note of a chord and can create a sense of resolution and completeness.

  • C5: C G (root note and perfect fifth)
  • D5: D A (root note and perfect fifth)
  • E5: E B (root note and perfect fifth)
  • F5: F C (root note and perfect fifth)
  • G5: G D (root note and perfect fifth)
  • A5: A E (root note and perfect fifth)
  • B5: B F (note that the B note has a diminished fifth above it, so we are using F below)

Major Triad (3-note harmony): The major triad is considered to be one of the most stable and pleasant harmonies. It has a bright, happy sound that is often associated with positive emotions and is excellent for sound healing.

  • C Major Triad: C E G
  • F Major Triad: F A C
  • G Major Triad: G B D

Minor Triad (3-note harmony): The minor triad has a more somber and melancholy sound than the major triad, but it is still considered to be a consonant and pleasing harmony.

  • D Minor Triad: D F A
  • E Minor Triad: E G B
  • A Minor Triad: A C E

Major Seventh Chord (4-note harmony): The major seventh chord has a lush and sophisticated sound that can be very pleasing to listeners. It is often used in jazz and other sophisticated genres of music.

  • CMaj7: C E G B
  • FMaj7: F A C E
  • GMaj7: G B D F#

Dominant Seventh Chord (4-note harmony): The dominant seventh chord is often used to create tension and anticipation in music, but it can also be very pleasing when used in the right context.

  • G7: G B D F
  • D7: D F# A C
  • A7: A C# E G
  • E7: E G# B D

4-note harmonies (chords):

  • C Major 7th: C (root), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), B (major seventh)
  • D Minor 7th: D (root), F (minor third), A (perfect fifth), C (minor seventh)
  • E Minor 7th: E (root), G (minor third), B (perfect fifth), D (minor seventh)
  • F Major 7th: F (root), A (major third), C (perfect fifth), E (major seventh)
  • G Dominant 7th: G (root), B (major third), D (perfect fifth), F (minor seventh)
  • A Minor 7th: A (root), C (minor third), E (perfect fifth), G (minor seventh)
  • B Half-diminished 7th: B (root), D (minor third), F (diminished fifth), A (minor seventh)

5-note harmonies (scales):

  • C Major Pentatonic: C, D, E, G, A
  • D Minor Pentatonic: D, F, G, A, C
  • E Minor Pentatonic: E, G, A, B, D
  • F Major Pentatonic: F, G, A, C, D
  • G Major Pentatonic: G, A, B, D, E
  • A Minor Pentatonic: A, C, D, E, G

6-note harmonies (scales):

  • C Major Scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B
  • D Dorian Mode: D, E, F, G, A, B, C
  • E Phrygian Mode: E, F, G, A, B, C, D
  • F Lydian Mode: F, G, A, B, C, D, E
  • G Mixolydian Mode: G, A, B, C, D, E, F
  • A Aeolian Mode (Natural Minor): A, B, C, D, E, F, G

7-note harmonies (scales)

Note that you will ideally start and finish with the same note when playing a specific scale. Those are merely suggestions and I encourage you to explore and don't afraid to experiment creating your own unique sounds and sound healing atmosphere.

  • C major scale: C D E F G A B C
  • D Dorian mode: D E F G A B C D
  • E Phrygian mode: E F G A B C D E
  • F Lydian mode: F G A B C D E F
  • G Mixolydian mode: G A B C D E F G
  • A minor (Aeolian) mode: A B C D E F G A
  • B Locrian mode: B C D E F G A B

These are just some of the most common harmonies that can be created using these notes, and there are many other possibilities as well. It's also worth noting that the same harmony can be spelled in different ways depending on the context and key of the music.

Why I suggest crystal singing bowls?

Each bowl is hand-crafted and imbued with its own unique energy. While at the same time they are perfectly tuned to produce exact note and frequency. Trust me, incorporating activity like playing crystal singing bowls into your self-care routine can be a game-changer for your mental and energetic health. Use it as a tuner, a tool for creation, a meta-prayer, or experience its energy of peace & calm. 

Thanks for reading and may your journey toward inner peace be filled with beautiful sounds!

What's Next?

It's been a pleasure sharing these techniques for playing singing bowls and how they help resetting your mind. I hope you found these tips helpful and that you feel inspired to give some of them a try.

If you're ready to take your relaxation to the next level, be sure to check out our collection of crystal singing bowls.

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