Tibetan Singing Bowl in A

There is no single bowl size for producing an A. This note occurs in several octaves and can be produced by both large, low-pitched bowls and smaller, higher-pitched models.

For quartz crystal bowls, the A in a seven-piece set may be produced by the approximately 18 cm (7 in) bowl. It falls between the wider G bowl and the narrower B bowl. You can also find a bowl measuring about 23 cm (9 in) tuned to A at 440 hertz. As for hammered metal bowls, some bowls tuned to A measure about 16 or 18 cm (6.3 or 7 in) and weigh 650 to 700 g (1 lb 6.9 oz to 1 lb 8.7 oz), while a model measuring nearly 31 cm (12.2 in) and weighing about 2.9 kg (6 lb 6.3 oz) will sing in a low octave. A very large 52 cm (20.47 in) bowl weighing more than 10 kg (22 lb) will even produce an A at the very bottom of the register.

However, these measurements should be treated only as general guidelines: weight and diameter vary from one bowl to another, and a thicker wall raises the pitch. Some bowls in our selection are listed with a diameter of 25 or 30 cm (10 or 12 in).

A Tibetan singing bowl tuned to A can be identified by the letter A displayed on a tuner when you gently strike the bowl: this is how the note is written in Western musical notation. You may also find this letter or the number 6 in numbered musical notation on the instrument or its invoice. When a number follows the letter, as in A3 or A4, it indicates the octave. However, a sharp symbol denotes a different note, namely A-sharp.

To check this, set the tuner’s reference pitch to 440 hertz, then identify the lowest, most stable frequency. The screen will display the deviation in cents, with negative values indicating a pitch below the note and positive values indicating a pitch above it. Within plus or minus ten cents, most listeners will perceive the sound as being in tune.

It’s best to repeat the measurement because a basic tuner may mistake an overtone for the fundamental. Also note that an A tuned to 432 hertz will register about 32 cents flat on a device still set to 440 hertz, whereas the indicator will be centred once the reference pitch is set to 432 hertz.

Finally, A offers a means of verification that other notes do not: the reference tone itself. This allows you to compare your bowl with the A from a tuning fork or tone generator to hear which is lower. If your bowl produces a low A, you’ll need to compare the notes an octave apart.

Yes, a Tibetan singing bowl tuned to A can provide the A note for singing or playing with other instruments, provided that its lowest note is dominant and stable. This is the case with crystal bowls, whereas the lowest note of hammered bowls varies depending on where they are struck. A tuning fork, on the other hand, provides a very stable fundamental frequency.

A is also a beautiful note if you want to sing along with your bowl. However, a bowl tuned to A at 432 hertz will set the pitch at 432 hertz, and you’ll need to use that reference for the other instruments.

An E bowl is the first choice to pair with a Tibetan singing bowl tuned to A: these notes form a fifth, a stable, pleasing interval that reinforces the root note. By adding a C, you can create an A minor chord, which consists entirely of natural notes, with no sharps or flats. A also forms part of the D minor chord with D and F, as well as the F major chord with F and C. However, you’ll need a C-sharp to form an A major chord.

If you already own an A bowl, you can also combine two As from different octaves. Conversely, three neighbouring notes such as A, G-sharp, and G will produce a floating, dark sound when played together. Finally, make sure your bowls use the same tuning reference. For a truly in-tune chord, you’ll need to check their deviations in cents: if one bowl is 25 cents above its note, you’ll need a second bowl that is also 25 cents sharp.

Choosing 432 hertz changes the pitch of the bowl itself: an A tuned to 432 hertz vibrates 432 times per second instead of 440. The other octaves follow accordingly, giving frequencies of 108, 216, or 864 hertz instead of 110, 220, or 880 hertz. The difference is 8 hertz at this pitch, 4 hertz one octave lower, and 16 hertz one octave higher, but it remains the same interval of approximately 32 cents, or slightly less than one-third of a semitone. Your bowl will therefore still be considered an A bowl.

The two reference pitches are close. You’ll need to compare the same note directly to hear that 432 hertz is slightly lower. For a bowl played on its own, we recommend choosing the one whose voice you prefer. However, 432 hertz is ideal for a set of bowls already designed around that reference pitch.

Most bowls in this collection offer both frequencies as options, and the selected note or frequency does not affect the price. However, some bowls do not offer this option.