Tibetan Singing Bowl Accessories

During a sound massage, a suction cup lets you hold a Tibetan singing bowl above someone with one hand, even when the bowl is upside down. The suction cup has a handle and attaches to the bottom of the bowl by suction, allowing you to point the instrument in any direction while keeping your other hand free to play it. This lets you direct the vibrations toward a specific area of the person receiving the massage.

To attach it, first make sure the bottom of the bowl is clean and free of dust. Then lightly moisten the suction cup and press it against the bowl. You can then strike the instrument with a mallet and guide it. Choose a suction cup based on the bowl’s size and weight: a small suction cup won’t hold a large bowl. We offer rubber suction cups in pairs that fit almost all bowls.

To choose the right size case, cushion, or mat, start with the diameter of your bowl. We recommend measuring it before you order. Ideally, a round cushion should match your bowl’s diameter, while a flat mat should be the same size or slightly larger. A case should have an inner diameter equal to or slightly larger than the bowl’s diameter.

A ring or round cushion that doesn’t fit can quickly cause problems. If it’s too small, the bowl won’t sit securely and will fall when you strike it. If it’s too large, the bowl will sink into it and its sound will be muffled. The bowl may even slip through and rattle against the floor.

In our collection, cases for metal bowls are sized for bowls from 3.15 to 11 in (8 to 28 cm) in increments of 0.39 or 0.79 in (1 or 2 cm). Our crystal bowl cases have their own sizes, ranging from 6 to 14 in (15 to 35 cm). Round cushions range from 3.15 to 12 in (8 to 30 cm), while square cushions are sized by side length, from 3.15 to 7 in (8 to 18 cm). Our embroidered mats measure from 4 to 6.3 in (10 to 16 cm).

You can place a cushion, an embroidered mat, or a ring under a singing bowl. The key is never to set the bowl directly on a hard surface: without cushioning, its sound becomes unpleasant and rattles. A support that’s too soft, however, will muffle the sound. When you strike the bowl, the support also keeps it in place so it doesn’t slide or bump into another bowl.

These three supports serve slightly different purposes:

• Our embroidered mat comes in yellow or red. Its flat shape lets it replace a cushion while showing off your bowl. Tradition also associates red with the root chakra.
• The round cushion, which is shaped like a ring, is the most common option. It keeps the bowl from sliding. Our round cushions are handmade from cotton in the Himalayas, and their colors vary with availability.
• The square cushion is thicker than the others and raises the bowl.

In most cases, choosing between these supports comes down to personal preference.

If you own a crystal singing bowl, some accessories for metal bowls will work with it, while others are designed specifically for crystal bowls. Crystal bowl mallets generally have a rubber head for striking, while rubbing sticks are usually made of quartz covered with faux suede or silicone. Silicone prevents the rubbing noise often heard with faux suede.

If you’re not taking an in-person course, a book or user guide can help you learn to play a Tibetan singing bowl at your own pace. A manual explains playing techniques, hand movements, and how to run a session.

In our collection, the book on singing bowls is available in print or as a PDF. We also offer a booklet that serves as a user guide.

Price differences between accessories that serve the same purpose mainly come down to size, material, whether they’re sold individually or as a set, and edition. Our cushions, mats, cases, and mallets cost more as their diameter or length increases. A mallet made entirely of wood costs less than a wood and felt mallet. Likewise, a pair of sticks, a 4-piece set, or a set of 7 rings is priced differently from a single item. Finally, the digital edition of our book costs less than the print edition.

Compare accessories of the same size and material when evaluating their prices.

The accessories used to make a singing bowl produce sound have several names, and those names don’t always refer to the same item. A rubbing stick is usually made of wood and covered with leather or faux suede. It’s also commonly called a mallet or simply a stick. Bare wood makes firmer contact with the bowl, while leather softens the contact and makes steady rotation easier. Felt softens the strike but isn’t suitable for rubbing.

You’ll also find a striking mallet, sometimes called a beater. Used only for striking, it has a wood or plastic handle about 8 to 12 in (20 to 30 cm) long, topped with a ball-shaped or cylindrical head made of felt or wool, sometimes with rubber inside. It produces a lower-pitched sound. In our collection, the wand is listed with the crystal bowl accessories. A hybrid mallet combines a rubbing stick and a striking mallet, giving you both without having to carry two separate accessories.