Crystal Bowls

1. Materials : silica sand (broken down quartz crystals)

1. Alchemy bowls - silica is infused with other crystals and gemstones

2. Lathe vs molded fuse method

2. Uses: private or 1:1 settings, group settings

3. How to play: gently tap the side of the bowl with a mallet or run the mallet around the rim of the bowl - the mallet matters

1. Drop the buzz: Play with the angle of the mallet - start about 45 degrees and then open up the angle so it’s more on top and roll your wrist so you aren’t dragging the mallet the whole time, constant pressure

2. My favorite mallet

3. Other great options

4. Can be played in intervals

5. The largest bowl is the root of the scale, so if the largest bowl is C that’s the root note of the set

1. Tibetan Bowls

1. Materials: different metal alloy combinations, often bronze, some are factory made or hand hammered

2. How to play: in your hand or on a cushion, use the mallet to tap the bowl or play around the rim, the mallet needs to match the size of the bowl

3. The sound comes from the vibration of the walls of the bowl

4. Longer sustain

5. Used traditionally in buddhist monasteries and made by monks

2. Gongs

1. Materials: bronze, brass, or other alloys

2. Warming up the Gong - quietly get it vibrating or swell

3. Muting a gong in the middle the edge continues, muting the edge the middle continues

4. Mallets and Flumies

5. Playing a gong

1. Around the clock (12, 3, 6, 9)

1. Clockwise 

2. Counter-clockwise 

2. Tie within the Tai Loe - connecting Heaven and Earth

3. Slur - like skipping across the surface of a lake 

4. Don’t hit directly in the middle, that’s more of an attack sound and weakest spot on the instrument and no overtones

5. We hit it off-center

6. More toward the edge = brighter with more overtones

7. Vibrotactile Sensation - you can feel the vibration coming off of them

6. Symphonic - wide spectrum of sound, has a definite pitch, used in orchestras/bands, embossed edge, longer sustain

7. Chau - predecessor to the symphonic gong and thicker, more dense, of Chinese/Asian descent, not as many highs as a symphonic, darker sound, embossed edge

8. Wind - percussive sound, thinner, higher pitch, flat, Chinese/Asian descent, quick decay, low-presence of a fundamental tone making it a good sound effect instrument, pink or white noise (high-end harmonics), responsive, choke it quickly, good for beginners, more affordable

9. Java/Balinese Gong - nipple gong, mainly played in the center to get a low-resonant tone, pure fundamental tones

10. Grotta Sonora - Italian

3. Chimes:

1. Wind Chimes

2. Koshi Chimes

3. Flow Chimes

4. Other types of chimes

4. Drums

1. Materials: animal hides, vegan materials

2. Traditional instrument, earthy, percussive

3. Can be played with a mallet or with your hand (lap style)

4. Traditional Shamanic Frame Drum (Hoop, Frame, Buffalo)

5. Other drum styles:

1. Djembe (West Africa)

2. Tabla (India)

3. Taiko (Japan)

4. Bodhran (Ireland)

5. Conga (Cuba)

6. Darbuka/Doumbek (Middle East)

7. Bongo (Cuba)

8. Snare Drum (Western)

9. Bass Drum (Western)

10. Timpani (Western orchestral)

5. Other Instruments

1. Rainsticks

2. Ocean Drum

3. Chakapas 

4. Shakers

5. Shruti Box

6. Harmonium

7. Tingsha cymbals

8. Kalimba (finger piano)

9. Sansula (Kalimba on a drum head)

10. Handpan

11. Flutes

12. Guitar

13. Harp

14. Monocord

15. Tuning Forks

16. Didgeridoo or Mayan Hompak

Where to get Instruments:

• Beautiful Sounds - CLARISSAMAE for $20 off

• CVNC 432 Hz Frosted Crystal Singing Bowls

• The Gong Shop

• Gongs Unlimited

• Nazar Drums

• Dakota Drum - Rapid City

• Crystal Tones

Recording:

• Thursday, August 29, 2024