To play the violin, you need a bow. To play tennis, you need a racquet. And to play a singing bowl, you need a striker. A striker is much more than a nondescript, random little tool; it’s the bridge between you and the awesome healing power of a singing bowl.
Today, we are learning all about singing bowl strikers.
The Silent Mind Dual-Ended Singing Bowl Striker
Since strikers are so important, we create them with intention. If you didn’t have the chance to read our singing bowl troubleshooting guide, you need to know that your singing bowl won’t work with just any striker or mallet.
Silent Mind’s double-ended striker design is exclusive to us and is included with all of our bestselling singing bowl sets. (Please note that custom sets, larger antique bowls, and crystal singing bowls can come with a different kind of striker or mallet. More on that coming up.)
One end is wooden, while the other has been wrapped in suede. Each end will help you produce a different sound with your singing bowl.
The exposed wooden end of the striker will create a sound that is quite impactful. You could even consider it the simplified and amplified version of what a singing bowl can do. It is often louder and more piercing, without much complexity.
The sueded or padded end is much more popular. This is where the subtleties of a singing bowl shine through. The sueded softens the overall sound and unravels layers that make the bowl sound ethereal. This end is also more favorable for consistently playing the rim of the bowl.
Crystal Singing Bowl Mallets and Strikers
Next, you will notice that Silent Mind’s crystal singing bowls come with TWO tools for playing: a standard dowel-shaped striker, and a wooden-handled mallet. The standard striker is usually made of the same crystal that crystal singing bowls are.
The crystal dowel strikers produce a great sound and are used to excellent results by many players. But for longevity, you may prefer the softer-ended mallet. The material of the mallet’s ball-shaped end makes for a smoother rub along the rim of the singing bowl, perfect for sustained playing.
They are also often lighter than crystal strikers, which helps your wrist action if you play a lot.
Other Strikers and Mallets
Finally, you’ll see that larger singing bowls come with larger mallets. Strikers and mallets are always proportional in size to the singing bowl; you couldn’t use a small striker on a large bowl, and vice versa.
Large singing bowl mallets may have thinner handles with bulbous, fluffy ends like you might see some drummers use. The end could also be covered in wool, felt, or just be made of rubber. The thinner handles and softer ends of large-bowl mallets prevent damage and facilitate ease of playing since using a heavy, thick striker for a big bowl would not be pleasing to the ear or easy to use consistently.
Need help with your singing bowl striker? Silent Mind is here.
If your singing bowl striker has gone missing, or you’ve inherited a singing bowl that needs one, just contact Silent Mind. We can help you figure out what singing bowl striker or mallet is best for your needs.
No matter which end you play with, the shape of Silent Mind’s singing bowl striker makes it more comfortable and natural to hold, much like the pens and pencils you have been using your entire life.
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