12 Bowl Singing Bowl Set - Layout, Sharps and Who It Is For
A 12 bowl singing bowl set has one bowl for each of the twelve notes from C to B: the seven chakra notes plus five sharps. The bowls are laid out in note order along the body, with the big C bowl at the feet and the small Crown bowl at the head, and the set is made for experienced practitioners.
Key takeaways
- Twelve bowls means the seven natural notes plus five sharps, the full chromatic scale.
- The layout runs in note order from the feet to the head.
- The sharps fill the spaces between the seven chakras.
- The set suits long sessions and experienced hands, and most people need only seven.
What is in a 12 bowl singing bowl set?
Twelve bowls, twelve notes. Seven are the notes of the seven chakras, and five are the sharps between them.
| # | Note | Kind | Place in the Vedic mapping |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Natural | Root, at the feet end |
| 2 | C sharp | Sharp | Between Root and Sacral |
| 3 | D | Natural | Sacral |
| 4 | D sharp | Sharp | Between Sacral and Solar Plexus |
| 5 | E | Natural | Solar Plexus |
| 6 | F | Natural | Heart |
| 7 | F sharp | Sharp | Between Heart and Throat |
| 8 | G | Natural | Throat |
| 9 | G sharp | Sharp | Between Throat and Third Eye |
| 10 | A | Natural | Third Eye |
| 11 | A sharp | Sharp | Between Third Eye and Crown |
| 12 | B | Natural | Crown, at the head end |
This is the chromatic scale, which is why the set is also called a chromatic singing bowl set. The idea behind it is explained in the 12 chakra system explained.
What do the five sharps add?
They fill the spaces between the seven chakras. Think of the seven as towns on a map, and the sharps as the roads between them.
The five are C sharp, D sharp, F sharp, G sharp and A sharp. My training notebook records that there is no E sharp, because E to F is already a half step.
In a session the sharps give you somewhere to work when the place you want is between two centres, such as the lower ribs or the base of the skull.
How do you lay out a 12 bowl set?
The rule from my notebook is simple: note order along the length of the body. The lowest note sits at the feet and the highest at the head.
- C at the feet: the C bowl is a big bowl, because the low end needs weight.
- B at the head: the Crown bowl is the small one.
- Sharps in between: each sharp sits between its two neighbours, never grouped on its own.
- Within reach: keep the row close enough that you never lean over the person.
Laid out this way, the position tells you the note. You never have to search for a bowl in the middle of a session.
Is the layout the same in the Vedic and Tibetan traditions?
No. My notebook holds two arrangements, a Vedic one and a Tibetan one, and the playing order changes with the tradition as well.
Both are set out in our free course lesson on where to set all twelve bowls. Follow the tradition you were taught, and stay with it for the whole session.
Want a set of 12 matched for you?
Choose your tradition and twelve bowls, and the builder selects all twelve notes, sharps included. The request is free.
Who is a 12 bowl set for?
| Set | Who it suits | Typical session |
|---|---|---|
| Set of 7 | Beginners, home practice and most practitioners | Short and medium sessions |
| Set of 9 | People who follow the nine chakra system | Sessions that begin below the feet and end above the head |
| Set of 12 | Experienced practitioners and teachers | Long sessions of about an hour |
Most practitioners work with seven for their whole career, and that is enough. Twelve is the detailed version, not the better one.
For the step in between, see which nine bowls are in a 9 chakra set.
How is a set of 12 put together?
A hand-hammered bowl's note is discovered, not made. Smiths cannot hammer toward a sharp, so a set of twelve is matched by selection.
After your order arrives, Sunita plays the bowls and chooses twelve that hold their notes against each other. The sharps take the most care, because they are the hardest notes to find.
Sets come in four size ranges: equal 5 inch, 4 to 8 inch, 5 to 10 inch and 8 to 12 inch. Our post on chakra singing bowl set sizes explains each one.
Can you start with 7 and add the sharps later?
Yes, and it is the way we suggest. Start with a set of 7 from our chakra singing bowl sets, learn it well, then add sharps.
- Sets of 7 to start from: the 7 chakra hand-beaten set, the 7 chakra colour set or the full moon set of 7.
- Order to add sharps: our course suggests A sharp first, then G sharp, F sharp, D sharp and C sharp, working from the head down.
- One sharp at a time: design a single bowl on the custom singing bowl page, where you ask for the note and add free engraving.
- All five together: send the notes you own through the set builder, and the new bowls are chosen to sit with them.
What are the common mistakes with a 12 bowl set?
- Buying twelve first: starting with the largest set before seven feels easy.
- Grouping by size: laying bowls out by size or by which came out of the bag first, and then searching for notes.
- Looking for E sharp: asking for a note that does not exist as a separate step.
- Using it on a new client: a longer, more complex session is not a better first session.
- Not checking the notes: never confirming each bowl once the set arrives.
What should you do when the set arrives?
Play each bowl into our free live singing bowl tuner and write down the twelve notes. Then lay the bowls out in that order before you play them together.
To learn the full session, take the free singing bowl healing course. Its fourth part is about the twelve.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a 12 singing bowl set?
Twelve bowls, one for each note from C to B. Seven are the natural notes used for the seven chakras, and five are the sharps that sit between them.
How do you lay out a 12 bowl singing bowl set?
Lay the bowls in note order along the length of the body, with C at the feet and B at the head. The C bowl is a big bowl and the Crown bowl is the small one.
What are the sharps in a 12 bowl set?
C sharp, D sharp, F sharp, G sharp and A sharp. There is no E sharp and no B sharp, because E to F and B to C are already half steps.
Is a 12 bowl set the same as a chromatic singing bowl set?
Yes. Twelve notes from C to B is the full chromatic scale, so a 12 bowl set is also called a chromatic singing bowl set.
Who is a 12 bowl singing bowl set for?
Experienced practitioners who run long sessions and want a note for every step. A set of 7 is the better choice for a first set, a short session or a new client.
Can I add five sharps to my set of 7?
Yes. Tell us the notes of the seven you own, and the sharps are chosen one by one to sit with them.
Is the layout the same in the Vedic and Tibetan traditions?
No. There is a Vedic arrangement and a Tibetan arrangement, and playing order also depends on the tradition, so follow the one you were taught.
Not ready for twelve yet?
See our chakra sets of 3, 5 and 7 bowls. A mallet and cushion come with every bowl, and you can add the sharps later.
