Full Moon Singing Bowl Set: How a 7 Bowl Moon Set Is Put Together
Short answer
A full moon singing bowl set is seven hand-hammered bowls, all made on full moon nights in Nepal, that are matched to each other by note. The smiths cannot hammer a bowl toward a note, so the set is not built bowl by bowl to a plan. Each bowl's note is discovered once the bowl is finished. After you order, Sunita plays the finished full moon bowls in your size range and chooses the seven whose notes sit together, from her experience in practice. That is what "tuned by selection" means, and it is the only honest way a hand-hammered set can be put together.
Most people picture a set being made like a piano: seven bowls, each one built to its note. Hand-hammered bowls do not work that way, and a full moon set even less so. This guide walks through what really happens between the full moon night in the workshop and the box that reaches your door, so you know what you are buying before you choose a full moon singing bowl set of 7.
What a full moon singing bowl set is
A full moon set is a chakra set in which every bowl was hammered on the night of a full moon, called Purnima in Nepal. The metal is the same traditional seven-metal alloy and the method is the same as for any other hand-hammered singing bowl. The difference is the timing of the work, which the smiths schedule to the lunar calendar.
The usual set has seven bowls, one for each chakra from Root to Crown. You can see the single bowls and the set together in the full moon singing bowls collection.
How the set is put together, step by step
- The bowls are hammered on full moon nights. The smiths work through the night of the full moon. One night produces a batch of bowls in different sizes, and batches build up over several moons.
- Each bowl is finished. Any carving or engraving is done at this stage, before the sound is judged, because cutting into the metal changes how a bowl sounds.
- The note is discovered. Only now does anyone know what note a bowl holds. Two bowls of the same size from the same night can land on different notes. Nobody can hammer toward a C or an F.
- Your order arrives. Nothing is matched in advance. The set is chosen for your order, in the size range you picked.
- Sunita plays the bowls and chooses seven. She works through the finished full moon bowls and picks the seven whose notes sit together as a set, from her experience in practice. She is also checking for a steady tone, a long even sustain and a rim that sings easily.
- The set is packed and sent. Every bowl travels with its own mallet and cushion. Orders leave Kathmandu within 3-4 business days by DHL Express.
There is more about this method on the healer-selected page.
Why a set is "tuned by selection"
You will see many sets online described as "tuned" to the chakras, as if someone adjusted each bowl. With a hand-hammered bowl there is nothing to adjust. The note comes from the bowl's diameter, wall thickness, weight and shape together, and it only shows itself when the bowl is complete.
So a set is tuned by selection. From many finished bowls, the seven that belong together are chosen. For a full moon set the choice is narrower, because only bowls from full moon nights qualify. That is the real reason a full moon set usually costs more than a regular chakra set: more bowls have to be played before seven of them make a set.
Sizes: the four ranges
Sets at Dharma Tool come in four size ranges. The size range changes the weight, the depth of the sound and how you will use the set.
| Size range | How it sounds and feels | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Equal 5 inch (all seven the same size) | Bright and light. The bowls differ in wall thickness and weight, not in width. | Travel, small spaces, a first set |
| 4-8 inch | Clear, with a little more depth in the larger bowls | Personal practice at home |
| 5-10 inch | A full range from bright to deep. Sunita's favourite. | Home practice and one-to-one sessions |
| 8-12 inch | Deep, long-lasting and felt in the body | Sound baths, studios, group work |
One thing surprises people: the Root bowl is not always the largest bowl in the set. In an equal 5 inch set every bowl is the same width. Even in a graded set, a thick-walled smaller bowl can sit lower than a thin-walled larger one. The set is matched by note, not lined up by size. If you plan to use the set for group work, our guide to setting up singing bowls for a sound bath shows how the bowls are laid out.
Notes and chakras
The seven notes are commonly mapped from C at the Root to B at the Crown. That is one mapping, not the only one. The Tibetan and Vedic traditions assign notes and playing order differently, so follow the tradition you practise or the one your teacher uses. The chakra and note information page sets the systems side by side.
If you want one bowl before a whole set, the chakra quiz suggests a note to start with. Many people begin with a C note Root bowl from the meditation singing bowls and add to it later.
Full moon set or regular chakra set?
| Full moon set | Regular hand-hammered chakra set | |
|---|---|---|
| Metal | Traditional seven-metal alloy | The same |
| Method | Hand-hammered | The same |
| When it is made | Full moon nights only | Any working day |
| How it is matched | By selection, per order | By selection, per order |
| Sound | No measured difference | No measured difference |
| Cost | Costs more | Costs less |
| Why people choose it | The lunar tradition matters to them, or the set marks a date | They want a good working set |
We will be plain about the sound. Many players report that full moon bowls sound sweeter, and Himalayan tradition holds that the full moon is the right night for this work. It is widely reported, not measured. A well-chosen regular set from our chakra singing bowl sets will serve your practice just as well. Choose the full moon set because the tradition means something to you. We go through the claims one by one in full moon singing bowls: myth and truth.
Using your set
A set supports relaxation and a regular meditation routine, but only if it is played. If this is your first set, start with how to play a singing bowl, then work through the free singing bowl healing course, which covers session structure and how the notes are used in practice.
Want a set that is not on the shelf?
Tell us the number of bowls, the size range and the tradition you follow. The set builder works out the notes, and Sunita chooses the bowls for your order.
Common questions about full moon singing bowl sets
What is a full moon singing bowl set?
It is a set of hand-hammered singing bowls, usually seven, in which every bowl was made on the night of a full moon in Nepal. The bowls are matched to each other by note and are commonly used as a chakra set from Root to Crown.
How are the seven bowls matched if a note cannot be hammered in?
By selection. Each bowl's note is discovered after the bowl is finished. When you order, Sunita plays the finished full moon bowls in your size range and chooses the seven whose notes sit together, from her experience in practice.
Is the Root bowl always the largest bowl in the set?
No. In an equal 5 inch set all seven bowls are the same width. In a graded set a thick-walled smaller bowl can sit lower than a thin-walled larger one. Sets are matched by note, not arranged by size.
Does a full moon set sound better than a regular chakra set?
The metal and the method are the same, so we do not claim a measured difference. Many players report that full moon bowls sound sweeter, but this is widely reported, not measured. People choose a full moon set for the tradition or to mark a date.
Which size range should I choose?
For home practice, the 5-10 inch range gives the fullest spread of sound and is Sunita's favourite. Choose equal 5 inch or 4-8 inch for travel and small spaces, and 8-12 inch for sound baths and group work.
Can I get a full moon set with a different number of bowls?
Yes. Sets can be put together with 3, 5, 7, 9 or 12 bowls. Use the set builder or contact us with the number of bowls and the size range, and the set is chosen for your order.
What comes with the set and how long does dispatch take?
Every bowl comes with its own mallet and cushion, and engraving is free. Orders leave Kathmandu within 3-4 business days by DHL Express. A custom set that has to be hammered on a coming full moon takes longer.
Ready to choose your set?
See the seven bowl full moon set, pick your size range, and Sunita will choose the bowls after your order arrives. For a single bowl made to your own specification, use the custom singing bowl page.
