Universal Singing Bowls - Why an A or B Note Bowl Works for Anyone
If you buy only one singing bowl and want it to work for everyone, choose an A note or a B note. In the tradition I was taught these two are called universal bowls, because they can be played for any person and for any chakra.
Key takeaways
- A and B are the universal notes, the safest choice for a first and only bowl.
- The other notes each belong to one chakra and are chosen for one purpose.
- C for meditation is still right when seated meditation is your one clear use.
- The note of a hand-hammered bowl is discovered, so a requested note is met by selection.
What is a universal singing bowl?
It is a bowl that can be played for anyone and for any chakra. My training notebook puts it in one line: "A and B are known as universal bowls. We can play to everyone, and for any chakra."
The other notes are each tied to one chakra and are played for that chakra. A and B are not limited in that way, which makes them the most useful bowls to own.
This is taught in our free course lesson on the universal bowls.
Why are A and B the universal notes?
In the Vedic mapping, A is the Third Eye and B is the Crown. They are the two highest centres.
The tradition describes energy as entering at the crown and moving down through the whole body. So a bowl at that level is said to reach everything below it.
That is also why a session in this tradition begins at the crown, and why the Crown bowl opens and closes it. This is what the tradition says, not something a laboratory has measured.
Then why does our Meditation category suggest a C note?
Because the two answers belong to two different questions. One asks for a bowl for everything, and the other asks for a bowl for one job.
| Your question | Note to choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One bowl for everything and everyone | A or B | The universal notes, played for any chakra |
| One bowl for seated meditation | C | The Root note, chosen to keep you grounded while you sit |
| One bowl for a bedtime routine | B | The Crown note, struck softly |
| A full chakra session | All seven, C to B | One note for each chakra |
So a meditation singing bowl in C is right when sitting practice is your one clear use. Notice that B appears twice: it is a universal note and also the note of our deep sleep singing bowls.
A bowl supports relaxation and a calm bedtime routine. See a doctor if poor sleep is affecting your health.
Should you choose A or B?
| A note bowl | B note bowl | |
|---|---|---|
| Chakra in the Vedic mapping | Third Eye | Crown |
| Pitch | The lower of the two | The higher of the two |
| In a set of 7 | The sixth bowl | The seventh bowl, which opens and closes a session |
| Read more | Third Eye and A note guide | Crown and B note guide |
Neither is better. Choose the sound you like more, and if you cannot decide, B is the safe pick because it serves both uses above.
Want to choose the note yourself?
On this hand-hammered bowl you select the note when you order, and Sunita chooses your bowl after the order arrives.
Which bowls should you look at?
- The full range: our hand-hammered singing bowls, where size, finish and note are selectable on most bowls.
- With chakra symbols: the chakra symbol note selected bowl, which pairs a chakra symbol with a selected note.
- Made your way: the custom singing bowl page, where you ask for A or B, pick the size and finish, and add free engraving.
A hand-hammered bowl's note is discovered, not made. When you ask for A or B, Sunita plays the bowls in your size and chooses one from her experience in practice.
What else do you need to decide?
- Size: a smaller bowl is easy to hold on the palm, and a larger one gives a deeper sound on its cushion.
- Ease of playing: read which singing bowl is easiest to play before you pick a size.
- How many: one bowl is enough to start, as we explain in how many singing bowls you need.
How do you check the note of a bowl you already own?
Play it into our free live singing bowl tuner. It shows the note and the frequency in a few seconds.
Do not replace a bowl you already own just because it is not an A or a B. Any bowl you enjoy playing is a good first bowl, and the universal rule matters most when you are buying.
What are the common mistakes when choosing a first note?
- Buying a set first: starting with seven bowls before you can play one well.
- Choosing by look: picking a bowl for its carving and never finding out its note.
- Mixing the two questions: thinking C and A or B contradict each other, when one is for a single purpose and the other is for everything.
- Expecting an exact pitch: forgetting that a hand-hammered bowl rarely lands exactly on a piano note.
- Fixing one chart: assuming every tradition maps A and B the same way, when the mapping changes between Tibetan and Vedic.
What should you do next?
Decide which question is yours: one bowl for everything, or one bowl for one job. Then choose the note from the table above.
To learn how to play it, take the free singing bowl healing course. Its first part covers how to play and what each note is for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best singing bowl note for beginners?
An A note or a B note. In the tradition Sunita was taught these are called universal bowls, because they can be played for any person and any chakra.
What is a universal singing bowl?
A universal singing bowl is one that can be played for anyone and for any chakra, instead of being tied to one place on the body. In this tradition that means the A bowl and the B bowl.
If I buy only one singing bowl, which note should it be?
Choose A or B if you want one bowl for everything. Choose by purpose if you have one clear use, such as a C note bowl for seated meditation.
Why does the Meditation category suggest a C note?
Because C is the Root note in the Vedic mapping, and it is chosen for one job: keeping you grounded while you sit. A and B are the choice when one bowl has to do every job.
Should I choose an A note or a B note singing bowl?
Either works. A is the Third Eye note and B is the Crown note in the Vedic mapping, and B is the slightly higher of the two, so choose the sound you prefer.
Can one singing bowl be used for all chakras?
In this tradition, yes: an A or B bowl can be played for any chakra. A full chakra session with a separate note for each chakra needs a set of 7.
Can I choose the note when I order a singing bowl?
You can ask for a note on most bowls, and it is met by selection. A hand-hammered bowl's note is discovered after the bowl is finished, so Sunita chooses a bowl whose note matches your order.
Ready to choose your first bowl?
See our hand-hammered singing bowls. A mallet and cushion come with every bowl, and engraving is free.
