Accessories for Singing Bowl

Singing Bowl Accessories – Mallets, Cushions and Carry Bags, Handmade in Nepal

The right mallet and cushion change how a singing bowl sounds. A mallet that suits the bowl makes it easier to play, and a cushion lets it ring freely instead of rattling on a hard surface. Every bowl we sell already comes with a mallet and a cushion. These singing bowl accessories are for replacing a worn mallet, adding a second one for a different sound, giving a bowl a better seat, or carrying it safely.

Which accessory does what

Singing bowl mallets and strikers

The mallet does more to shape the sound than most people expect. The same bowl gives a bright, ringing note from bare wood and a soft, low one from felt. Our singing bowl mallet comes in four styles.

• Wood. A clear, bright strike that brings out the higher overtones. Good for small and medium bowls.
• Leather or suede wrapped. The usual choice for playing around the rim. The leather grips the metal smoothly, so the bowl sings without a scraping sound.
• Felt or padded. A soft, deep strike with very little attack. Best for large bowls and for quiet practice in the evening.

Match the mallet to the bowl. A light mallet cannot wake a large bowl, and a heavy one overpowers a small bowl. If you are not sure, tell us the diameter of your bowl and we will tell you which mallet suits it. For technique, see how to play a singing bowl.

When to replace a mallet. Leather wears smooth with use. When the mallet starts to slip or squeak on the rim, the leather has lost its grip and it is time for a new one.

Singing bowl cushions

A singing bowl placed on a table or a hard floor is damped where it touches, and it can buzz or slide when struck. A cushion holds it steady and lets it ring for longer.

Ring cushions

A ring cushion is a padded ring covered in fabric. The bowl sits in it, touching only at the base, so the wall is free to vibrate. It is the best choice for playing, and it is what most players use. Choose a ring a little smaller than the bowl, so the base rests inside the ring and the bowl does not rock. They come in several sizes and colours.

Square cushions

A square brocade cushion is flat and padded, and gives the bowl a wider, more formal seat. It suits an altar, a shelf or a table where the bowl is on display as well as played. Choose one wider than the base of your bowl.

Singing bowl carry bags

A brocade carry bag keeps a bowl from knocks and scratches in a cupboard or a suitcase, and gives you one place to keep the bowl, its cushion and its mallet together. Our bags are made from Nepali brocade in several sizes and colours. Choose by the diameter of the bowl. If you carry several bowls, give each its own bag, because bowls stacked metal to metal chip at the rim.

Do you need to buy accessories at all?

Not if you are buying a bowl from us. A mallet and a cushion come with every bowl, chosen to suit it. People usually come to this page for one of these reasons:

• A replacement, because a mallet is worn or a cushion is lost.
• A second mallet, to get another sound from the same bowl.
• A bowl bought elsewhere that came without a mallet or cushion.
• A set, where each bowl needs its own cushion.
• Travel, for teachers and healers who carry bowls to sessions.
• A gift to go with a bowl someone already owns.

If you are still choosing a bowl, see all Tibetan singing bowls, our beginner and gift singing bowls, or chakra singing bowl sets. For extra large standing bowls, ask us about cushion sizes before you order.

Looking after your accessories

• Keep leather mallets dry. Water hardens the leather and it loses its grip.
• Brush cushions and bags clean. Brocade should not be machine washed.
• Store the bowl on its cushion or in its bag, never stacked inside another bowl.

For the bowl itself, see how to cleanse and charge a Tibetan singing bowl and how long a singing bowl lasts. To learn to play, our free singing bowl healing course is open to everyone.

• Handmade in Nepal mallets, cushions and bags made by local craftspeople
• Sized to your bowl tell us the diameter and we will tell you what fits
• Several sizes and colours on cushions and carry bags
• Ships in 3–4 business days by DHL Express worldwide with tracking
• Secure checkout Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, on an SSL-encrypted connection

Common questions about singing bowl accessories

What accessories do I need for a singing bowl?
A mallet to play it and a cushion or ring for it to sit on. A carry bag is useful for travel and storage.

What type of mallet is best for my singing bowl?
Wood gives a bright strike, leather is best for playing around the rim, and felt gives a soft, deep strike. Match the weight of the mallet to the size of the bowl.

What is the difference between a mallet and a striker?
They are two names for the same tool. Some people say striker for a plain wooden stick and mallet for a padded one.

Does a cushion affect the sound of a singing bowl?
Yes. On a hard surface a bowl is damped and can buzz. A cushion holds it steady and lets it ring freely for longer.

What size cushion do I need for my singing bowl?
For a ring cushion, choose one a little smaller than the bowl so the base sits inside the ring. For a square cushion, choose one wider than the base of the bowl.

Ring cushion or square cushion?
A ring cushion is best for playing, because the bowl touches it only at the base. A square cushion gives a wider seat and suits a bowl on display.

Do your singing bowls come with a mallet and cushion?
Yes. Every bowl we sell comes with a mallet and a cushion. The accessories here are for replacements, extras and bowls bought elsewhere.

Will these accessories fit a bowl I bought somewhere else?
Yes. Choose by the diameter of your bowl, or tell us the size and we will advise.

Are your singing bowl accessories handmade?
Yes. The mallets, cushions and bags are made by hand in Nepal.

How long does dispatch take?
Orders leave Kathmandu within 3–4 business days and ship worldwide by DHL Express with tracking.