The Bell That Plays Without Striking

Unlike traditional bells that hang and swing, a standing bell sits bowl-up on a cushion. You can create a haunting, sustained hum simply by rubbing a mallet around its outer rim.

These fascinating instruments, often called singing bowls, produce sound through continuous friction rather than a single strike. As the mallet circles the rim, the vibration creates a complex set of overtones that can linger in the air for a long time. People have used their unique acoustic properties for centuries to aid in meditation and focus. It is a rare example of a bell that acts more like a string instrument than a drum.