Welcome. Let's get your bowl singing.
Your bowl is made for a few quiet minutes, whenever your mind won't switch off. It's easy to start: a gentle tap gives a clear tone straight away, and the steady "singing" sound comes with a little practice. This page shows you how.
Was this a gift? Start here: your first five minutes takes you from the box to a clear tone.
Please bookmark this page so you can come back to it.
Your first five minutes
- Let the bowl sit freely. Hold a small bowl lightly on your fingertips, keeping them off the sides so the bowl can ring. Larger bowls sit best on their cushion on a flat, steady surface.
- Tap once, softly. Hold the striker like a pencil and tap the outside of the bowl near the rim with the leather-wrapped end. Listen until the sound fades.
- Circle the rim slowly. Tap again, and while it is still ringing, run the wooden side of the striker around the outside of the rim. Use light, even pressure and move your whole arm, not just your wrist. The tone builds over a few turns.
Tap with the leather-wrapped end, circle with the wooden side. Finding the right pressure and speed takes a little practice, and that is normal.
Solstice bowls: rest the bowl on its cushion, tap it with the felt striker, then circle the rim slowly with the wooden side of the leather-wrapped striker.
Not singing yet? Quick fixes
If your bowl rattles, buzzes or stays quiet, try these checks first. If they don't help, email us so we can look into it with you.
| What you hear | Most likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| A rattle or buzz | The striker is bouncing on the rim | Ease the pressure, keep it even, and slow down |
| A short "clunk" with no ring | Fingers or the cushion are touching the sides | Hold a small bowl on your fingertips, or rest a larger bowl on its cushion, with nothing against the walls |
| A ring that fades when you circle | The circle is too fast or uneven | Slower, steadier circles |
| Nothing builds at all | Not enough contact to start the ring | Tap first, then circle while the tone is still ringing |
Tension shows in the sound. If it isn't working, breathe out, drop your shoulders and start again. Try a lighter touch and a slower, steadier circle. If the tone still won't build, email us for help.
Caring for your bowl
- Give it a home. Keep it on its cushion, somewhere it can't be knocked over by pets or children.
- Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Everyday cleaning needs nothing more.
- For fingerprints or grime, use a cloth dampened with warm water and a drop of mild dish soap, wipe again with plain water, then dry it fully.
- To brighten dull metal, put a little lemon juice on a soft cloth dampened with warm water and wipe gently. Try a small spot underneath first, keep it off painted, printed or etched designs and dark finishes, then wipe it off with a damp cloth and dry the bowl.
- Skip harsh cleaners. No metal polish, vinegar, salt, baking soda, abrasive pads or dishwasher. If a mark won't come away, leave it and email us.
- Keep it dry. If it gets wet, dry it fully. Don't leave water standing in it or store it damp.
- Mind the sun and the damp. Don't leave it outside overnight or in strong sunlight for long periods.
Small variations in the finish are normal for a handcrafted bowl. If a mark concerns you or the sound changes unexpectedly, email us for help.
Where to keep your bowl
Keep it where you'll see it, so reaching for it becomes easy: a bedside table for an evening pause, your desk for a reset between tasks, or a shelf beside the chair where you unwind. Rest it on its cushion, out of reach of pets and small children, and away from radiators, damp and strong sun.
Your guides
Three free guides that come with your bowl. Open them on your phone, print them, or save them for later. No email or sign-up needed.
-
Meet Your Bowl
Start here: how to play your bowl, step by step with pictures, and how to look after it.
Open Meet Your Bowl (PDF, 17 pages) -
The Evening Pause
A ten-minute routine for the end of a busy day, and a simple sound bath you can make at home.
Open The Evening Pause (PDF, 24 pages) -
Quiet Minutes
Short pauses for the morning, the desk, and the moments your mind won't switch off.
Open Quiet Minutes (PDF, 29 pages)
On iPhone or iPad: open a guide, tap the share button, then choose Save to Files or Books.
We're here to help
Questions about playing, care or your order? Email us and a real person will reply.
Email support@Nearly done
Please check your inbox and tap the confirm link in our email. Then your Sound Bath is on its way.