Differences between mallets and friction mallets for gongs and singing bowls

If you have already taken a look at our range, you may know that - from a purely visual point of view - the difference between friction mallets and mallets (also known as mallets) is not always easy to recognize. In fact, they are not just two different instruments that are played and used very differently. The material and shape of a friction mallet also differ significantly from a mallet. 

Let's start with the basics: a friction mallet is used to rub a gong or a Singing Bowl, a mallet is used to strike a gong or a Singing Bowl. Which sounds are produced depends on various points. 

The strike of a gong or Singing Bowl can produce mainly deep, dark sounds, while rubbing gongs or Singing Bowls produces mainly bright tones, which also last much longer due to the constant rubbing. Depending on the zone in which you use the mallet or friction mallet on a gong, for example, different sounds and volumes are also produced. For example, the tones are significantly brighter at the edge of a gong than in its center.

Gong friction mallets and Singing Bowl friction mallets differ only slightly from each other. Gong friction mallets are usually slightly longer than Singing Bowl friction mallets, as the area to be played on a gong is also significantly larger than on a traditional Singing Bowl. In terms of material, the gong friction mallets sometimes differ from the Singing Bowl friction mallets: While the gong friction mallets usually have a very soft rubber or caoutchouc head, Singing Bowl friction mallets are also provided with aluminum heads or – in the form of a friction mallet – even made entirely of wood. A friction mallet produces a very focused and distinctive tone on a Singing Bowl, which would not be possible on the gong in this way. 

There are also special features in the classic friction mallet: For example, there are also two-sided friction mallets, which are equipped with a caoutchouc head in different sizes on both ends of the handle. The friction mallet can be used on both sides, offering a wider range of tones.

In addition, there are also friction mallets that are suitable for playing the gong as well as for producing sounds with Singing Bowls. These include, for example, the ollihess friction mallets from the Lava Edition, the head of which is made of natural caoutchouc and is available in four different sizes. Depending on the sound instrument used, you can use these friction mallets to create a wide variety of tones and vibrations.

A Singing Bowl is usually much more compact and smaller than a classic gong. Even if mostly similar materials and shapes are used for both variants, significantly smaller mallets are used for sound production on the Singing Bowl than when playing a gong. This also makes sense for purely practical reasons – because a much greater application of force is necessary to produce a tone by striking the gong. So the longer the handle of the mallet, the more effectively the mallet can be used.

In our shop you will find a whole range of different mallets especially for Singing Bowls – for example felt mallets, whose head consists of a soft felt, somewhat harder rubber mallets, with a head made of natural caoutchouc or metallic aluminum mallets, which are particularly easy to disinfect.

Anyone exploring the differences between mallets and friction mallets should first consider how they are played. Of course, there are also differences in their application on a gong versus a Singing Bowl – because a gong is used in a completely different way than a Singing Bowl.

Playing technique with a friction mallet

You have to rub the friction mallet over the gong to create a beautiful and long-lasting sound. The entire surface of the gong is available for this. The sounds that are created on the edge of the gong are very different from the sounds that can be created in the center of the gong. But not only the different sizes of the friction mallet and the positioning of the instrument make an important part of the sound, but also the material and shape of the mallet used – and of course the gong itself. There are different types of gongs that can have very different sound spectrums.

Playing technique with a Singing Bowl mallet 

The Singing Bowl is primarily designed for strike with mallets. If you would like to produce the characteristic tones with a singing bowl friction mallet, you do not have the entire Singing Bowl at your disposal. To make the bowl vibrate, run the friction mallet along the outside edge of the Singing Bowl and trigger the vibrations that also produce the sounds. Exciting to observe: The longer you rub, the stronger and more persistent the sound becomes!

Various factors play a role in producing sound with a mallet. How intense and characteristic the sounds become depends on the type of mallet, the playing style, and the shape of the Singing Bowl. With gongs, in addition to the playing style and type of gong, the positioning in the room is also important. We have summarized the striking techniques for you:

Strike gong with a gong mallets

The gong mallet should always be proportional to the size of your gong. How you play the gong also depends on the tones you want to create. The deepest tones and fundamental notes are produced in the central middle of the gong. In direct contrast to this is the edge of the gong, where you can reach the highest possible frequency ranges. Between these two areas, a varied spectrum of sounds is available to you on the remaining surface of the gong. You can find more information in our article on playing the gong.

Strike the Singing Bowl with a Singing Bowl mallet

Playing a Singing Bowl with a mallet requires significantly less effort than playing a gong. To create an intense tone, gently strike the outside of the Singing Bowl with the Singing Bowl mallet. The closer you strike to the bottom of the Singing Bowl, the more powerful the tone becomes. In addition, when striking the Singing Bowl, make sure to hit as large an area as possible. Therefore, ensure that your mallet strikes the outside of the Singing Bowl as straight as possible. 

The fact that reeds and mallets are used so differently brings you numerous advantages. If you already have a Singing Bowl or a gong, you can create fundamentally different tones and sounds with friction mallets and mallets. The different playing techniques always have surprises in store for you. Test your skills with friction mallets and mallets alike to immerse yourself in the world of sounds and develop a feel for the individual characteristics of the instruments. This way, you can get the most out of your instrument and make full use of your creativity.