GONG GUIDE
Choosing a gong is mostly about three things: how you will use it, how much space you have, and the kind of sound you love. This guide walks you through each one. If you are still unsure, we are always happy to help you choose.
1. Start with how you will use it
Home meditation
A smaller gong that sounds beautiful when played softly, and fits on a table stand or wall. Nipple gongs and smaller meditation gongs suit most homes.
Sound baths and yoga classes
A larger meditation gong with a long, warm sustain that fills a room, often paired with a tuned nipple gong for a clear focal note.
Studios, temples and statement pieces
A large temple gong, made to order and shipped crated from Thailand. Ideal where the gong is the centrepiece of the space.
2. Choose a type of gong
Nipple gongs
A nipple gong has a raised boss in the centre. Striking the boss gives a clear, focused note with a definite pitch, which makes nipple gongs good for marking the start and end of a session, or for playing in tuned pairs and sets. Each of our nipple gongs lists its note so you can choose by pitch.
Meditation gongs
A flat-faced gong with a warm, long sustain. Rather than one clear note, it builds a wash of overtones as you play, which is why it is popular for sound baths and meditation.
Temple gongs
Large, deep-voiced gongs made to order by our makers in Thailand. They take longer to make and ship, so please ask us about lead times before you order.
3. Think about size and space
As a general rule, the larger the gong, the deeper and louder its sound and the longer it rings. Larger gongs also need a sturdy floor stand and clear space around them so they can swing freely.
- Small (up to 40 cm): table or wall stands, home use, focused notes
- Medium (41–70 cm): floor stand, sound baths for small groups, home studios
- Large (71 cm and over): floor stand, larger rooms, studios and statement pieces
You can filter the shop by these sizes. [CHECK: adjust the size bands if needed]
Brass now, bronze to come
Our gongs are currently made from brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. We are working with our makers to add bronze gongs (an alloy of copper and tin) in the future, and each product page will always say which metal a gong is made from. [CHECK: add a sentence on how your brass gongs sound]
4. Listen before you choose
Every gong sounds a little different, even two of the same size. That is why we record every gong we sell: the recording on each product page is the actual gong you will receive.
5. What else you will need
- A stand: table, wall or floor, depending on size
- A mallet: softer mallets bring out warmth, firmer ones more brightness
- Care: a soft dry cloth after playing (see Caring for your gong)
Still not sure?
Tell us how you plan to use your gong and the space you have, and we will suggest a few to listen to. You can also book a listening visit to hear them in person.