Sound Healing Musical Instruments

Sound You Can Hold in Your Hands

You don't need to be a musician to enjoy making sound.

A bell can mark a single clear moment. A bowl can produce a tone that hangs in the air long after it has been struck. Handheld percussion gives you rhythm almost immediately, while other instruments invite a bit of experimentation before you discover what they can do.

Our Musical Instruments collection brings these different experiences together, with pieces suited to meditation, spiritual practice, informal music-making and the simple pleasure of creating sound.

Strike, Shake, Tap or Circle

One of the interesting things about small instruments is how differently they respond to movement.

Some produce sound when struck.

Others are shaken, allowing beads, seeds or internal pieces to create rhythm.

Some are played by tapping or plucking, while singing bowls can also be sounded by moving a suitable mallet around the rim.

That makes choosing an instrument partly about the sound you like and partly about the physical experience of playing it.

If you're drawn to sustained, resonant tones rather than rhythmic percussion, browse our Singing Bowls collection.

Singing Bowls: When One Note Keeps Going

Singing bowls behave differently from most small percussion instruments.

Strike the bowl and the metal vibrates, creating a resonant tone that gradually fades rather than stopping immediately. Depending on the bowl and playing technique, moving a mallet around the rim can encourage a more continuous sound.

That combination of tone and vibration is a large part of their appeal.

Within meditation and contemporary spiritual practices, singing bowls are commonly used to mark the beginning or end of a session, accompany quiet reflection or create a focused sound environment.

HIH's Singing Bowls range includes decorated bowls, chakra-themed designs, smaller mantra bowls and accessories for playing them.

Bells Can Do More Than Ring

A bell may be one of the simplest instruments in the collection, but small changes in size, shape and construction can produce noticeably different sounds.

Some bells give a bright, immediate ring. Others produce a lower or more lingering tone.

Tingsha, for example, are traditionally used as a pair of small metal cymbals rather than played like a conventional hanging bell. When brought together they create a clear, penetrating sound.

Within meditation and spiritual practices, bells and similar sound tools may be used to clear space, mark transitions, focus attention or accompany ritual.

For decorative bells and sound-making pieces designed primarily to hang in a room or outdoor space, browse our Wind Chimes & Hanging Decor collection instead.

Rhythm Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

Percussion is one of the easiest ways to start making music because rhythm doesn't require you to know scales, chords or musical notation.

Shake something.

Tap it.

Repeat the sound.

Change the speed.

You've already started making a rhythm.

This makes smaller percussion instruments particularly approachable for casual music-making, gatherings and anyone who wants an instrument that doesn't come with a steep learning curve.

It can also make them fun gifts. You don't have to know whether someone can play guitar or read music before handing them something satisfying to shake or strike.

Instruments for Meditation and Spiritual Practice

Sound has long been part of religious, ceremonial and contemplative traditions around the world, but different instruments come from different cultures and should not all be given the same history or meaning.

Within HIH's esoteric range, sound tools such as singing bowls and bells are especially associated with meditation, mindfulness, energetic practices and creating atmosphere.

Some people use a particular sound to begin meditation. Others use repetitive tones as a point of focus, or simply enjoy how a resonant instrument changes the feeling of a quiet room.

If spiritual practice is the main reason you're looking for an instrument, our wider Esoteric collection brings together meditation and ritual tools beyond sound alone.

Choosing an Instrument

Start with the sound experience you're after.

For slow, resonant sound, look towards bowls and bells.

For rhythm, handheld percussion is a natural place to begin.

If you're buying for meditation, consider whether you want a single clear sound to mark a moment or a tone you can sustain and return to repeatedly.

If you're choosing simply because an instrument looks intriguing, that's valid too. Small instruments are wonderfully tactile objects, and sometimes the quickest way to understand one is simply to play it.

Also check what is included with the individual product. An instrument that requires a mallet, striker or another component should clearly state whether that piece is supplied or sold separately.

More Than Decoration

Many HIH instruments are visually interesting enough to display, but there is an important distinction between something designed primarily to make music or intentional sound and something designed primarily as hanging décor.

A singing bowl belongs naturally among playable sound tools.

A decorative wind chime may make beautiful sound too, but its primary function is different.

Keeping that distinction clear makes it easier to find what you're actually looking for — something to pick up and play, or something to hang and listen to when the air moves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which musical instrument is easiest for a complete beginner?

Simple handheld percussion and bells require very little technique to start producing sound. Singing bowls are also approachable, although getting a smooth sustained tone around the rim can take a little practice.

What should I choose for meditation?

If you enjoy a lingering, resonant tone, a singing bowl is a natural choice. Bells and cymbal-style sound tools are useful when you prefer a shorter, clearer sound to mark the beginning, end or transition of a practice.

Do I need musical training to use these instruments?

No. Many of the instruments in this collection are intuitive to play and can be enjoyed without reading music or learning scales and chords.

What's the difference between a musical bell and a wind chime?

A handheld bell or similar sound tool is deliberately played by a person. A wind chime is normally suspended and designed to sound through movement, often from air or physical contact, while also functioning as hanging décor.