Gongs For Sound Healing – What You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a powerful way to enhance your meditation practice, a gong might be exactly what you need. Used in sound healing and meditation, gongs produce deep, resonant vibrations that calm the nervous system, quiet the mind, and even help release emotional blockages.
But before you invest in one, you need to know how they work—and which one is right for you.
Why Gongs Are Used for Meditation and Healing
Gong baths are a form of sound therapy that uses specific frequencies to shift your brainwaves and bring your body into a state of deep relaxation.
Sound healer Don Conreaux describes it this way:
“The gong… is a tool by which we are engulfed in total sound and brought back to optimum health and balance.”
Dr. Michelle Hebert, a professional gong healer, calls it “a cleansing process for the subconscious mind.”
Personally, I’ve found that gongs are a wonderful tool for meditation, creating a sense of focus, similar to a singing bowl. But not all gongs are created equal. If you want to experience the full benefits, you need the right one.
Best Gongs for Sound Healing
There are various things to know before buying a gong. Not least is the fact that these are just one of many sound healing instruments.
Gongs are percussion instruments usually made of metal and either hanging or resting (they lie vertically or horizontally). They can be flat (for clear sound), convex with a supple wall, or convex with a knob. They also go by the names plate, rin, and tam-tam.
The alloy formula for a gong is B-20 (80% copper and 20% tin) although this does vary a little depending on the one you buy. Different manufacturers use different formulas. For instance, the Zildjian Company of Turkey uses a Bronze Age Formula, which was brought to Istanbul in 1623 by the alchemist Avedis. Paiste, a Swiss cymbal manufacturer, uses the same formula. German company Meinl uses a unique proprietary formula.
Here are some of the best.
Chao Gong ($$$)
The Chao Gong is available in all different sizes ranging from a tiny 8 inches to a far more impressive 30 inches. If you are looking for truly the best, go for the large one.
This is a traditional gong style that dates back to the Han Dynasty in 200 BC. At that time, this beautiful instrument was used for spiritual drumming and for holding formal meetings and announcing important people. So, you might like to bang it when you get an important visitor at your door. Just kidding.
If you have a traditional meditation studio/room, this meditation gong will look perfect in it. The sound is fantastic too. It’s a full and resonant sound that produces a good audio response whether you play it loud or quiet. The price is quite high, but worth it.
Zildjian 12″ ($$)
Zildjian (The Avedis Zildjian Company) are manufacturers of some of the best meditation gongs in America. They’ve got a proud history dating right back to four hundred years ago. As well as cymbals and gongs they also make drum sticks and nice big cymbal carriers.
The twelve-inch table-top Zildjian gong pictured above is a reasonable size and produces a beautiful sound. I like its stylish aesthetic, especially with the famous Zildjian logo.
If you’re looking to do house-blessings or want to begin meditation with a beautiful, soothing auditory marker (something that is done in traditional Buddhist meditation practices), this is a great choice.
The Zildjian gong comes with a table-top stand and mallet so you’re good to go.
Woodstock Desk Gong
GET IT ON AMAZON… >> This hand-hammered desk gong is made with top-quality material and produces a rich and authentic sound. It’s 12 inches high by 10 inches wide. So, it is roughly the same size as the Zildjian gong listed above.
I really like the aesthetics of this one too. It is ideal for decorations, even if you’re not interested in actually using it when you’re meditating. It produces a high-quality, deep, resonant sound. And it isn’t tinny, like some lower-quality gongs that I’ve tried.
Woodstock Healing Gong
GET IT ON AMAZON… >> In my opinion, this is the best hanging gong and another piece from the Woodstock company, which has been in business since 1979.
This hand-hammered Healing Gong is 30 inches long from the hanger to the bottom. It has a black and cherry finish and is made of ash wood. The actual instrument itself is made from brass and is 10 inches wide.
If you want to buy a traditional gong, this is a solid choice. It is hand-made in the traditional style of the Far East and is perfect for meditation sessions. The chime is rich and relatively low, fantastic to use as an auditory marker for a sitting session.
How to Meditate with a Gong
Once you’ve chosen your gong, here’s how to use it for meditation.
- Lie down in Shavasana (corpse pose) with your feet slightly apart and palms facing up.
- Close your eyes and take deep breaths to relax.
- Focus on Your Breath
- Inhale deeply through your nose, feeling your breath move through your body.
- Meditate on your breath for 3 to 5 minutes to calm your mind.
- Listen to the GongStart by striking the gong softly, then gradually increase the volume.
- Focus on the vibrations, just like you would focus on your breath in mindful breathing meditation.
- Let your thoughts come and go without attachment. 4. Experience
- Continue for 30-60 Minutes
The Benefits of Gong Meditation
- If meditation feels scattered or difficult, a gong can instantly ground you. The deep vibrations act as an anchor—a sound that tells your mind it’s time to settle.
- Reduces stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system
- Deepens focus and strengthens meditation practice
- Promotes emotional release by helping clear subconscious blocks
- Improves sleep by inducing deep relaxation
- Enhances energy flow in the body through sound vibration. Science backs this up, too. Research suggests that certain frequencies help with healing, emotional regulation, and even DNA repair.
Need Help Using Sound in Your Meditation?
If you’re struggling to create a meditation practice that actually works for you, I can help. In a private lesson, I’ll show you how to use gongs and other sound tools to quiet your mind, reduce stress, and build a practice that sticks.
Paul Harrison is a meditation teacher with 25 years of experience and a deep passion for helping others. Known for his empathy and authentic approach, he’s dedicated to guiding individuals and teams toward mindfulness, clarity, and well-being.
From a Master Cymbalsmith-Fabricator-Luthiere
Hello this is Richard,
I make handmade cymbals, drums and drumheads, hardwares and other musical instruments (luthiere). I’m in the sector since 1997. I’ve learnt making cymbals from former employee of Mikael Zildjian (K. Zildjian’s discipline). I know both traditional and modern cymbalmaking processes. I can make any style of cymbals, gongs (authentic or symphonic), (handmade or with machining) and different sound effects with variety of alloy combinations and new processing tecniques. I have my own inventions, sound effects, R&D on these instruments. I can make medieval and modern instruments and I’m looking for a job to restart manufacturing.
Richard
I need my financial freedom back to me please help me
I am not working and i want always settle for my bills not depending on someone please sir i need a help noting is working for me
Thank you for your input. I’m looking at purchasing a gong for a mediation space in my home. Does a bigger gong (say 30-40 inches) have a deeper effect? Or is a smaller gong just as effective?
It comes down to size + material. You can get a quality sound from a small gong that is built well and of exceptional material, and you can get a bad sound from a large gong made that is badly made from cheap material.