Although there might be several other reasons, there are four common reasons why your Tibetan Singing Bowl doesn't sing properly. We listed these four to make you sure that if there is a problem, or it is just about being a beginner about the Tibetan Singing Bowls:)
1) Cracked (hairline fracture): It is the most unlikely one, but it is possible! It happens if it is dropped very hard or hit very hard, potentially causing the Tibetan singing bowl to crack. You can go through the surface and have a close look at it. The hairline fracture is tiny, so it might be challenging to spot. If you want to be sure about it, just put the Tibetan singing bowl in the palm of your hand flat and give it a tap. If the resonance lasts more than two or three seconds, it is improbable to have a crack in it because it wouldn't continue to sound if it had a crack in it.
2) Wrong Sized Striker: If you are using a striker too large or too small, it going to be very difficult for the bowl to sing. As the striker creates the friction, it is essential to make the right amount of friction around the bowl to sing.
3) Holding the Bowl Incorrectly: One of the most common reasons, especially for beginners. When you are playing the bowl, you don't want to be putting your hands on the sides at all. You need to be only holding the base of it either with your fingertips or in the palm of your hand, keeping your palm nice and flat. If you try to play the bowl, it won't sing when you are holding the sides. But if you keep your plan nice and flat, you will see the difference. Sitting the bowl into a cushion is also one of the great ways to play it smoothly. (Still keep your palm flat if it is on your hand and don't touch the bowl with your fingertips)
4) Incorrect Technique: While you are playing with your singing bowl, it is essential to involve your whole arm, not just your wrists moving around—a lot of people are going wrong by just moving the wrist. When only using the wrists, the striker is on much more of an angle. We want the striker to be parallel with the side of the bowl while playing. Doing it with a whole arm while keeping the striker parallel with the bowl is crucially essential to play the Tibetan singing bowl. (Sometimes, it takes a little bit of practice.)
Apart from these four, there is one more that can make a difference. People believe that you need to connect with the bowl energetically to sing with you. Whatever works for you, this is a common belief that having the energetic connection makes the difference!
