Working with Gongs #5: Muted Gongs as Bronze Drums

[@philstephens4180]

I AM SO INSPIRED TO PLAY THE GONG. I have a singing bowl now, but that's it.

[@Gongtopia]

Phil, I'm glad you liked it and feel inspired to play a Gong. A Singing Bowl is a great place to start. Good luck!

[@MidnightLight.]

Nice vid, those pieces sound great together :)

[@Gongtopia]

Thanks for your comment!

[@yon4209]

Hello, thank you for this video! Do you know if it is possible to play muted sounds on a hanged gong or tam-tam? In a piece I am writing, I want to create a gradual change of timbre where at first each attack on the Tam-Tam is very faint and iterative, and the sound gradually 'wetens' and becomes sustained. I am wondering if placing the hand that doesn't play the mallet on the other side of the Tam-Tam and gradually lifting it will cause this effect, can you let me know? I assume the player would have to play at the center of the instrument to have less resonance (which is what I want--so we can hear separate strokes and not something muffled by resonance).

[@Gongtopia]

Yes, you could use the free hand against the back or holding the rim to mute the gong, then gradually release the hand to allow more resonance. Another way would be to mute the gong with the mallet played, either by hitting the gong with no mallet release (pressing the mallet against the gong when striking), or by hitting, releasing, then dampening the gong with the mallet head. This would work well with a softer/padded mallet. I use these techniques a lot in my own playing.

[@ernestlee5288]

lol...1.35 you play Wipe Out by the Surfaris...absolutely brilliant

[@Gongtopia]

Ahhh, my roots are showing and Easter eggs abound…

[@ernestlee5288]

@@Gongtopia drummers incapable of keeping secrets

[@Honeyman126]

Gongtopia Thank you for sharing your gift it sounds amazing , now a question what gong or singing bowls do I need to buy to get the 432 hz frequency ,and If you could choose only one make of gongs or singing bowls which one would it be ?

[@user-islandgirl]

Nice! What mallet are you using please? 😊

[@Gongtopia]

I made this video 12 years ago-I have no idea what mallets I used back then.

[@user-islandgirl]

@@Gongtopia oh my gosh, thats right. Thanks. Really enjoying all your great videos. 🙂

[@morthlyg17]

is there sheet music for this?