Top Picks for a Home Sound Meditation Practice
If you’re interested in incorporating healing sound into your self-care routine, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the variety of instruments from which to choose. Do you really have to spend hundreds of dollars on instruments? How can you be sure which instruments have beautiful sounds and which ones are cheap imitations? Which instruments are suitable for a true beginner to create beautiful, soothing sounds?
While the answer to which instruments will resonate best with you is very personal, we do have answers these other questions! You absolutely do not have to spend a ton of money to assemble an assortment of instruments that will allow you to experiment with different sounds and techniques in your home practice,
Listening to a sound file of the instrument being played is a helpful, but not foolproof, tool in making a decision if an instrument is right for you. Many reputable shops for professional quality sound healing instruments have sound files available for the instruments they sell. But these professional quality instruments do tend to be quite expensive. And more cost-friendly instrument sources like Amazon tend not to include this feature. We have included links to sound files for instruments that have them and created sound files for those that don’t.
So here at Carols of the Heart, we have done the homework for you! We have purchased, tested, and approved (or not! We sent several back…) a wide variety of high quality, inexpensive sound healing instruments. All of these instruments are not just easy to play, but easy to use to create beautiful sounds. Some of these instruments are the same ones we use in our professional sound baths. Some are more perfectly suited to a home practice.
So let’s start with the Top 10 Under $100:
Koshi Chime (Earth, Fire, Water, Air): Definitely a crowd favorite. Each chime creates pure elemental balance in sonic form. We use these delicate sounding chimes to close almost every sound bath. They are so easy to play, they practically play themselves! 🔈
16” Remo Buffalo Drum: This drum is inspired by the indigenous cultures of the Americas. It has a powerful bass voice. It is vegan, has a rope handle, and comes with a mallet. We use this drum in most of our sound baths. 🔈
Hokema B9 Kalimba: A wonderfully handcrafted thumb piano with clear, resonant tones made in Germany from solid American cherry. This gem has 9 notes in A minor and is ideal for beginners. 🔈
Namaste Himalayan Singing Bowl: Often used for meditation, the music of a singing bowl is meant to soothe your soul, cleanse your heart and free your mind of worries. This small bowl has a bright clear voice for both ringing and singing. 🔈
Topfund 8” Frosted Crystal Singing Bowl: These beautiful instruments produce a rich, resonant sound when struck or sung with a mallet. They are the centerpiece of most sound baths. Topfund is a reputable entry-level brand. 🔈
Topfund 6” Crystal Singing Pyramid: Singing pyramids are amazing to use during sound healing because the sound resonates from each edge of the pyramid giving it complexity and depth. Give the pyramid a gentle spin to experience a vortex of spinning sound that can be both heard and felt. 🔈
Lovetuner: The Lovetuner is a revolutionary mindfulness tool that connects your breath with a low volume audible sound at the frequency of 528 hz – also referred to as the Love Frequency. It is sound healing and breathwork all rolled into one tiny device you can wear around your neck! 🔈
16” Remo Nightwave Ocean Drum: This vegan drum recreates the soothing sounds of both rolling and crashing waves as you gently tilt it side to side. We regularly use this drum in our sound baths. 🔈
Angel Tuning Forks: Experience celestial harmony through high-frequency angelic vibrations as they resonate through your body, mind, and spirit, promoting balance, relaxation, and a deep sense of well-being. These tiny li’l ones are too cute! 🔈
Hummingbird Pentatonic Lyre Harp: The Hummingbird pentatonic lyre’s gentle tone is perfect for sound meditation at home. With a pentatonic scale, you can’t play a wrong note, so it always sounds good. (P.S. You will need to tune the harp, which is not hard, for it to sound good.) 🔈
But you don’t even have to spend half that to get some really great instruments! This next list is our Top 10 Under $50:
TreeWorks Small Cluster Chime: These chimes have a clear, bright tone. They make a delightful sound with just a small amount of movement. We use them regularly in our sound baths. 🔈
8” Waterfall Disk: The beauty of the waterfall disc is that it keeps making the sound of falling water as long as you keep turning it! Like a rainstick that never ends. Perfect for meditation as the repetitive movement and sound are soothing, almost hypnotic. 🔈
31” Meinl Bamboo Rainstick: Create the natural sound of flowing water by gently angling to sound like a small stream or tipping all the way for a rushing monsoon effect. It has a ten to twenty second sustain depending on the angle. 🔈
Woodstock Zenergy Trio Hand Chime: This trio hand chime produces clear tones and lovely harmonies. A gentle tap of the mallet emits powerful tones of singular beauty that last and last. 🔈
Ocean Sounds Drum: As a general rule, the smaller the ocean drum the harder it is to control the sound (my favorite one is 20” diameter). However, with this mini-me, the extra concentration required to create the soothing ocean sound actually adds to the meditative experience of playing the drum! 🔈
Riverflow Bell Chime: The ethereal sound of the riverflow bell chime ripples like a gentle stream. These chimes evoke the steady flow of water over stones—peaceful, timeless, and alive. This precious sound invites you to pause, listen deeply, and feel connected to the rhythms of nature. 🔈
5.5” Steel Tongue Drum: Unlike many no-name steel tongue drums, the tone of mini-drum is ethereal and melodious. It is fun & easy to play with the included mallets. Another soothing way to play this drum is to put a few bouncy balls inside it, turn it upside-down and swirl it around. The balls play the drum from the inside! 🔈
6” Remo Thunder Drum: You (and your dogs) will be surprised a the deep thunderous roar that fills the room when you shake this instrument. Play with a rainstick to create a thunderstorm effect. 🔈
Tingsha: Tingsha bells produce a mesmerizing and soothing sound that resonates with clarity and purity. As you strike the cymbals together, the sound creates a focus point for your attention. 🔈
20-Note Tabletop Chime: The sweet cascading sound of this chime transports you to heavenly realms. Sweep your finger across it and see where it takes you! We use these regularly in our sound baths. 🔈
We hope this information helps get you started with your home sound meditation practice. Stay tuned for demonstrations and more information about how to use these instruments!
Click to download the Top Home Instruments PDF Guide.
