Buying Your First Gong: What You Need to Know

Buying your first gong is exciting. It can also be surprisingly confusing.

There are now more gongs available than ever before, in different sizes, styles, materials and price ranges. So before you start rushing out to make your first purchase, there are a few practical questions worth answering.

What are you going to use it for?

Let’s start here. Is the gong a gift? Are you buying a gong for your own practice? Do you want to play for friends and family? Are you training as a practitioner and planning to work with clients or groups?

Your answer will influence the size, type and quality of gong that makes sense for you.

If you know you want to work professionally, then investing in a high-quality instrument suitable for healing, that you can grow into rather is an important consideration rather than buying purely on price.

How much space do you have?

This is one of the most important questions, and one that is easy to overlook.

Where will your gong live?

Will you have a permanent gong stand and a dedicated space for playing, or will you need to put it away between sessions?

Think about the size of the room, the ceiling height and how much space you actually have around the gong.

Also think about the people in the room. If you are planning to work with groups, how many people - including you and your gong - do you want to comfortably fit into the space?

A large gong may look wonderful in a spacious studio, but the size and sound can quickly dominate a smaller room.

Will you need to move it?

Gongs are not particularly portable once they get large. I watched five men carry a 2 metre gong across a field once - not a simple lift and shift!

If you are going to take your gong to retreats, workshops or clients' homes, think carefully about transport before buying.

How do you travel? For instance if you use the train, you will need a set up you can comfortably carry on your back. Are you planning on overseas travel (this is a different post). Will it fit in your vehicle?

Can you lift it yourself? Will you need someone to help you carry it? How easy will it be to get it through doors, up stairs or into a venue?

A gong that is perfect for a permanent studio may be impractical if you are regularly travelling with it.

These practical considerations can make a surprisingly big difference to which size you choose.

Where will you store it?

If your gong is not going to remain permanently set up, where will it go when you are not playing?

You need somewhere dry and secure where it will not be knocked or damaged.

Consider the gong, its stand and your mallets as a complete set when thinking about storage.

What is your budget?

Gongs are an investment, but there are ways to get started where you do not need to spend a fortune to begin working with a gong.

There are good instruments available at different price points, and the second hand market is an excellent place to source gongs.

Buy from a reputable supplier who understands gongs and can give you proper advice, or use a trusted second hand supplier such as Gongs for Sale UK.

If possible, hear the actual gong before you buy it, because these are handcrafted two instruments that look identical on paper can sound very different. Also if it is second hand look for damage.

Don't forget the extras

The gong itself is only part of the investment. You will also need a suitable stand and at least one or two appropriate mallets.

The stand needs to be stable and suitable for the size and weight of your gong. Your mallets will influence the sound you can create, so they are worth choosing carefully too.

Bigger isn't necessarily better

A larger gong generally gives you greater tonal range and can produce an extraordinary depth of sound; but bigger also means heavier, harder to transport and more demanding in terms of space.

For many people, a mid-sized gong offers a good balance between tonal range, portability and practicality.

The best size is not necessarily the biggest one you can afford. It is the one that works for you, your space and your practice.

And finally, listen…

A gong can look beautiful and still not be the right gong for you. If you can, go somewhere where you can hear several different instruments. Listen to them being played and, ideally, play them yourself.

Notice which one draws you in. Pay attention, which one gives you all the feels?

Your first gong is the beginning of a relationship with an instrument. Take your time choosing it.

Remember: the most expensive gong is not necessarily the right one for your journey ahead.

Next: Which Gong Is Right for You? We look at the different types of gongs available and what makes them different.