The Best Instruments To Use In Sound Healing

Sound has been used as a tool for healing for thousands of years, across many different cultures and traditions. From the ancient temples of Egypt to the Himalayan mountains, sacred instruments have long been used to shift energy, bring balance, and promote deep inner healing. I personally love sounds healing - it is one of my go-to methods, especially when I am feeling stressed or burnt out. 

Essentially, sound is vibration—and because our bodies and energy fields are also made up of vibration, sound has a direct impact. Different frequencies can have different impacts on our energy, and so we can work with different instruments, sounds, pitches, etc., to encourage healing. Some work on the subtle energy body, while others affect the brainwaves and physical body. No matter the approach, sound healing is very effective!

If you’re curious about exploring sound healing—or expanding your toolkit—then take a look at the list below for my personal take on the best instruments to use for sound healing.


1. Singing Bowls (Crystal or Tibetan)

Tibetan (metal) singing bowls produce grounding, earthy tones which are great for calming the mind and cleansing energy. Crystal singing bowls are often tuned to specific chakras and create powerful, high-frequency vibrations that resonate with the specific chakras. I love a good sound bath session (a session where sound bowls and gongs are played together). Those of you follow me on Instagram may have seen videos of me playing my own crystal sound bowls. These sound beautiful, and are great to help you cleanse, align, and restore the chakras, as well as bringing a general sense of peace and relaxation.


2. Tuning Forks

These metal instruments emit specific frequencies, often used in sound therapy. Whilst for me personally they aren't the most 'engaging' of instruments, they are very effective and can be used quite quickly. You can play them over the body against specific chakras or meridians, or generally around the body for a more 'overall' healing.


3. Drums (Shamanic Frame Drums or Ocean Drums)

Drumming creates rhythmic patterns that stimulate the theta brainwave state, ideal for deep meditation or spiritual journeys. For those who are generally more spiritually inclined, shamanic drums can also connect us to earth energy (which can also be great for healing). When using drums, try to drum with a slow and consistent beat; constant beat changes will interrupt the flow of energy. 


4. Chimes (Koshi or Wind Chimes)

Koshi chimes are tuned to the elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) and bring gentle, ethereal tones. I personally LOVE the sound of Koshi chimes. They have a very light and uplifting energy which is perfect for cleansing the external space, or finishing a healing session.


5. Gongs

Gongs produce powerful waves of sound that can deeply penetrate the energy field and physical body. Bear in mind that they can be quite intense; I often feel the gong very deep in my energy which can be uncomfortable if you aren't prepared for it (that is just my personal experience of it at least). I find that gongs used in conjunction with sound bowls can create a powerful healing and clearing of energy. The gong is great for deep healing, emotional released, transformation and spiritual awakening.


6. Voice and Chanting

Your voice carries your unique healing frequency, and is your most personal healing instrument. Do not underestimate the power of our voice; we use it to express our needs and speak our deepest desires into existence. You can hum, chant mantras, or specific sounds (for example, each chakra has a specific sound associated with it such as 'ohm' or 'lam') to help heal and balance your own energy. 



Sound healing is both an art and a science. Whether you're a seasoned energy healer or just beginning to explore sound healing, incorporating sound instruments into your practice can have significant benefits to your healing practices. This is by no means a complete list of every instrument you could use in energy healing, so I recommend experimenting with different sounds, tones, and instruments to find what best resonates with you.