Myth #1: “Never play in the middle!”
You've probably heard this sentence before. But is it really true? We'll clarify!
The center is the fundamental tone of your gong
The center is where your instrument's foundation lies. This is where a gong's fundamental tone originates, from which the vibration spreads across its entire surface.
Depending on the mallet or friction mallet and your striking technique, you can create deep, resonant sounds here that effortlessly fill an entire room. If you skip this area of your gong, you're missing out on a significant part of its sound spectrum – and thus the deep foundation upon which many other tonal colors can unfold.
Gong makers check the fundamental tone here
An interesting fact from the workshop of gong maker Broder-Oetken: When listening to a gong, the center plays an important role. Here, gong makers check the instrument's fundamental sound and listen closely to how the sound develops.
So, the center is not only playable – it's a central reference point for the entire gong. During manufacturing a gong is hammered and shaped in many places. The center is an area that is deliberately left largely untouched. This allows the fundamental tone to develop stably and freely.
Our conclusion: Also play the center
The center of your gong is not forbidden territory – quite the opposite. We even advise you to play in the center. With the right mallet and a mindful striking technique, you can open up powerful, deep soundscapes here. And don't worry: your gong can handle it.
