Myth #1: “Never play in the middle!”
You’ve probably heard this before. But is it really true? Let’s find out!
The center is the fundamental tone of your gong
In the center lies the base of your instrument. This is where the fundamental tone of a gong originates, from which the vibration spreads across the entire surface.
Depending on the type of mallet—whether friction mallet your striking technique, you can produce deep, resonant tones that effortlessly fill an entire room. If you neglect this part of your gong, you’ll miss out on a significant portion of its sound spectrum—and thus the deep foundation upon which many other timbres unfold.
Gong makers are testing the fundamental tone here
Here’s an interesting fact from the workshop of gong maker Broder-Oetken: When testing a gong, the center plays a crucial role. This is where gong makers assess the instrument’s fundamental tone and listen closely to how the sound develops.
So the center is not only playable—it serves as a central reference point for the entire gong. During the manufacturing process 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 steadily and freely.
Our conclusion: Play through the middle too
The center of your gong is not off-limits—quite the opposite. In fact, we encourage you to play there as well. With the right mallet and a mindful striking technique, you can open up powerful, deep soundscapes there. And don’t worry: your gong can handle it.
