Are All Gongs Calming? And Why It Matters More Than You Think

It’s a common assumption: gongs are calming.
And while it’s true that a gong can deliver incredibly relaxing experiences, it’s not always the case — and it’s definitely not the full story.

Not all gongs are the same, and not all gong playing is the same either.
The type of gong, how it’s played, the energy of the practitioner, and the intention behind the session all directly shape what you feel.

Different Types of Gongs

There are countless styles of gongs, but a few main types show up most often in sound baths and healing sessions:

• Planetary Gongs: Tuned to specific frequencies linked to planets and their orbital cycles. Each one carries its own energetic ‘flavour’.
• Symphonic Gongs: Untuned gongs that produce a broad range of tones and harmonics. Rich, expansive, and highly versatile.
• Chau Gongs (Tam-Tams): Traditional flat-centred gongs, often producing deep, booming strikes. You’ll recognise these from orchestras.
• Wind Gongs: Thin, flat gongs that produce a sweeping, shimmering sound with a shorter sustain and lighter vibration.

Each type of gong has its own sound profile and energetic impact.
Some lend themselves naturally to calming and grounding experiences. Others are built to stir deeper layers, shifting stuck energy and bringing things to the surface.

Each gong has its own tone, frequency, and energetic quality. The vibrations they produce can evoke entirely different responses in the body and energy field. Some are soft and soothing, while others are bold, stirring, and transformative. I’m just touching on a few here, but let’s take a closer look at some examples to give you a sense of what to expect…

Planetary Gong Examples: What to Expect

Neptune Gong: Not for the Faint-Hearted

Those who are regulars at my sound baths know the powerful effect of the Neptune gong.
They also know that when I bring it out, it’s never casual. I use it intentionally for deep clearing work, and everyone understands that the session is unlikely to be the most “relaxing” experience (at least, not at first).

In my experience, a lot of people have throat chakra imbalances — blockages around self-expression, communication, or repressed emotion.
Because Neptune connects to the subconscious and deep emotional waters, its vibrations often stir these blockages right up.

It’s not uncommon for people to cough, clear their throat, or even temporarily lose their voice when the Neptune gong is played.
Not everyone loves the sound either — it can feel intense, unsettling, even overwhelming if you’re not ready for it.
That’s why, personally, I prefer to play Neptune alongside other gongs rather than on its own.
It balances the intensity and gives the body a broader, more supportive soundscape to move through the clearing process.

When you see Neptune on the lineup for one of my sessions, you’ll know to come with an open mind — and maybe a glass of water!

Venus Gong: Heart-Opening and Gentle

Venus, the goddess of love, rules the heart.
The Venus gong tends to produce softer, more flowing vibrations that open the heart space and promote emotional warmth.

It can bring forward feelings of love, compassion, and connectedness — not just to others, but towards yourself too.
That said, if you have unprocessed grief or emotional walls around the heart, Venus can still stir things up.
It’s gentle, but powerful.

Mercury Gong: The Messenger

I also work with the Mercury gong — and I love it.
Mercury is the messenger, connected with communication, thought, and movement.
Its vibrations are lighter, quicker, and can feel clarifying for the mind and throat.

In sessions where focus, communication, or mental clarity are needed, Mercury brings a really different energy compared to the deep oceans of Neptune or the emotional waves of Venus.

Mercury can also support integration — helping you not just feel the shifts, but understand them mentally afterwards.

You’ll often find Mercury in my multi-gong sound baths, especially when the focus is on clarity, alignment, or self-expression.

Symphonic Gongs: A Whole World of Sound

Symphonic gongs aren’t tuned to one specific frequency.
They produce a rich blend of sounds that can affect multiple areas of the body and energy field at once.
Because of their wide tonal range, they can be used flexibly — grounding, energising, clearing or relaxing depending on how they’re played.

When layered with planetary gongs, symphonic gongs add texture and depth, rounding out the experience beautifully.
They are a core part of my gong baths, helping to create a complete journey from start to finish.

Size Matters (And Yes, Bigger Is Better)

Size isn’t everything, but it absolutely does matter with gongs.
Larger gongs produce deeper, fuller, and more powerful vibrations.
They tend to create more sustain, more complexity, and a physically felt presence in the body.

I work with a beautiful 38-inch gong, and in my experience, it’s the larger gongs that really create the kind of sound fields you feel deep in your body — not just hear with your ears.
There’s something incredibly visceral about the way a large gong moves air and energy through a room.

Smaller gongs have their place, but for transformational, fully immersive sessions?
Bigger really is better.

How Gongs Are Played Matters Even More

Even with the same gong, the experience can be completely different depending on how it’s played.
A practitioner can:

• Play lightly and rhythmically to soothe the nervous system
• Build intensity to shift stagnant emotional energy
• Create swells and crescendos to awaken suppressed emotions
• Layer different rhythms and techniques to create altered states of consciousness

Technique is everything.
Hard, fast, chaotic playing can feel unsettling or activating.
Soft, steady rhythms can guide you into deep relaxation, even sleep.

Good gong players don’t just follow a set pattern — they read the room and adjust intuitively. Great ones also listen to the gong itself, allowing it to lead.

The Energy of the Gong Player Matters Too

The gong doesn’t just make sound. It carries energy — specifically, the energy of the person playing it.
If the practitioner is grounded, calm, and intentional, that energy transfers to the room.
If the practitioner is distracted or unfocused, you’ll feel that too.

The player’s presence shapes the entire experience, often more than people realise.
The practitioner is part of the instrument.

This is something I take seriously at every one of my sound baths — creating a safe, focused space where the energy of the instruments and the energy of the group are fully aligned.

If the gong practitioner is also trained in energy work like Reiki, the experience can be significantly amplified. Their ability to channel and direct energy may deepen the healing effects of the gong, creating a more powerful and intuitively guided session. For the participant, this might feel like a stronger sense of release, warmth or energetic flow—often described as a deeper emotional or spiritual shift during and after the session.

What Happens in a Gong Bath

When you come to a sound bath, it’s not just about lying down and waiting for something to happen.
Every session is carefully curated:

• Specific gongs and instruments are chosen to match the theme (grounding, emotional clearing, energising, etc.)
• Playing styles are adapted to guide participants through different states — calm, activation, release, rest.
• Other instruments (bowls, drums, chimes, voice) are layered in to create a complete sonic journey.

It’s a crafted experience, not background noise.
Multi-instrument sound baths give even more scope for a full-bodied transformation — working on physical, emotional, mental and energetic levels simultaneously.

Each of my sessions is built this way — with clear intention and a sensitivity to what the group needs on the day.

Common Reactions: What You Might Feel

It’s important to know that not everyone will feel “relaxed” during every sound bath — and that’s normal.

Common reactions can include:

• Deep relaxation: Falling asleep, experiencing a floating sensation, feeling peaceful.
• Physical releases: Coughing, yawning, body twitches, temperature changes.
• Emotional releases: Tearfulness, waves of joy, sadness, or even irritation.
• Mental shifts: Memories surfacing, sudden insights, clarity about situations.
• Energetic shifts: Feeling lighter, buzzing sensations, feeling grounded.

Sometimes, the sound will nudge things to the surface that are ready to be seen, felt, or let go.
If that happens, it’s a good thing — it means the work is happening.

At my sound baths, I always create a space where you’re supported in whatever arises. Whether your experience is deeply relaxing or slightly uncomfortable, it’s all part of the process of clearing, rebalancing, and aligning.

In Short

Not all gongs are calming — and that’s a good thing.
Different gongs, different playing styles, and the practitioner’s energy all influence your experience, from deep relaxation to powerful emotional release.

A good sound bath doesn’t just “happen” — it’s curated, crafted, and consciously led.
When you step into one of my sessions, you’re stepping into a sound journey designed to help you shift, heal, and grow — not just switch off.

If you’re ready to experience it for yourself, check out my upcoming sessions — I’d love to welcome you.

---