26" Grotta Sonora Deep Gong 87.9 Hz F2+12

26" Grotta Sonora Deep Gong 87.9 Hz F2+12SPECS OF THIS GROTTA SONORA GONG Fundamental low tone sings around 87. 9 hz or the note F2+12 Measurement: 26" Weight: Material: Stainless Steel Country of Origin: Italy Every gong is unique, so when you place your order, you will be sent this exact gong. All about Grotta Sonora Grotta Sonora is a captivating project focused on crafting and creating experimental musical instruments. Born from the creative minds of Madhava Carrara and Margherita

SPECS OF THIS GROTTA SONORA GONG

• Fundamental low tone sings around 87.9 hz or the note F2+12
• Measurement: 26"
• Weight: 
• Material: Stainless Steel
• Country of Origin: Italy
  

Every gong is unique, so when you place your order, you will be sent this exact gong.

All about Grotta Sonora

Grotta Sonora is a captivating project focused on crafting and creating experimental musical instruments. Born from the creative minds of Madhava Carrara and Margherita Cioffi, both artisans and musicians, this endeavour reflects their deep passion for sound exploration and craftsmanship.

Madhava Carrara, deeply influenced by Indian culture, brings a wealth of musical and artisanal expertise to the project. With years of experience in creating stringed, wind, and percussion instruments using a diverse range of materials, including recycled items, his artistic journey has been one of continual innovation and discovery

 Want to learn more? Explore your Ultimate Gong Shopping Guide Here.

The Shape of a Gong Influences the Sound

FLAT EDGED GONGS = Free, Airy, Shimmering

Also known as Wind Gongs or Feng, these gongs have no rim, which allows the entire surface to vibrate freely.

• When played gently, they produce soft, shimmering tones.
• When played boldly, they release a powerful, chaotic energy — like the wind itself.
• Their sound feels expansive, liberating, and open — hence the name Wind Gong.

RIMMED GONGS (Bent Edge) = Focused, Centered, Grounded

Also known as Chau Gongs / Tam Tam or Heng, these gongs have rims ranging from 1/2” to 4”.  Rimmed gongs are designed to contain and shape the sound, enhancing lower frequencies and creating a more centred, meditative tone.

• The bent edge focuses and stabilizes vibrations, emphasizing deeper tones.
• The result is a grounding, powerful, and introspective sound.

The Material Changes the Timbre 

THE METAL USED IN YOUR GONG AFFECTS IT'S TONE AND RESPONSIVENESS

• Bronze: A softer metal that produces a warm, rich, full-bodied tone
• Nickel Silver: Harder than bronze, with a slightly tighter sound, frequently showcasing the higher tones
• Stainless Steel: The hardest of the three — resulting in a crisp, bright tone with fast response

👉 There’s no “best” material — only what sounds best to you. Trust your ears.

Gong Size Makes a Big Impact

SMALLER GONGS

• Fewer frequencies = more limited range of tones
• Smaller surface area so they ring for a shorter amount of time
• Small gongs tend to have a higher sound than larger gongs

👉 The exception is the 15” & 19” Stainless Steel and Titanium Grotta Sonora Gongs. These hand made Italian gongs have a wider range of frequencies and sing longer than the 15” & 19” Chinese Bronze gongs.

LARGER GONGS

• More frequencies = more dynamic, layered range of tones
• Larger surface area allowing the gong to ring much longer than smaller gongs
• The larger the gong, the lower or deeper the tone it tends to be. 
• Can be very powerful, yet with a gentle hand they can be played with a whisper sound
• It’s like diving into a deep sonic ocean, or floating in outer space

👉 Pro Tip: Even a large gong can be played gently in a small space. It’s about technique, not just size.

"A big gong is like a big puddle — more space to play, more fun to splash!"

Different Mallets Create Different Tones

THE GONG MALLETS YOU CHOOSE DRAMATICALLY IMPACT THE RANGE OF SOUNDS YOUR GONG CAN PRODUCE

Many gong players collect a wide range of mallets to explore the full sonic potential of their instrument. Read how the TYPE, SIZE & DENSITY can help you create a vast array of sounds on a single gong.

Gong Mallet Types

TAPPING MALLETS

• Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and densities
• For beginners with a gong that is 28” or larger, we suggest you begin with the following
  • One big mallet to bring a focus to the lowest tones of the gong
  • One set of mid sized gong mallets, for rolling (quickly playing right/left/right/left) to showcase the low and mid tones
  • One set of small mallets for the rolling to bring out the higher tones of the gong.  
  • After you know your gong better, you can add more gongs to pull out other sounds of your gong

👉  Check out our tapping mallets here

FRICTION MALLETS (Flumies)

Friction mallets are made from a variety of different rubber or silicone balls and create the sound through .... FRICTION!!! ... through the gentle drag of a ball across the surface of the metal gong. 

I like to compare friction mallets / flumies with chocolate. I love chocolate! Eating chocolate from the dollar store is ok, but taking a bite of expensive chocolate from the chocolatier produces a smooth and luxurious experience. The same thing can be said for friction mallets.

• Some of the cheaper friction mallets are fun to play with, but frequently lack the smooth tones, creating a more clustered tonal quality 
• The more expensive silicone balls tend to create a very smooth pure and luxurious tone
• Different makers offer unique densities and designs, each producing distinct tones and playing experiences
• The size and material of the gong has a big influence on the ease of use of your friction mallets.  
  • Gongs under 20” have can have limited ability to sing with friction mallets. 
  • As you increase the size of the gong, the wider range of tones you can pull out of the gong with your friction mallet.
• The material of your gong makes a difference in how the flumies respond
  • Bronze and Titanium gongs, especially bronze gongs with artwork tend to be the easiest gongs to use with friction mallets
  • Stainless steel gongs can sometimes be a challenge with friction mallets, but once you learn the correct technique, you will be able to pull out some beautiful tones in your gong.  
  • Nickel silver gongs (Paiste / Meinl etc) have the potential to get marked up, so some player opt to play on the back of their gong to keep the front looking spotless.

👉  Check out our friction mallets here

Gong Mallet Size

👉  High-frequency sounds originate near the edges of your gong and travel in fast, small waves. Low tones emerge from the centre and move in slower, larger waves.

LARGE MALLETS

• A large gong mallet has a larger surface area which mutes the small, high-frequency waves, highlighting the deep tones.
• When struck at the centre of the gong, large gong mallets emphasize the deep, resonant low tones.

SMALL MALLETS

• A small gong mallet does not mute the tones, so they allow the high frequencies to ring out more clearly
• When played along the rim of your gong, small mallets bring out the high, shimmering overtones.

Gong Mallet Density

SOFT MALLETS

• A soft mallet has padding which has a longer contact time on the gong, thus muting some  tones to create a warmer, softer tone — perfect for meditative or subtle soundscapes

HARD MALLETS

• A harder mallet spends less time on the surface of the gong, producing a short, crisp, bright attack — great for dynamic playing

👉  Check out our wide selection of mallets here

Gong Stand Options

WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF GONG STANDS

• Tabletop stands
• Floor stands
• Custom multi-gong and multi-instrument stands

👉  Check out our gong stands here 

Gong Bags

CHECK OUT OUR GONG BAGS FOR EASY TRANSPORT

• When you transport your gong, we recommend that you place your gong in a padded bag or wrap it in a blanket, face down in your vehicle. This will protect the gong if something is accidentally placed on top of the gong. We don’t want your gong to get dented.
• It is not recommended to leave your gong in a gong bag for extended periods of time. Moisture in the bag can lead to corrosion.

👉  Check out our gong bags here

Care for your  Gong

EACH GONG TYPE REQUIRES DIFFERENT CARE

• Chinese Bronze Gongs - Clean with dish soap and water
• Nickel Silver Gongs - Clean with a special gong cleaner
• Stainless Steel Gongs - Clean with rubbing alcohol 
• Titanium Gongs - Ask me, as I am not sure at the time of this post. 

👉  Please read our detailed blog post for care instructions tailored to your specific gong type.

Gong Training Opportunities

GONG PLAYING IS AN ART - not just about striking the instrument, but learning how to bring out its full voice.
We offer:

• Online & in-person training courses
• Workshops for all levels
• Ongoing updates with new offerings

👉 Check out our Gong Training Programs to deepen your practice.