The most popular and well known Chinese gongs are the Chao gong and the Wind gong. There are many other Chinese gong types and variations, including the Opera gong, Pasi gong, Tiger gong, Bao gong, Feng gong, Jing Gong and Hui Yin gong. The Chao is often referred to as the bullseye gong, or Tam Tam. Its main playing surface is slightly concave when viewed from the direction to which the rim is turned. The centre spot and the rim of a chau gong are left coated on both sides with the black copper oxide that forms during the manufacture of the gong, the rest of the gong is polished to remove this coating. The chao produces a very earthy grounding quality. The wind gong is much lighter and easier to handle than the chao, the wind gong's characteristic sound is made up of a subtle fundamental and many strong overtones and resembles the soft shimmer of the wind. Choosing a gong is a very personal experience and it is often the start of a lifelong journey exploring sound together. You are therefore encouraged to visit Samurai Music so you can spend some time gently beating some gongs and seeing which type of gong, and size of gong, best resonates with you. You can save on postage and your beautiful gong will be carefully wrapped for you to take home! PS - Don't forget we're holding a gong workshop on 5th July in east London!
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