Your gongs are AMAZING! probably the most interesting clip I have ever seen on RUclips. I have tears in my eyes cause the sound from your instruments are so rich and full.
Do check my website at barrymasonfineart.com. IF you go to events , you will find whole performances where we play with hand pans, cellos etc, but also play the gongs with mallets as well as flumies.
Beautiful to see and hear Barry. Thank you for sharing this🙏 I have - so far - built two gongs on my own, guided by gong building masters (Broder Oetken and Harr van der Burgt). The process is fascinating and super rewarding. My second gong was in a metal-mix that included some Titanium. Seeing your video makes me ponder on the idea of building a titanium gong one day.... Oh my, that must be really amazing.
Thanks for those kind words Eber. Looks as if you are doing some great work in Costa Rica too..! I have subscribed tp your channel .. Do become a Facebook friend too.
Thanks for those kind words Jens, they mean a lot coming from you. I have learned a huge amount over the last 4 years, but certainly do not consider myself a master! I do not have access to the generations of experience of someone like Martin Blaise or Border Oatken, and do still sometimes make big and expensive mistakes..... I do hope that we can meet sometime on the gong "circuit".
Barry my appreciation for your work as a musician and an artist has been a constant for years ... and with these gongs you bring so much together! The, and you, are both astonishing and beautiful. Bravo! More please :-)
Thank you Heather And gabriella, I learnt so much from you at that first singing bowl workshop. You gave me the confidence to experiment and also to work with intention. Forever grateful!
Where could i find the band and the song that can be heard at the beginning of the video? Searching for "The Daniel Billing Band" doesn't seem to give any results on Google nor RUclips. Excellent drumming, Mr. Mason. Very skilled in the art of the hi-hat. The gongs are also utmost amazing.
Hi Manuel, The Daniel Billing Band can be found on Apple Music. These gigs and recordings are nearly 9 years old now though. I now play with my own band, named the Truly Madlys. We have only just started recording and gigging, so some sample tracks can be found on soundcloud. We also have a Facebook page for recent gigs etc. Daniel Billing is a great musician, and he now works regularly with Davey Dodds and another project called LIvES.... It's always a pleasure to work with him.
I’m looking for a gong that doesn’t have that big splash sound but then that most of the way you hit it right? I want something that’s gonna let out a very low base note. How much do you charge for this like a 36 inch gong I don’t know, my ancestors in ancient Mexico have been documented as having them, but they were made of copper I was thinking of buying a sheet of copper having it cut into a circle and just play it, but I’m not sure if I’ll have to hammer it and curve it or whatever I guess the worst part is, I don’t have those kinds of tools
Hi Misha, I have collaborated with John Stuart Reid, who has played the sounds of my gongs through pure water on his Cymascope instrument. The resulting images are really interesting. I have engraved one of my gongs with its "own" image, which was quite an exercise. Do check him out online. I find his work really inspirational.
Great to see your skill and passion mate "beautiful", maybe if I get enough dosh one day 😀 Where do you get those friction mallets from if you don't mind me asking, the rubber ones I use split after a small amount of use and your always cautious of a stick scratch 🙏💚🌍🙌
Hi Robert, Thanks for those kind words. I only use flumies from Bear Love (sound of love.co.uk). Each size brings out a different set of frequencies and overtones. We hardly never use mallets these days as these flumies allow us to target specific frequencies. I've had some for years now, and they are as good now as the day I bought them!
Wonderful video! I've been practicing engraving my own gongs as well, and I'd like to say that you have a lot of patience, haha. I know you've seen Martin Bläse's painting technique that he uses on some of his gongs, and I was wondering if you've figured it out for yourself? Some of them look like they might be utilizing it. I'd like to attempt it too and I SUSPECT it might be accomplished with titanium dioxide (chemical in Wite-Out) but I haven't had a chance to test it myself yet. I know Blacksmiths use Wite-Out in canister-welding to prevent sticking, so I feel like it must be fairly heat-resistant. Any help or a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the awesome work!
Yes, I use "kiln wash". - it's what potters use to stop pots sticking together in the kiln. Ross Barrable uses anodising on his ti crystanium gongs gongs too - passing an electric current through an electrolyte bath.. Interesting!
@barrymason4314 Awesome, thank you for sharing! I've thought that anodizing or maybe metal-plating would be interesting to try, but I'm not sure how you'd get the electricity to distribute evenly through such a large body of water. I guess the electrolytes aid in that then?
Dear Mr. Mason. Thank you uploading such an amazing video. I am interested in making a titanium gong like this. Would you mind if I get your insights on these questions? Would you recommend hammering the titanium before giving heat treatment? I am curious whether hammering works better before annealing it. Is hammering on edges what tunes the gong or is it for making its shape? I am wondering how hot should the temp be to get color on titanium. Is heat treatment and coloring happening simultaneously? Should the plate be ‘repeatedly’ heated till we see ‘dull red’?
Hi Antonio, I strongly suggest that you first experiment with some scrap titanium. You will find that it doesn't behave like other metals in that when you heat it it actually gets harder! (You can' t anneal it like brass or bronze alloys!) Therefore all the hammering and shaping has to be done cold. I do also hammer every square cm, to return the titanium to its original hexagonal molecular shape that has been compromised in the rolling process. It is VERY hard work; be warned. I treat it like a meditation. I only apply heat only after the gong is fully shaped and hammered. The extra hardness that comes after heating gives it far greater resonance. Personally I just use propane torches, but you can also colour titanium using anodising. Do look at Ross Barrable's crystanium gongs if you want to see this. I may well experiment with anodising in the future, but for now I am happy with the process that I have developed. Martin Blaise has also been quite inspirational, and he regularly posts videos online. Good luck with your quest!
Thanks for the great clips. I too wanted to make a titanium gong, so I immediately bought a plate and started tapping on it. When I started hitting it on the anvil with a metal hammer, the board warped so much that I couldn't get it to do what I wanted. What kind of hammer do you use when you strike the center of the board instead of the edges? Should I bend the edges first and then strike the inside? thank you for great work.
Heya Barry.. thanks for the video amazing to see how you work... I am wondering have you ever made a square gong? is it even possible? would the sound and resonance still be maintained in a square gong? Reason I'm asking is I travel a lot with my gong and it's a hassle on planes. I have wondered if I could get a custom gong made that would fit nicely in a large suitcase to meet the airlines baggage standards. any thoughts would be appreciated.. thanks much matt
It's perfectly possible to make any shape of gong. Take a look at the work of my friend Steve Hubback for example.. He makes skull shapes, shell shapes ; all sorts! But the deeper I go into the world of vibrational research I am more and more drawn to the larger gongs. In fact I am now working on 2 new 48 inch examples, which from a business point of view is crazy.
I have made a couple of gongs in the past that were smaller than 39 inches, and they sounded like "dinner gongs" by comparison with the larger sizes.. As my gongs are used principally by myself and others for sound therapy work, I prioritise the deeper frequencies that only come from the larger sizes.
@@ThatGongGuy I've worked with 1.8, 2 and 2.5 mm.. It's a "Goldilocks" problem. The thicker the material the longer the sustain, the thinner, the easier to bloom but the shorter the sustain. I now usually build in 2mm grade 1 (pure titanium). Best compromise...
Hello, I've been watching your videos and I really love your goongs, made with love. Can you tell me where you are and if you sell those gongs and what their price is .
Hi Manh, Do check out my website at barrymasonfineart.com. You will find all the gongs which are currently available as well as their prices. Glad that you like them!
Wow! Those are amazing! Ive been wanting to hammer out a gong for years. What thickness (gauge) titanium do you use? Or if you were to make a gong out on stainless steel, what gauge would you use? I have some nonmagnetic stainless steel i think would work well for a gong. Any input would be greatly appreciated ✌🏼✌🏼
Hi Miley, I've tried 1.8. 2. and 2.5 mm . I find 2 mm the best compromise . The only SS gong that I have made was from 3mm - too thick ! Hope that this all helps.
@@barrymason4314 oh ok. That's fairly heavy gauge sheet. That's heavier gauge than I thought it would be. I have some 16 gauge (1.6mm). I think that should work out alright. Thank you for your help.
I was curious what such a specialty item, requiring so much skilled labor, would sell for. I'm quite astonished that you let them go for that low! How does one transport one of these?
Hi Allen , I am very fortunate to be able to make my gongs in my spare time, with percussion teaching , music gigs and my other sculpture work to support my practice. I also have low overheads as I own my own studio and am mortgage free. I try to offer my pieces at a fair price, that reflects both the cost of materials and also the time that they take to forge . I don't wish to charge so much that they become too expensive for the sound therapy community. . I do not have the high overheads of masters such as Martin Blaise, with studio rentals and apprentices to pay, but neither do I wish to deliberately undercut his prices. Titanium is half the weight of steel, and size for size, ( as bronze gongs tend to be thicker) are about 1/3 of the weight of a similarly sized traditional going. . The 39 inch gongs fit easily through the back door of a normal car, and are easily liftable with one hand. The 48 inch gongs do need a bigger estate or SUV , but again they are relatively light . Also, being titanium they are completely weatherproof, so could even go on a roof rack if necessary (In a bag though!) Hope that this answers your questions... Cheers Barry
Hi Bruno . I have only used grade 1 titanium so far as I believe that this is the purest.. (Thats why I call my work "Elemental Gongs". I have also worked in the past in pure copper, with surprisingly good results)
Mr Barry, would you be interested in having a student of your craft? I would like very much to learn your teachings and go on with the art of gong making
@@HushHour_Alicia_Ma_Ri_Atu_Ma Yes , I remember receiving a really nice gong bath from you at Drumcamp some years ago . We are there again this year, and have our cellist with us, so we will be giving a full on sound journey with the HOhME Trio on 2 occasions. We still refer to it as Drumcamp, but the new name is the World Music Workshop Gathering !
I’m looking for a gong that doesn’t have that big splash sound but then that most of the way you hit it right? I want something that’s gonna let out a very low base note. How much do you charge for this like a 36 inch gong I don’t know, my ancestors in ancient Mexico have been documented as having them, but they were made of copper I was thinking of buying a sheet of copper having it cut into a circle and just play it, but I’m not sure if I’ll have to hammer it and curve it or whatever I guess the worst part is, I don’t have those kinds of tools
Hi Martin, Gongs can be any shape - look at the work of Steve Hubback for example; he even makes skull shaped ones. I have made a copper gong, and it sounded really good too. Any big metal plate, hung up and hit, will give you a "gongy" sound, but the skill is to maximise the frequency ranges that they produce. A flat gong (often called a wind gong" tend to splash` quickly and then decay quickly too. Putting a rim on a` circular gong holds and controls the tension in the central portion, so you have more control and tension. Good luck with your gong quest. Do start by making a small singing bowl. You will learn a lot from this process!
Видеоклипы
So you'll keep speaking to this world long after you've left it, on a level unique to you.
These are indeed very very special.
Thank you for those kind words.
Your gongs are AMAZING! probably the most interesting clip I have ever seen on RUclips. I have tears in my eyes cause the sound from your instruments are so rich and full.
Do check my website at barrymasonfineart.com. IF you go to events , you will find whole performances where we play with hand pans, cellos etc, but also play the gongs with mallets as well as flumies.
Lmao
Absolutely stunning work- one of the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen to be honest
Very exciting work, Barry. I cast bronze bells decades ago, but this is a whole other level. Sonorous sound sculptures, indeed.
How beautiful and incredible!
Beautiful craftsmanship! The sound is otherworldly... thanks for sharing your work.
Thanks for those kind words David.
Very nice report... Congrats Barry ☆
Awesome, creative work, the art work definitely sets you apart 🤙
Wow! Thank you for making this video, it gives me an even deeper appreciation of my gong seeing all the different stages of painstaking crafting! ❤
Beautiful work, beautiful art.
Thank you for those kind words!
"Bravo" Barry, thanks for sharing you passion with this beautiful video ! See you
How amazing to see and hear your art sound work. Love and respect for you from Switzerland. Thank you very much for sharing.
WOW how blessed are you to be able to create this .. stuff of dreams for me .. maximum respect Barry 🔥
Very interesting story unfolding thank u for sharing !!! soooo impressive work , cosmic and artistic.....
5:33 I hope so too Barry, beautiful work
Dude those are awesome i want one!!!!
Beautiful to see and hear Barry. Thank you for sharing this🙏 I have - so far - built two gongs on my own, guided by gong building masters (Broder Oetken and Harr van der Burgt). The process is fascinating and super rewarding. My second gong was in a metal-mix that included some Titanium. Seeing your video makes me ponder on the idea of building a titanium gong one day.... Oh my, that must be really amazing.
You can do it!
Nice. Keep doing what you're doing. The world's a better place because of it. 😀
Masterful job! I'd love to be there in person to see your studio and hear those wonderful gongs.
Bendiciones desde Costa Rica! 🙏
Thanks for those kind words Eber. Looks as if you are doing some great work in Costa Rica too..! I have subscribed tp your channel .. Do become a Facebook friend too.
This is very inspiring👌🏼
Very cool!
Congratulations for becoming a true gongmaster°
Thanks for those kind words Jens, they mean a lot coming from you.
I have learned a huge amount over the last 4 years, but certainly do not consider myself a master! I do not have access to the generations of experience of someone like Martin Blaise or Border Oatken, and do still sometimes make big and expensive mistakes.....
I do hope that we can meet sometime on the gong "circuit".
Barry my appreciation for your work as a musician and an artist has been a constant for years ... and with these gongs you bring so much together! The, and you, are both astonishing and beautiful. Bravo! More please :-)
Thank you Heather And gabriella, I learnt so much from you at that first singing bowl workshop. You gave me the confidence to experiment and also to work with intention. Forever grateful!
I need this set for my home in Tehema.
Where is Tehema? I'm in England! Just sent a gong to Hawaii though!
Gong of the Gods!
Wow! Never knew this world existed! 👍
Where could i find the band and the song that can be heard at the beginning of the video? Searching for "The Daniel Billing Band" doesn't seem to give any results on Google nor RUclips. Excellent drumming, Mr. Mason. Very skilled in the art of the hi-hat. The gongs are also utmost amazing.
Hi Manuel, The Daniel Billing Band can be found on Apple Music. These gigs and recordings are nearly 9 years old now though. I now play with my own band, named the Truly Madlys. We have only just started recording and gigging, so some sample tracks can be found on soundcloud. We also have a Facebook page for recent gigs etc. Daniel Billing is a great musician, and he now works regularly with Davey Dodds and another project called LIvES.... It's always a pleasure to work with him.
i want to learn this
When do you get the titanic titanium? Does it have to be circular as opposed to rectangular?
I’m looking for a gong that doesn’t have that big splash sound but then that most of the way you hit it right? I want something that’s gonna let out a very low base note. How much do you charge for this like a 36 inch gong I don’t know, my ancestors in ancient Mexico have been documented as having them, but they were made of copper I was thinking of buying a sheet of copper having it cut into a circle and just play it, but I’m not sure if I’ll have to hammer it and curve it or whatever I guess the worst part is, I don’t have those kinds of tools
thanks a lot for the video. Is there a way of seeing the wave visially with an oscilloscope? Have you had a look?
Hi Misha, I have collaborated with John Stuart Reid, who has played the sounds of my gongs through pure water on his Cymascope instrument. The resulting images are really interesting. I have engraved one of my gongs with its "own" image, which was quite an exercise. Do check him out online. I find his work really inspirational.
@@barrymason4314 thanks alot, I will!
Great to see your skill and passion mate "beautiful", maybe if I get enough dosh one day 😀
Where do you get those friction mallets from if you don't mind me asking, the rubber ones I use split after a small amount of use and your always cautious of a stick scratch
🙏💚🌍🙌
Hi Robert, Thanks for those kind words. I only use flumies from Bear Love (sound of love.co.uk). Each size brings out a different set of frequencies and overtones. We hardly never use mallets these days as these flumies allow us to target specific frequencies. I've had some for years now, and they are as good now as the day I bought them!
@@barrymason4314
Thanks Barry, I'll deffo have a look at purchasing a couple.
Keep up the great work mate, love the videos
🙏💚🌍🙌
You should try Vibranium !!
Wonderful video! I've been practicing engraving my own gongs as well, and I'd like to say that you have a lot of patience, haha. I know you've seen Martin Bläse's painting technique that he uses on some of his gongs, and I was wondering if you've figured it out for yourself? Some of them look like they might be utilizing it. I'd like to attempt it too and I SUSPECT it might be accomplished with titanium dioxide (chemical in Wite-Out) but I haven't had a chance to test it myself yet. I know Blacksmiths use Wite-Out in canister-welding to prevent sticking, so I feel like it must be fairly heat-resistant. Any help or a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the awesome work!
Yes, I use "kiln wash". - it's what potters use to stop pots sticking together in the kiln. Ross Barrable uses anodising on his ti crystanium gongs gongs too - passing an electric current through an electrolyte bath.. Interesting!
@barrymason4314 Awesome, thank you for sharing! I've thought that anodizing or maybe metal-plating would be interesting to try, but I'm not sure how you'd get the electricity to distribute evenly through such a large body of water. I guess the electrolytes aid in that then?
Dear Mr. Mason.
Thank you uploading such an amazing video. I am interested in making a titanium gong like this. Would you mind if I get your insights on these questions?
Would you recommend hammering the titanium before giving heat treatment? I am curious whether hammering works better before annealing it.
Is hammering on edges what tunes the gong or is it for making its shape?
I am wondering how hot should the temp be to get color on titanium. Is heat treatment and coloring happening simultaneously? Should the plate be ‘repeatedly’ heated till we see ‘dull red’?
Hi Antonio, I strongly suggest that you first experiment with some scrap titanium. You will find that it doesn't behave like other metals in that when you heat it it actually gets harder! (You can' t anneal it like brass or bronze alloys!)
Therefore all the hammering and shaping has to be done cold. I do also hammer every square cm, to return the titanium to its original hexagonal molecular shape that has been compromised in the rolling process. It is VERY hard work; be warned. I treat it like a meditation.
I only apply heat only after the gong is fully shaped and hammered. The extra hardness that comes after heating gives it far greater resonance. Personally I just use propane torches, but you can also colour titanium using anodising. Do look at Ross Barrable's crystanium gongs if you want to see this. I may well experiment with anodising in the future, but for now I am happy with the process that I have developed. Martin Blaise has also been quite inspirational, and he regularly posts videos online. Good luck with your quest!
Thank you for your reply sir. Your works give happiness and motivations to a lot of people. I really appreciate your kind words.
Antonio.
Thanks for the great clips. I too wanted to make a titanium gong, so I immediately bought a plate and started tapping on it.
When I started hitting it on the anvil with a metal hammer, the board warped so much that I couldn't get it to do what I wanted.
What kind of hammer do you use when you strike the center of the board instead of the edges?
Should I bend the edges first and then strike the inside?
thank you for great work.
Heya Barry.. thanks for the video amazing to see how you work... I am wondering have you ever made a square gong? is it even possible? would the sound and resonance still be maintained in a square gong? Reason I'm asking is I travel a lot with my gong and it's a hassle on planes. I have wondered if I could get a custom gong made that would fit nicely in a large suitcase to meet the airlines baggage standards. any thoughts would be appreciated.. thanks much matt
It's perfectly possible to make any shape of gong. Take a look at the work of my friend Steve Hubback for example.. He makes skull shapes, shell shapes ; all sorts! But the deeper I go into the world of vibrational research I am more and more drawn to the larger gongs. In fact I am now working on 2 new 48 inch examples, which from a business point of view is crazy.
I have made a couple of gongs in the past that were smaller than 39 inches, and they sounded like "dinner gongs" by comparison with the larger sizes.. As my gongs are used principally by myself and others for sound therapy work, I prioritise the deeper frequencies that only come from the larger sizes.
How thick is the titanium sheet you are working with ?
@@ThatGongGuy I've worked with 1.8, 2 and 2.5 mm.. It's a "Goldilocks" problem. The thicker the material the longer the sustain, the thinner, the easier to bloom but the shorter the sustain. I now usually build in 2mm grade 1 (pure titanium). Best compromise...
Hello, I've been watching your videos and I really love your goongs, made with love. Can you tell me where you are and if you sell those gongs and what their price is .
Hi Manh, Do check out my website at barrymasonfineart.com. You will find all the gongs which are currently available as well as their prices. Glad that you like them!
Unbelievable
Amazing! Do you handcraft also superballs?
Do you mean bells Victor? I do make bells from the titanium offcuts. Do take a look on my website at barrymasonfineart.com for details. Thanks
Wow! Those are amazing! Ive been wanting to hammer out a gong for years. What thickness (gauge) titanium do you use? Or if you were to make a gong out on stainless steel, what gauge would you use? I have some nonmagnetic stainless steel i think would work well for a gong. Any input would be greatly appreciated ✌🏼✌🏼
Hi Miley, I've tried 1.8. 2. and 2.5 mm . I find 2 mm the best compromise . The only SS gong that I have made was from 3mm - too thick ! Hope that this all helps.
@@barrymason4314 oh ok. That's fairly heavy gauge sheet. That's heavier gauge than I thought it would be. I have some 16 gauge (1.6mm). I think that should work out alright. Thank you for your help.
I was curious what such a specialty item, requiring so much skilled labor, would sell for. I'm quite astonished that you let them go for that low! How does one transport one of these?
Hi Allen , I am very fortunate to be able to make my gongs in my spare time, with percussion teaching , music gigs and my other sculpture work to support my practice.
I also have low overheads as I own my own studio and am mortgage free.
I try to offer my pieces at a fair price, that reflects both the cost of materials and also the time that they take to forge . I don't wish to charge so much that they become too expensive for the sound therapy community. .
I do not have the high overheads of masters such as Martin Blaise, with studio rentals and apprentices to pay, but neither do I wish to deliberately undercut his prices.
Titanium is half the weight of steel, and size for size, ( as bronze gongs tend to be thicker) are about 1/3 of the weight of a similarly sized traditional going. . The 39 inch gongs fit easily through the back door of a normal car, and are easily liftable with one hand. The 48 inch gongs do need a bigger estate or SUV , but again they are relatively light . Also, being titanium they are completely weatherproof, so could even go on a roof rack if necessary (In a bag though!) Hope that this answers your questions... Cheers Barry
Bonjour Bary , your work is inspiring !!! I'm in France a bit far to visit you, but who is .... what type of titanium do you use?
T30.....
Hi Bruno . I have only used grade 1 titanium so far as I believe that this is the purest.. (Thats why I call my work "Elemental Gongs". I have also worked in the past in pure copper, with surprisingly good results)
thank you for your kindness and avaiability
You say 1.2 x 1.2 m sheet, but what gauge?
Mr Barry, would you be interested in having a student of your craft? I would like very much to learn your teachings and go on with the art of gong making
Hi Miguel, But I am only a beginner myself... I am constantly learning new things each time I make a new gong!
@@barrymason4314 Well, if some day you consider yourself a master, know that you have a eager student waiting
How expensive are they ?
Who was the gong bath practitioner who gave your first gong bath, Barry?
Don Conreaux - lucky me! I also joined Don and played percussion with him on several occasions with his band "MYSTERIOUS TREMENDRUM" . That was FUN!
@@barrymason4314 I imagine it was, being a percussionist myself (as well as a gong practitioner) 🧡
@@HushHour_Alicia_Ma_Ri_Atu_Ma Yes , I remember receiving a really nice gong bath from you at Drumcamp some years ago . We are there again this year, and have our cellist with us, so we will be giving a full on sound journey with the HOhME Trio on 2 occasions. We still refer to it as Drumcamp, but the new name is the World Music Workshop Gathering !
Sounds wonderful! I much preferred the name Drum Camp tbh. So much easier to remember…
Im going to make a bong out of a plastic soda bottle and listen to the bubbles.
Also your work is brilliant I'd love to buy one but I'm almost positive its more then I could afford.
Save the plastic! Fart in the bath ! 👍
@andrewaajohnson7584 float a couple candles above it.
Can I come learn this with u please 🙏
I am always happy to receive visitors to my studio. Do contact me via email if you fancy coming. Addresses are on my website at barrymasonfineart.com.
Too bad these didn't exist when Bonham was alive...
Gongs are overpriced.
Ehmmm, perhaps watch how they are made.
Ohhhhhh....
I’m looking for a gong that doesn’t have that big splash sound but then that most of the way you hit it right? I want something that’s gonna let out a very low base note. How much do you charge for this like a 36 inch gong I don’t know, my ancestors in ancient Mexico have been documented as having them, but they were made of copper I was thinking of buying a sheet of copper having it cut into a circle and just play it, but I’m not sure if I’ll have to hammer it and curve it or whatever I guess the worst part is, I don’t have those kinds of tools
Hi Martin, Gongs can be any shape - look at the work of Steve Hubback for example; he even makes skull shaped ones. I have made a copper gong, and it sounded really good too. Any big metal plate, hung up and hit, will give you a "gongy" sound, but the skill is to maximise the frequency ranges that they produce. A flat gong (often called a wind gong" tend to splash` quickly and then decay quickly too. Putting a rim on a` circular gong holds and controls the tension in the central portion, so you have more control and tension. Good luck with your gong quest. Do start by making a small singing bowl. You will learn a lot from this process!