Guide to Gongs

A gong is a percussion instrument with a Malay-Javanese origin. Traditionally made of bronze and brass, it is a flat, circular disc with a raised center called a nipple. It is played by striking it with a soft or hard mallet. It is commonly used in musical and theatrical applications. It is available in bossed, suspended, and bowl types in different diameters.
 

• A suspended gong can be made with a hoisted center boss or with a flat face and turned edges.
• It is struck with a beater.
• A harder beater is required for a smaller gong.
• It comes in a chromatic model with a one to 4.5-octave range.

• A chau gong is also called a bullseye gong.
• It is made of copper, brass, or bronze alloy.
• It is a type of suspended gong most popular in Western culture.
• It has a semi-turned up rim, making it shallow and almost flat.
• It has a diameter of seven to 80 inches.
• It was traditionally used for road-clearing for ushering important processions and officials.
• Its larger version is called a tam-tam, which is commonly used in symphony orchestras.

• A nipple gong is a type of suspended gong with a raised nub at the center.
• The nipple is usually made of a different metal from the body.
• It produces a clear and less shimmery resonating tone.
• It has a diameter of six to 14 inches.
• A small nipple gong set is commonly used for creating musical tunes.
• The Bau gong is a nipple gong variety used for worship in Chinese temples.

• An opera gong is commonly used in Chinese opera orchestras.
• It is used in pairs. The smaller gong produces a rising sound, while the larger one produces a descending one.
• The larger gong is used for announcing the major opera characters and emphasizing the consequence and drama parts of the opera.
• The smaller going is used for announcing the minor opera and women characters, and emphasizing the humorous parts of the opera.
• It has a diameter of seven to 12 inches. The larger gong is two inches bigger than the smaller one.

• A pasi gong can be made with or without a nipple.
• It produces a crashing tone.
• It is used for ushering the beginning of a magic show, play, or performance.
• It has a diameter of 12 to 15 inches.

• A tiger gong is considered a semi-ascending or descending gong.
• It has a diameter of eight to 15 inches.

• A wind gong is also called a lion or a feng gong.
• It is made of bronze flattened into a disc.
• It produces a minimal fundamental pitch but provides a sustained and heavy overtone.
• It is struck by a large mallet to produce roaring, crash sound.
• It has a diameter of seven to 40 inches.

• A pot gong is heavy and compact.
• It has a diameter of six to 13 inches.
• It has a nipple at the center.
• It is supported by a wooden framework and a cord suspension system.
• It can be arranged in one to two rows, with each row consisting of eight to 10 pot gongs.
• It is struck by a padded mallet or a wooden stick.

• A bowl gong looks like the singing bowl of Tibet.
• It is also called an up gong because of its open side.
• It is played using different percussion and non-percussion techniques such as using the fingers to rub the rim and using a beater to strike it.
• It is commonly used for worship in temples.

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