How to Choose a Gong Mallet: Size, Head, and Technique
Start with the diameter of your gong. For the mallet you’ll use most often, we recommend a smaller head up to 20", a medium one for 22"–24", and a larger, heavier head from 26" up. From there, you can add a lighter mallet for quiet details, a pair for rolling, or a friction mallet for sustained tones produced without striking.
There are three main types of gong mallets:
- Strike mallets produce individual strikes, from deep, soft tones to bright accents.
- Rolling mallets work in pairs, alternating strikes to build a continuous sound.
- Friction mallets move across the gong’s surface to produce sustained tones and shifting overtones.
Below, we’ll explain which mallets we recommend for different gongs, and when a second mallet might be useful. They follow the same pairing rules behind the mallet suggestions on our gong product pages.
Why the mallet changes the sound
A gong produces many tones and overtones at once. Your choice of mallet helps determine which ones you hear most clearly. A larger, softer mallet generally brings out deeper tones with a gentler attack and a slower bloom. A smaller or firmer mallet tends to bring out brighter sounds with a more defined strike and a faster response.
Neither is inherently better; they simply serve different purposes. We explain the physics in our gong frequency guide. In practice, a small mallet may not bring out much of a large gong’s low end, while an oversized mallet can overwhelm a smaller gong. That’s why we start with size.
What the head is made of
Many gong mallets use a dense core covered with a softer material, such as fleece or faux fur. That covering softens the attack and reduces the click of the strike. More padding generally gives a gentler attack and a fuller low end. A smaller or firmer head tends to bring out more brightness and definition.
Weight matters, too. A heavier head can transfer more energy to the gong, helping bring out its lower tones. That can be especially useful with larger gongs, although firmness and playing technique still matter. A light head lets you play a gong quietly without pushing it into its louder response. Where and how hard you strike also change the sound. These are tendencies, not fixed rules.
Friction mallets are different: a solid ball, typically rubber, grips the gong as you move it across the surface. The sound comes from that continuous contact, not a strike.
The primary mallet, by gong size
The table below gives our recommended starting points, not hard rules. A primary mallet is the one we’d choose first, not the only one that works. Diameter matters most, but construction, playing style, and the sound you want also play a part.
| Gong | Primary mallet |
|---|---|
| Up to 20", including Grotta Sonora 15" and 19" handhelds | Cosmic Tones or Grotta Sonora Small |
| 22"–24", Raven Sounds or Grotta Sonora | Mid-Tones or Grotta Sonora Medium |
| Raven Sounds 26"–28" | Ollihess M305 |
| Raven Sounds 30"–32" | Ollihess L355 |
| Grotta Sonora 26" and up | Grotta Sonora Big |
Up to 24", the two lines follow the same sizing recommendations. From 26" up, they differ. Raven Sounds bronze gongs and Grotta Sonora gongs have different designs and respond differently to a strike. A mallet that works particularly well on one may not give you the same result on the other.
We base these recommendations on our own experience playing both lines. For Raven Sounds gongs from 26" up, we recommend the Ollihess M305 or L355, depending on size. For Grotta Sonora gongs from 26" up, we recommend Grotta Sonora's own Big mallet.
You’ll notice that the recommended heads generally get heavier as gong size increases. The M305 weighs 305 g with a 10 cm head, and the L355 weighs 355 g. The Grotta Sonora Big weighs about 0.9 lb with a 3.5" head, and the Grotta Sonora Medium has an 8 cm head. These figures come from the makers and are listed on each product page.
What comes with your gong
Every Raven Sounds gong includes a free Cosmic Tones mallet. On the product page, you can upgrade to a Mid-Tones or add another mallet suited to the gong’s size.
- Up to 20": the included Cosmic Tones is your primary.
- 22"–24": the Mid-Tones upgrade puts the recommended primary in the box.
- 26" and up: the recommended primary is the Ollihess head for your size, bought separately, and the included Cosmic Tones becomes your second voice (see the next section).
Grotta Sonora gongs don’t include a mallet, so you’ll need to choose one separately.
The second mallet: what the primary doesn't do
Keep the smaller mallet when you size up
Moving to a larger gong doesn’t make your smaller mallet obsolete. The Cosmic Tones and Grotta Sonora Small are secondary mallets on every gong over 20", and the Mid-Tones and Grotta Sonora Medium are secondaries from 26" up. On a larger gong, that smaller head can bring out brighter upper partials over the deeper sound of the primary. Both have a place.
A light head for quiet, detailed playing
The Ollihess M70 weighs 70 g and the M174 weighs 174 g. We recommend both as secondary mallets on gongs of every size. A light head helps you bring the sound in gradually and keep it quiet. That can be useful at the beginning of a session or when listeners are lying close to the gong. Ollihess describes the M174 as suited to gongs "that require a great deal of sensitivity when playing."
Deep sustain on large gongs
The Ollihess Earthtone is a secondary mallet for gongs 26" and up. It has a short handle and a compact head, and it comes in two sizes: an 80 mm head at 340 g and a 100 mm head at 620 g. Ollihess designs it to draw very deep tones and sustain them for a long time. On a large gong, it offers another way to bring out the deep, sustained part of the sound.
Rolling
A roll uses two mallets in steady alternation. Rather than letting each strike fade before the next, you keep the gong sounding, building or easing the volume as you play. Rolling is optional; a single well-chosen striking mallet can do plenty on its own.
If rolling appeals to you, the Grotta Sonora Roller Mallet Pair is made for it, and we recommend it as a secondary on every gong. The two mallets are sold together. Their heads are softer and lighter than the Grotta Sonora Small, reducing strike noise while bringing out upper partials. Each mallet is 36 cm long on a bamboo handle, long enough for the head's own weight to carry the stroke through a long roll.
Friction mallets
To play a friction mallet, press its head against the gong and move it across the surface. The friction sets the gong vibrating. A struck gong continues to ring as the strike fades. With friction, you keep feeding the vibration, allowing the tone to sustain and change as you move.
It takes a little practice. Pressure, speed, and where you play all affect the result. The same friction mallet may sound quite different on two gongs, and changing mallets can make a big difference on the same gong. Begin with steady movement, vary the pressure and speed, and listen for a consistent tone.
Size matters here, too. These are our recommended friction-mallet pairings:
| Friction mallet | We recommend it for |
|---|---|
| Ollihess Crazy Egg | Any size |
| Ollihess Intense Edition+, 50 mm | Any size |
| Ollihess Intense Edition+, 60 mm | 24"–28" |
| Ollihess Intense Edition+, 70 mm | 30" and up |
| Grotta Sonora Friction Ball Set | Grotta Sonora 24" and up |
For a first friction mallet, we recommend the Crazy Egg or 50 mm Intense Edition+ for any gong size. You can try a larger head later if it suits your gong. According to Ollihess, the Intense Edition+ uses a softer rubber compound with a finer grit than its earlier models, on a thicker handle. The Grotta Sonora set has three heads (4.5, 5, and 6.5 cm), each on a flexible clear PVC stick that acts as a resonator: moving your hand along the stick shifts the resonance lower or higher. You can compare these and our other options in the gong mallets collection.
Three example kits
These are examples, not shopping lists. Starting with one mallet is fine; you can add others as you find sounds or techniques you want to explore.
- An 18" Raven Sounds Chau gong. Start with the included Cosmic Tones as your primary. An M70 gives you a lighter touch for quiet passages, while a Crazy Egg introduces friction playing.
- A 24" Grotta Sonora gong. The Grotta Sonora Medium is the primary. For sustained friction tones, try a 60 mm Intense Edition+ or the Grotta Sonora Friction Ball Set. If you want to roll, the Roller Pair lets you build sound through repeated strikes.
- A 32" Raven Sounds gong. The L355 is the primary and brings out the gong's low end. The included Cosmic Tones adds bright accents over it. The Earthtone offers another approach to deep sustain, while a 70 mm Intense Edition+ adds friction playing.
Questions
Can one mallet do everything?
On a small gong, one well-chosen primary can cover much of what you need. On gongs 26" and up, a smaller head can add brighter accents, while a friction mallet opens up a different technique.
Does the free mallet work on a big gong?
Yes, as a second voice. On gongs 26" and up, the Cosmic Tones is a secondary mallet for brighter accents. The primary we recommend is a larger, heavier head.
Does a heavier mallet always produce a deeper sound?
Not necessarily. Weight helps, but the firmness of the head, where you strike, and how you play all influence which tones become most noticeable.
Can I use the Ollihess large mallets on a Grotta Sonora gong?
We don't recommend the M305 or L355 for Grotta Sonora gongs. On Grotta gongs 26" and up, the primary we recommend is Grotta Sonora's own Big mallet.
Which friction mallet should I buy first?
The Crazy Egg or the 50 mm Intense Edition+. Both work on any gong. If your gong is 24" or larger, you can add the larger head for its size later.
To compare our striking, rolling, and friction mallets, visit the gong mallets collection. If you’re still choosing a gong, see our guide to the types of gongs.