Authentic Handmade Gong
Each gong is unique, and the one you hear in the sound file is the exact gong you will receive. While there may be slight variations in appearance, your gong will have the same overall look and feel as the one pictured.

How Our Gongs Are Made
Raven Sounds gongs are designed and tested in the USA and handmade from bronze — 80% copper, 20% tin. We specify a thicker gauge than a typical traditional-style gong; the added mass gives more intricate overtones and a wider dynamic range from a soft touch to a full strike. Each one is individually recorded before it ships.

Dark Moon Chau Gong Characteristics
The Dark Moon Chau is a Chau gong left completely unlathed. Where a traditional Chau has a lathed mid-band, the Dark Moon keeps the raw bronze surface across both faces. The result is a distinctive deep voice carrying a wide spread of overtones.

Dark Moon Chau Gong at a Glance
Style: Chau form with a fully unlathed surface, front and back
Sizes: 18" to 32"
Note: every Dark Moon Chau is one of a kind, so the note belongs to the individual gong, not the size. The current note for each size is shown in the size selector, and the recording on this page is that exact gong.
Material: handmade bronze, 80% copper / 20% tin
Includes: a Raven Sounds Cosmic Tones gong mallet and a hanging cord

How a Dark Moon Chau Sounds
Struck at the center, the Dark Moon gives a deep tone with a wide spread of overtones around the fundamental. Listen to the recording on this page — it's the exact gong for the size you select.

Dark Moon Chau vs. Chau vs. Solar Chau
All three share the Chau form. The Chau has a lathed mid-band that brings the mid and upper tones forward and gives more separation between the center and the rest of the face. The Solar Chau adds Sun-gong lathing on the back for more control and mid-to-high detail. The Dark Moon Chau has no lathing at all, giving it a deep voice with abundant overtones. Every one is recorded, so compare them before you decide.

Dark Moon Chau FAQ

What does "unlathed" mean?
Lathing cuts fine concentric grooves into a gong's surface, which shapes how it vibrates. The Dark Moon Chau skips that step entirely, leaving the bronze surface unlathed on both faces.

What note is a Dark Moon Chau?
There isn't a single answer — each handmade gong carries its own fundamental. The note for the current gong in each size is in the size selector, and the recording is that gong.

Which size should I get?
As a starting point: 18"–22" for personal practice, small rooms, travel, and as an accent gong alongside larger gongs or in a set. 24"–28" is what most studio and smaller sound-bath practitioners choose. 30"–32" for larger rooms and as the centerpiece of a set.

Does it come with a mallet?
Yes — a Raven Sounds Cosmic Tones mallet and a hanging cord ship free with every Dark Moon Chau.

Complimentary Cosmic Tones Mallet ($49 Value)
Enhance your gong playing with a complimentary Raven Sounds Cosmic Tones Gong Mallet when you purchase any gong. Our mallets are designed for optimal sound production, offering a more nuanced and expressive playing experience compared to the standard mallets often included with gongs.

A Note About Gong Sizes
Each of our gongs is a unique, handmade item. Because of this, the actual size may vary slightly. We typically find that most gongs will be approximately 1/4" to 1/2" smaller than their stated size.

Fundamental Notes
The listed note and octave represent the gong's primary center tone. While we do our best to capture an accurate representation of this note, the actual tone can vary based on volume and overtones. Please refer to the sound file for the best example of the gong's sound.

See the full Raven Sounds gong collection for other styles, or browse additional gong mallets.