Become a Koshi Chime Sound Healer

The Koshi chime was designed by Kabir, a renowned musician and inventor in southern France in 2010. The Koshi chime was based on his original invention of the Shanti chime which he created in 1996.

The Koshi chime is an authentic musical instrument. A true Koshi chime will have the Koshi logo printed on it. They are hand-made from thin layers of bamboo that are treated with natural oil and made in the Pyrenean mountains.

Kabir was playing around with a variation of vowel sounds and came up with the name Koshi. Little did he know, this word carries many meanings in other languages. This word came to him intuitively.

What Koshi means in other languages:

English: to try

Japanese: ancient poem, old small shrine

Tamil: (verb) to sound or roar

Sanskrit: a seed vessel, a bud

Each chime rod produces not only a fundamental tone, but also less audible, harmonic tones, all of which contribute to the perceived musical note. Starting from a reference note, all other notes are adjusted circularly by plus or minus a certain number of cents, so that the harmonics of the longer stems harmonize with the shorter ones.

Not all chimes are created equal. It's important to know the difference between a bamboo chime and a Koshi chime. The Koshi chime is tuned to a perfect harmony that comes close to the golden ratio.

The maker of the Koshi chime, Kabir, developed the chamber on the chime based on his own intuition. When he discussed the shape with a friend who was an architect, he learned about the golden ratio. His friend had never seen his chimes, so Kabir gave him the measurement of the cylinder radius, with the question of “what should be its length in order to create this "perfect harmony".

The number he gave Kabir was within an exact millimeter of the length of the chimes that he had been making for years.

Wanting more acoustic volume, Kabir multiplied the length of the cylinder with ϕ, and applied this same "golden ratio" to other proportions of the chime, as well as to the drop form of the wind catcher.

Koshi chimes come in 4 different melodies, inspired by the four elements of Nature, Water, Air and Fire. Two of the chimes are in a Pentatonic scale, (5 notes).

Terra: Nature (G C E F G C E G)

Ignis: Fire (G B D G B D G A / Pentatonic)

Aria: Air (A C E A B C E B)

Aqua: Water (A D F G A D F A / Pentatonic)

Two of the chimes are major chords and two are minor chords. Fire and nature are major, water and air are minor. Minor notes pull at the heartstrings and sound emotional. Major notes are uplifting and can raise the energy.

Terra: Nature C MAJOR

Ignis: Fire G MAJOR

Aria: Air A MINOR

Aqua: Water D MINOR

The nature Koshi Chime is the chime with the green-colored O. This is a MAJOR chord.

This is when you might want to use the nature chime:

1. When the person or group needs grounding

2. When there is a need to feel uplifted and lighter

3. Connecting a person to their astrological sign: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

The fire Koshi Chime is the chime with the red-colored O. This is a MAJOR chord.

This is when you might want to use the fire chime:

1. When the person or group needs more energy

2. When there is a need to feel motivated and recharged

3. Connecting a person to their astrological sign: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

The water Koshi Chime is the chime with the blue-colored O. This is a MINOR chord.

This is when you might want to use the water chime:

1. When the person or group needs to open their hearts

2. When there is a need to express emotion or release tears

3. Connecting a person to their astrological sign: Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio

The air Koshi Chime is the chime with the yellow-colored O. This is a MINOR chord.

This is when you might want to use the water chime:

1. When the person or group needs mental activity to slow down

2. When there is a need to calm a racing mind or inspire ideas

3. Connecting a person to their astrological sign: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Hold the Koshi Chime approximately 6 inches above the person’s body so the tip of the chime enters the auric field. You can gently move the Koshi chime in a variety of ways: front to back, side to side, and in a circular motion. Be sure to leave space for silence in between each turn of making sound. Move them gently, not with force for a calming effect!

It is important to select chimes that align with the therapeutic goals of your session. Adjust the intensity of playing the chime according to the comfort level of your person’s ears. Start softly then increase the intensity as needed and end softly. The chimes have a frequency and a duration when the 8 notes are played. You can vary the frequency and duration by the way you play. Longer sustained notes can be relaxing and meditative, whereas shorter, quick sounds can be invigorating.

In my personal experience of playing Koshi Chimes at a sound bath, I advise against playing all the chimes together at the same time. It can create dissonance after people have been resting for a period of time. Playing minor and major chords together and a total of 32 notes can sound very chaotic.

Before starting a Koshi Chime session you want to be mindful of the intention for the session. Playing the Koshi Chimes with mindfulness and intention will increase the level of healing for you and the person you are playing them for. Connect your breath, the energy you wish to convey through the sound to the intention and then begin to play.