Continuing with the series of articles on sound healing as a healing tool, today I am going to delve into tuning forks as a healing tool, how they can be used to tune and balance your mind, body and soul.
A few days ago, I talked about sound therapy pioneer Jonathan Goldman and more specifically about the frequencies he sings for each part of the body. He sings the notes of the C Scale using the Pythagorean tuning fork and also specially designed tuning forks under his voice at the same frequency. Tuning forks have been established over the years as an important tool for sound healing, so let’s explore a little about why tuning forks are so effective. I’ll show you some of the tuning forks in my collection and provide some audio examples so you can hear these pure, loud sounds for yourself.
Why use tuning forks?
Tuning forks have gained prominence in the sound healing arts due to their durability. Once a tuning fork is designed to resonate at a certain frequency, it retains that frequency even if it is dropped or dented. The tuning forks are acoustically pure and rich in harmonics. Practitioners hit the tuning fork, with an activator or simply hitting with their kneecaps (not using too much force) to create a pleasant timbral sound. When you strike the tuning forks together they release more high tones and sound so some people prefer the other methods of playing them.
As the science of sound healing has developed over the years and included specific frequencies for brain waves, planets, organs and more, having a specific tuning fork to match any of these frequencies allows us quick access to these sounds.
The tuning forks are small and portable, and very practical anywhere. They can be touched next to a client’s ears or anywhere on the body. Weighted tuning forks send a physical vibration to the body and can be placed anywhere the client needs to release tension and achieve balance.
Harmonic Solar Series
The tuning forks in my collection and much of the information I learned about them are from two different sources, on the one hand Hans Cousto, Planetware; They are stainless steel Germans tuned to the planets. The others are by Dr. John Beaulieu, a renowned naturopathic doctor, composer and sound healing specialist. In his book, Human Tuning, Dr. Beaulieu brilliantly describes the fundamentals of sound healing with tuning forks. Pythagorean tuning is based on intervals and harmonics found in nature. It is very different from the same tempered tuning as we use it today. In fact, it is “sharper” than the ancient Pythagorean adjustment.
Orchestras tune their instruments to A = 440 Hz and in this case A = 426.7 Hz. Electromagnetic energy flies around us now with cell phones, TV, radio waves, wi-fi, etc. Tuning forks help us return to balance with nature, just like physically being in nature or listening to the waves on the beach… They have the same effect.
Schuman Resonance
All tuning forks described below are also tuned to the fundamental frequency of 8 Hertz. This frequency is called the Schumann resonance. It is the natural frequency that circulates the Earth’s pulse between the planet’s surface and the ionosphere. To make tuning forks audible, the fundamental frequency is multiplied until it is in the range of our hearing. In essence, we are tuning into the sound of our planet.
The centerpiece of the Pythagorean scale-based tuning fork system is the Solar Harmonic series which contains 8 tuning forks based on a C scale, just like the notes used by Jonathan Goldman.
The notes and frequencies are as follows:
▪ C 256 Hz
▪ D 288 Hz
▪ E 320 Hz
▪ F 341.3 Hz
▪ G 384 Hz
▪ At 426.7 Hz
▪ B 480 Hz
▪ C 512 Hz
The fifth interval
Each interval has a unique effect on the body and brain. Dr. Beaulieu describes the effect of each interval in detail in his book. He carefully investigated the effect of each interval on his brain and body by listening to each one for hours on end, even when he slept.
Tuning fork C 256 is played with another pitch to perform the desired interval. One of the most important intervals is the fifth interval, accessed by the amazing C 256 Hz and G 384 Hz together. The fifth interval is the ideal interval to use to balance the nervous system among other things. When I have felt most anxious or stressed, I have listened to the fifth interval, a tuning fork in each ear, and felt my nervous system immediately relax!
The Otto C 128 has weights at the end of the fingerboard (photo below). It is based on the “difference tone” of the Fifth Interval (384 – 256) so it also has the same powerful nervous system balancing effects as if you played the two C & G tuning forks together. Researchers have found that use of the Otto 128 tuning fork stimulates the release of nitric oxide in our cells, a molecule that is critical for healthy function.
Practitioners strike the tuning fork in the palm of their hand creating a very strong vibration and low sonic pulse. This tuning fork is often used on the body by placing the small end of the tuning fork on an acupuncture point which releases the vibration. Another place where we can use this tuning fork is in the third eye, in the center of the forehead or in the center of the chest. We can also use this tuning fork in conjunction with Tibetan bowls to close a session with a client.
This is just a brief introduction to the world of tuning forks, there will be more articles in the future.
