Stainless Steel is a much heavier metal, making it harder to use in sound therapy. In the past, Medical Doctors, EMT’s, and Paramedics would use the stainless-steel tuning forks to diagnose a broken bone. Audiologists would also use this as a tool to diagnose hearing loss. In Sound therapy, we are geared more towards the healing aspect of sound versus the diagnostic approach. However, the Aluminum fork is multi-functional. One can use it as a tool for both healing and diagnostic purposes. In the last few years, I have seen a trend in the medical community where they have replaced the stainless-steel tuning fork with the 128 HZ aluminum tuning fork. Aluminum is much more affordable than Stainless steel and easier to handle due to the lighter weight of the instrument. Truthfully, the only attribute for using a stainless-steel fork over an Aluminum fork would be because Stainless steel produces more vibration. However, the healing attributes of Aluminum far outweighs any benefit one may get from a Stainless-steel tuning fork. Why is that? A stainless-steel fork will only produce the sound it is tuned at. For instance, the 128 Hz tuning fork is will only vibrate and ring at that frequency. In sound therapy, we capitalize on 5th dimensional healing. In other words, all healing begins in the spiritual realm, which then affects the mental/emotional realm, which directly affects the physical realm. In other words, holistic healing. So how do we accomplish that with an aluminum tuning fork? Unlike its stainless-steel predecessor, aluminum not only rings in the frequency it was designed for, but also it produces many octaves, partials, overtones, and undertones. So that, you are getting a huge range of that same frequency and all aspects of it. It is a very powerful and potent tool that has the potential of healing in all realms. Stainless-steel was never designed to do that. It is for this reason that in this important healing modality of sound healing, we will always use Aluminum over stainless-steel. For those of you that may not be musicians, let me give you a little bit more information on what those important tones are. An overtone is a higher frequency sound that is produced along with the fundamental frequency of a sound. Overtones make up the whole sound of a musical tone and affect its quality. Harmonics may also be called overtones, partials, or upper partials. The difference between harmonic and overtone is that the term harmonic includes all the notes in a series, to include the fundamental frequency. An undertone is a sequence of notes that result from inverting the intervals of the overtone series. An octave is a musical interval between two notes that have double or half the frequency of each other. For instance, when the 128 Hz forked is doubled, it produces the octave at 256 Hz. Every time you double the number, you go up another octave. So, if you doubled the 256 Hz you would get a second octave up from the 128 Hz at 512 Hz. By the same token, every time you divide a number by 2 you are going down an octave. All that to say, with aluminum you get the whole package!

he differences between Weighted and Unweighted Tuning forks are:

Weighted Tuning Forks:

1. Design: Have round weights at the end of the tines.
2. Vibration Direction: The weights direct vibration and sound down the stem, not through the tines.
3. Usage: Typically used directly on the body for addressing pain, cellular trauma, inflammation, and other issues.
4. Frequency Range: Limited to 26 Hz to 500 Hz. Generally, forks above 256 Hz should be unweighted, and those below should be weighted.
5. Ring Time: Higher frequencies (over 300 Hz) in weighted forks have a shorter ring time.
6. Other Names: Also known as Osteophonic or Otto tuning forks.

Unweighted Tuning Forks:

1. Design: Composed of just the tines and the stem without additional weights.
2. Vibration Direction: Sound and vibration radiate out through the tines, not the stem.
3. Usage: Used energetically around the body, generally 2-3 inches away, but up to 6 feet in body-field tuning.
4. Frequency Range: Can go up to 6000 Hz.
5. Handling Caution: Avoid touching the tines when activating the fork to prevent halting the vibration.

In essence, while weighted tuning forks are primarily used on the body due to their vibration direction down the stem, unweighted ones are used around the body with their vibrations emanating through the tines.

The benefits of using Weighted and Unweighted Tuning forks differ based on their design and application:

Benefits of Weighted Tuning Forks:

1. Direct Physical Application: The weights at the end of the tines direct the vibration down the stem, allowing them to be used directly on the body.
2. Pain and Trauma Relief: Effective for addressing pain, cellular trauma, inflammation, and various physical issues.
3. Frequency Suitability: Ideal for lower frequencies, typically between 26 Hz and 500 Hz.
4. Nitric Oxide Stimulation: Can stimulate the production of nitric oxide in the body, aiding in relaxation, pain relief, and inflammation reduction.
5. Cellular Memory Clearing: Useful for addressing traumas stored at the cellular level, including those passed down generations.
6. Diagnostic Utility: Used by medical professionals for diagnostics, such as detecting fractures or testing hearing.

Benefits of Unweighted Tuning Forks:

1. Energetic Application: The sound and vibration radiate out through the tines, making them suitable for use around the body, influencing the body's energy fields.
2. Higher Frequencies: Can handle a broader frequency range, going up to 6000 Hz.
3. Holistic Healing: Effective for addressing issues on spiritual, mental, and emotional levels due to their ability to influence the biofield or aura.
4. Trauma Detection: Can detect traumas stored in the biofield, helping practitioners pinpoint when a particular trauma might have occurred in a person's life.
5. Chakra Balancing: Useful for balancing energy centers or chakras, thereby promoting holistic well-being.
6. Versatile Healing Attributes: Can produce a range of overtones, undertones, partials, and octaves, providing a comprehensive healing spectrum.

In summary, while weighted tuning forks offer direct physical benefits and diagnostic capabilities due to their structure and vibration direction, unweighted forks provide a more holistic and energetic approach to healing, addressing not just the physical but also the spiritual and emotional aspects of well-being.

Currently, there are only two high quality manufacturers in the USA that make sound therapy tuning forks. The oldest manufacturer has been making tuning forks since 1921. Their standard stem is 2 inches. The other manufacturer has been making tuning forks since the 1970’s and their standard stem is 2.4 inches. There was a myth put out many years ago that stated that longer stems do not put out as much vibration, nor do they ring as long as a shorter stem. That myth was started by a manufacturer to discourage those from purchasing the longer stems. There isn’t an ounce of truth in that. Manufacturers don’t like making longer stems because it is more work and uses more aluminum. However, we at SozoSoundz generally only carry the longer stems of both manufacturers. So, we carry forks from the oldest manufacturer in the USA with the 2.5-inch-long stems. The younger manufacturer also provides us with 3-inch stems. While this costs us more to have made than what other distributors pay, we have found that having that extra length makes a world of difference when working on yourself or others. With standard stems are hands can barely hold onto these forks at time. Our hands seem to always inch towards the tines with shorter stems thus deadening the sound. For those with arthritis, the longer stems also takes the pressure of the fingers and places it more in the hands. Longer stems are easier to use and handle period. I have heard others say that longer stems are harder to use when you are trying to hold many forks simultaneously in your hands. Generally, I can hold 4 forks in each hand. So, a total of 8 forks all together. My experience is that it is easier to do this with the longer handles. Again, the base of the tines is not sitting right on top of my knuckles. I have more options on how to place them as I have more wiggle room. I will have to disagree with others who say otherwise. Again, it is usually coming from distributors not wanting to pay the extra cost to have the longer stems made. We can proudly say at SozoSoundz that we not only carry both manufacturers’ products, but we also carry the longer stem of both manufacturers. 

This sems to be a secret tool in every Sound Therapists arsenal of tools 😊  To make is simple, when I use one fork I get the frequency of that fork. Let’s for example use the 528 Hz Miracle fork. Perhaps I have activated this fork and then activate another fork such as the Genesis 531 Hz tuning fork. So, at that moment you have both the 528 Hz and the 531 Hz frequency sounding and vibrating. Because you have more than Frequency, you have now created a 3rd beat and sound but combing both forks. The difference between the 2 tuning forks is only 3 Hz. 531-528=3. So, at this point you are not only receiving the benefits of the 528 Hz and the 531 Hz, but you are receiving that 3 Hz as well which in this case happens to be in the Delta brain wave frequency range. As a matter of fact, that is how we produce the brain wave tuning forks. A manufacturer cannot make a 3 Hz tuning fork. So, they make a fundamental fork which is usually a 256 Hz and create a 2nd fork to go along with that one. Binaural tuning is a must for anything under 26 Hz. Now imagine I have 8 forks activated and going off at the same time. To be honest that is just too much math for me. I would have to figure out the distance between each fork, as well as all the beats and patterns in between. Those 8 forks could produce thousands of sounds and vibrations. For this reason, it is a powerful modality when you use many forks simultaneously. 

Aluminum is metal. All metal expands in heat and contracts in cold. For that reason, try to always keep your forks close to 70 degrees. Do not go above 80 or below 60 degrees for a long time as it can permanently damage the forks. The hotter the temperature the lower the frequency will sound in the fork. The colder the temperature, the higher the frequency will sound in the fork. It is important to know that both manufacturers set their factories at specific temperatures when making their forks for this reason. If the temperature changes even a few degrees in the manufacturing plant, the manufacture will cease all operations until they have restored the plant to the correct temperature. One manufacturer makes their forks at precisely 68 degrees. The other manufacturer makes their forks at precisely 69 degrees. Both manufacturers check the frequency of the fork three times before leaving the plant. All forks are tuned withing.5% of the indicated frequency at the precise degree as indicated above. Because both manufacturers use only high-quality aluminum, they are immune to corrosion or rusting. 

Because these instruments are precisely tunes, please don’t ever hit them on a hard surface like a table or drop them on the floor. That can also permanently damage the frequency or lessen the ring time. 

We often use tuning forks with essential oils. So, cleaning them is a must. In that case we can use lukewarm water with a mild soap. I will tell you from my years of experience that there is another type of cleaning that will elongate the life of your tuning fork. If you take care of these tools, they will last the rest of your life. The other type of cleaning I want to mention is in the form of spiritual cleaning. Yes, I know it sounds strange, but  working with the forks, this is what I have noticed:

The forks seem to take on so much energy they lose their pristine. The vibrancy is decreased, the sound is fainter and even dull sounding.

This is especially true as a sound therapist as you are working on many people. The forks are like receptacles for each person’s energy. After a while, the forks get so bogged down with all this clogged energy from others, they lose their pristine sound and vibration.  How does one clear clogged energy from a tuning fork? Well of course, with another tuning fork. The 4096 Hz crystal tuner is my go-to fork for clearing out all negative energy. As a matter of fact, before I work on a person, I use this fork on myself, in the room, and on the client. It is also a great follow-up to end with on biofield tuning. Basically, this little fork is like a smudging tool and just obliterates that negative energy. So, I will active that crystal tuner (which is also one of the 3 Angel forks) and scan over my other forks. Since I have been doing this, I have found that my tuning forks remain pristine as if I bought them yesterday. 

While there are a lot of companies that tell you that you do, it is not true. Anyone can use tuning forks and it isn’t hard. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on learning protocols in which most you will probably never use anyway. At SozoSoundz, we try to add brochures with most of our forks which give you a basic starting point and application for using them. We also have several videos on Youtube.com. Check out our SozoSoundz.com tuning fork channel. These will give more educational pointers for these magnificent tools. We are probably one of the only distributors that gears our products to the everyday person instead of the sound therapist. While we cherish them as well, we understand that this is a powerful healing modality. We believe that everyone should have a tuning fork or two in their homes for a crisis. They will last forever, you don’t have to plug them in, you can take them with you, etc. So, the are quite versatile for many reasons. No need to postpone, you can dive in and learn this in a day. The possibilities are endless. 

Have you ever heard the saying, “You get what you pay for?” This is especially true in the tuning fork world. There is a large range regarding quality. So, what is the difference really? While there are many factors that go into making a quality tuning fork, the truth is that most other countries do not have either the knowledge needed to make them, nor the quality of material to make them with. Believe it or not, no country can touch the United States when it comes to metallurgy. What is metallurgy? It is the branch of science and technology concerned with the properties of metals and their production and purification. To begin with, the USA manufacturers start with the highest quality of aluminum in the world. Many other countries don’t even have access to get it. Behind every great cook comes great recipes. It is about using all the right ingredients in the right measurements. For example, the oldest manufacturer in the USA uses the highest-grade aluminum and adds specific amounts of titanium, zinc, and magnesium. Tuning forks made in other countries like India, Pakistan, China, etc. have a tinny sound. They in fact have tin as part of their mix. Because other countries are using inferior metals, many of their product’s rust and erode. Also, their tuning forks do not maintain their frequency because of the poor quality. Many of the forks made in other countries are using a mold versus being machine cut. When made from a mold, they use sand to forge the fork. While cost effective, the strength and the quality of the fork is greatly lessened. In other words, you are going to get a fork that has a poor sound and won’t last long. USA forks begin with high quality rust-resistant wrought aluminum that is heat-treated, and lead (tin)-free, is unmatched in strength. These forks are light weight, yet strong, and are a far conductor of sound waves than those that are case with inferior products. USA forks are machine cut and balanced in weight. They are not top heavy or even bottom heavy like some countries make. As I also mentioned previously, the forks in the USA go through a special process while making them regarding temperature and are also inspected at least 3 times before leaving the plant. The quality, the sound, the ability to maintain its frequency, the durability, and their viability are unsurpassed by any other nation.  

In general no. However, there are certain situations we do not recommend using them. 

1. Pregnancy  - Using tuning forks detoxifies the body. So, using them on a pregnant woman can put them in a state of detoxification where they have the potential of having a miscarriage. 
2. Cancer/Terminal illness – Persons suffering with these afflictions are generally very weak. Their immune system is compromised. A body detox by using the tuning forks could potentially catapult their condition into a weaker state as they enter a fully state of detoxification
3. Pacemakers or implanted electrical devices – tuning forks create a beat and a pattern of energy. This beat or pattern of energy can interfere with these devices.
4. Broken or Fractured bones – This we take on a case-to-case basis. On recent fractures the body is struggling to heal. Placing a weighted fork on the fracture can be painful as it is causing those bone to vibrate against each other and interfere with the healing process.  
5. Aneurisms/varicose veins – Working with weighted tuning forks on the area affected could potentially release blood clots in the body. 
6. Eyes – While working around the eyes is permissible, it is contraindicated to work directly on the eyelid over the eye. The vibration could potentially create a detached retina. 
7. Brain injury/Concussions – At this point the brain is dealing with swelling. The last thing we want to do is bring in more vibrations into a compromised area. This is also a condition that will take a long time to heal.