Koshi vs. Zaphir: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Your First Chime

If you're exploring the ethereal world of sound healing, you’ve likely come across the names Koshi and Zaphir. These beautiful chimes are beloved for their angelic tones and their ability to instantly create a peaceful, uplifting atmosphere. I use them during my sound healing sessions because their harmonics help people relax deeply, soften into presence, and enter a meditative state. They’re also wonderful for feng shui - I hang them on my porch so the wind can naturally activate their calming frequencies, cleansing the space and inviting harmony into the environment. Their quality, resonance, and durability make them a beautiful addition to both healing practices and everyday living spaces.
In this guide, we’ll explore the differences and similarities between Koshi and Zaphir chimes, helping you choose the perfect one for your first purchase - or your next sound healing tool.

Koshi Chimes – 4 Tunings

Koshi chimes are tuned to the four elements, each with its own energy signature, mood, and resonance pattern.

1. Terra (Earth) – G C E F G C E G

Element: Earth
Mood: Grounding, stabilizing, nurturing
Vibe: Feels like roots, safety, calm presence
Best for: grounding meditations, embodiment work, closing ceremonies

Terra gives a warm, reassuring tone that helps listeners feel held and centered. Perfect for starting or ending a session.

2. Aqua (Water) – A D F G A D F A

Element: Water
Mood: Flowing, emotional, cleansing
Vibe: Like a gentle stream, soft emotional release
Best for: emotional healing, inner journeying, intuitive practices

Aqua is soothing and fluid - great for inviting gentle inner movement and release.

3. Aria (Air) – A C E A B C E B

Element: Air
Mood: Light, uplifting, expansive
Vibe: Fairy-like, sparkling, ethereal
Best for: chakra work, breathwork, elevating the energy of a room

Aria feels like sunlight or a breeze moving through the upper chakras - incredibly uplifting.

4. Ignis (Fire) – G B D G B D G A

Element: Fire
Mood: Energizing, warming, activating
Vibe: Radiant, bright, motivating
Best for: manifestation work, activating creativity, raising vibration

Ignis carries a vibrant clarity that can energize a session or awaken the field.

Zaphir (Zephyr) Chimes – 5 Tunings

Zaphir chimes follow the five-season cycle and are tuned to deeper, warmer harmonics. Each tuning corresponds to a time of year and energetic quality.

1. Crystalide (Spring) – G A B D A G B D

Season: Spring
Mood: Fresh, bright, renewing
Vibe: Light, optimistic, awakening
Best for: new beginnings, creative openings, inner refresh

Crystalide feels like new life emerging — soft, uplifting, and hopeful.

2. Sunray (Summer) – A C E A B C E B

Season: Summer
Mood: Warm, joyful, expansive
Vibe: Bright, playful, glowing
Best for: joyful practices, heart opening, energizing ceremonies

Sunray radiates warmth and positivity with a gentle, uplifting tone.

3. Twilight (Autumn) – E G B C E G B C

Season: Autumn
Mood: Reflective, soft, mystical
Vibe: Deeply calming, introspective, slightly nostalgic
Best for: meditation, emotional integration, introspective work

Twilight holds a magical calmness - a dreamy, twilight-hour feeling.

4. Blue Moon (Winter) – D F A B C E A C

Season: Winter
Mood: Deep, mysterious, still
Vibe: Quiet, soothing, introspective
Best for: deeper healing journeys, soul retrieval, rest initiations

Blue Moon is the most mysterious tuning - perfect for deep work and quiet spaces.

5. Sufi (Interseasonal) – F A D F A G A D

Season: Between seasons (transition)
Mood: Balanced, mystical, harmonizing
Vibe: Gentle, sweet, prayerful
Best for: ceremonies, transitions, balancing the energy of a session

Sufi is loved by healers because it feels neutral, balanced, and spiritually soft.

Both Koshi and Zaphir chimes use a resonance tube design, where several metal rods are suspended inside a hollow chamber. The rods are tuned to specific scales; when one vibrates, it activates sympathetic resonance in the others, creating:

• cascading harmonics

• rich overtones

• emotional warmth

• spatial expansion

This is why even a small breeze can turn a single tone into a full sonic waterfall.

But Koshi and Zaphir approach this architecture differently — and the difference is profound.

Which Chime Should You Choose?

Choose Koshi if you want:

• Angelic, uplifting tones

• Simplicity and brightness

• A natural wooden aesthetic

• Quick energetic clearing

Choose Zaphir if you want:

• Warm, dreamy, layered harmonics

• Longer sustain

• Artistic color patterns

• Tools for deeper emotional work

For practitioners, healers, and ceremony leaders - get both.

Their energies complement each other and expand your sonic palette in powerful ways.

Koshi and Zaphir chimes are not just tools - they become companions on your healing path.
Their tones speak directly to the emotional body, dissolving tension and reconnecting you to the quiet places within.

Whether you’re beginning your sound healing journey or expanding your existing toolkit, these chimes are an investment in beauty, energy, and transformation.

Let their resonance guide you.

Ready to bring these beautiful chimes into your practice or home?
I’ve linked my recommended Koshi and Zaphir chimes below (affiliate links). If you choose to purchase through them, I may receive a small commission.