Chimes article
Chimes Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A primer on orchestral chimes — construction, sound character, technique and the role they play in orchestral and contemporary music.
Chimes — also known as tubular bells or orchestral bells — are among the most dramatic instruments in the percussion section. A set of long metal tubes hung vertically in a frame, struck with a rawhide or plastic mallet at the top to produce a resonant, bell-like tone, chimes create one of the most immediately recognisable sounds in orchestral music.
Construction
Orchestral chimes consist of a series of hollow steel or aluminium tubes, each tuned to a specific pitch by controlling the tube's length and diameter. A standard orchestral set of chimes covers one and a half octaves, from C4 to F5, with some extended sets reaching two octaves. The tubes are suspended in a frame on cords or pins; a sustain pedal connects to a damper bar that stops the natural ring of the tubes when pressed. The sound is produced by striking the top of the tube with a weighted mallet — usually rawhide — that transfers energy into the column of air inside, producing the characteristic bell-like tone.
Sound Character
The tone of chimes is complex — not a pure sine wave but a rich cluster of overtones that the ear perceives as a bell-like pitch. In an orchestral context, the instrument cuts through the full ensemble easily because of this overtone richness and natural sustain. Composers from Elgar to modern film scorers have used it for moments of solemnity, drama or supernatural atmosphere. The instrument's associations with bells — church bells in particular — give it a strong narrative quality that few other percussion instruments match.
Technique
Playing chimes at a basic level is technically accessible — the tubes are large and clearly marked, and the mallet technique is straightforward for anyone with general percussion experience. Advanced chimes technique involves managing the sustain pedal, producing clean attacks at all dynamic levels and navigating rapid passages between tubes that are spread across a wide frame. The instrument rewards precision; an imprecisely placed mallet strike produces a rattle rather than a clear tone. For buying guidance and recommendations at each price point, the complete buyer's guide to chimes covers what to look for.
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