subject: Japanese Glass Wind Chimes | Wind Chimes [print this page] A variety of metals, including copper, brass, pewter, and aluminum have been used over the years to craft wind chimes. The particular metal used will influence the sound presented by the chimes when the wind begins to stir. Additionally, wind chimes have been crafted from wood, bamboo, seashells, and stained glass.
The serious collector of wind chimes will consider the sound quality to be of paramount importance, as it should be. When selecting your chimes for sound, comparison-shopping is the best way to go. The chimes must offer the sound that is desired or they are of little use to the connoisseur of chimes.
Chimes that are made from solid pieces are not as pleasing in sound as those that are hollow. Tubular shaped chimes that are hollow multiply their sounds through the confined vibrations. Several factors influence the melodic sounds produced by wind chimes. The thickness of the tubes, the length of the tubes, and the type of materials used influence the quality of sound produced by the chimes. Thicker tubes frequently produce a more resonant sound.
The distinctive sounds emitted from wind chimes can elicit a soothing and restorative effect on the human spirit. The pleasant tones provide a beneficial unwinding from the stresses of daily living. A deeper tone is the result of larger wind chimes. Smaller wind chimes will produce a softer sound. Bamboo wind chimes produce a softer tone or gentle sound. The musical quality is simple and sweet and transmits through air well. Bamboo is a very light wood and hence, it issues a very subtle musical sound. Using softer metals will lead to the creation of softer sounds. Copper falls into this category.
Quite often, smaller chimes will use solid tubes as well. This will create sharper tones. A length less than six inches generally classifies small chimes. Sharper tones are also produced by hard metals, including steel and aluminum alloys.
