We tested out 15 rack-mounted percussive wind chimes and came up with a list of the best chimes for percussionists. As chimes are frequently mounted on drummers’ racks, we took this into consideration and chose those that are made of high-quality materials that can withstand hours of use. Apart from this, we also considered models that had clear, crisp sounds from the rods and can sustain and carry sounds well. We focused on chimes that have metal rods due to sound and build quality, shortlisting those that we found to have promising tonal range.
Over the testing period, TreeWorks’ 35-Bar Wind Chimes stood out among the rest. Each set of chimes is handcrafted with metal rods made of aluminum and titanium alloy, ensuring the perfect pitch. Read on to find out more about this and our other top picks below. If you want more quality products, check out our guide to the best music instruments.
Top 3 Best Chimes
#1 TreeWorks Single Row 35-Bar Chime
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: The TreeWorks 35-bar wind chime is made by hand with a Tennessee Black Walnut hardwood base, where 35 aluminum-titanium alloy bars hang suspended by braided cords. These materials ensure the longevity of the chimes while allowing them to have a natural yet powerful sound signature.
- Best quality
- Handmade with high-quality aluminum titanium alloy
- Universal compatibility with TreeWorks accessories and generic cymbal mounts
- Pricey
- Doesn’t include a stand or sticks
Each chime of TreeWorks’ 35-bar wind chime is handcrafted to ensure consistency in terms of both performance and looks, and the result of this quality control is a perfect product each time. The rods are made of TreeWorks’ exclusive alloy made of 11 different metals, along with titanium and aluminum, to guarantee the crystal-clear tones that one would expect from wind chimes. They are fixed in place by braided strings for top-quality sound resonance and to keep the rods in place. If you like this chime, also check out the best concertinas.
Compared to the other chimes on this list, TreeWorks’ offering comes with 35 bars, and as such, has the widest tonal range among our picks. The wooden mantle is made of solid Tennessee hardwood, which also minimizes the risk of it being damaged once mounted on a cymbal stand. Unlike the others on our list, though, TreeWorks’ wind chime doesn’t come with accessories such as a stand or a carrying case. These accessories can be purchased separately. And if you want to share the sound, read about the best microphone for streaming.
#2 Luvay 25-Bar Chime with Stand and Stick
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Luvay 25-bar chime is a great set of chimes that comes at a very reasonable price point. It’s a well-built piece that comes with an adjustable stand, making it ready to be played right out of the box.
- Complete set with stand
- Good build quality
- Clear, crisp sound
- Quality of stand could be better
The Luvay 25-bar chime with stand and stick has 25 perfectly pitched chrome rods mounted on an 18-inch wooden bar. It comes with a mounting stand and a stick, which makes it ready to use out of the box.
The chimes have a sound signature that makes them a perfect addition to your set. The mounting stand itself is made of hollow chrome, and it has a mounting mechanism that secures the chime snugly in place. While you can expect this stand to be adequate for simple gigs, you might want to consider investing in a sturdier stand down the line. We liked that the mounting mechanism includes a support for the mantle. With some of the choices that didn’t make it into this list, we found that generic mounts that don’t have this support let the bar chimes swing from left to right, presenting unwanted movement and sound. You can even share the sound online by using the best wireless microphone.
#3 Dealgrinder WB-01 Chrome 25-Bar Chimes
Award: BEST BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Dealgrinder’s WB-01 25-bar chimes are a great deal for a set of bar chimes. They come with a mounting stand and can easily be transported and assembled, readily usable out of the box.
- Exellcent crisp & bright sound
- Includes a stand
- Light and easy to assemble
- Strings that tie rods down can come off
- Wooden bar is a bit light
The WB-01 Chrome 25-bar chime caps the list off as our budget pick and comes with a mounting stand, making it ready for use out of the box. The mounting stand itself is sturdy and doesn’t shake when used, and it can extend up to four feet high for the correct setup.
The chimes themselves are chrome and have a crisp, bright sound that’s great for studio rehearsals and demos. One thing to note, however, is that the strings that secure the rods in place might tend to come off with increased use. We also found that the screw used to mount the chime in place can come off quite easily. Luckily, this can be replaced as it uses a universal mounting screw. The best singing bowl set also sounds relaxing and calm as are the best quintos.
How We Decided
The chimes on our list all meet our criteria for sound quality. To discover the best wind chimes, we focused on the materials of the chimes’ rods, which need to be high-quality metals. The best products on this list are made of metal alloys that produce the clearest, most crisp tones when struck, so these chimes will produce the best wind chime sounds in both band and orchestra setups.
The products must meet the demands of regular performances, so we also considered the quality of the wood used as the base and mount of the chimes. Since these chimes will be mounted on cymbal racks and used multiple times, a solid wood base and a mount with good support for the chimes figured into our criteria.
Best Chimes Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Rod material
The materials used in making the rods in a chime dictate the tone and clarity of sounds that it will produce. In general, the better the quality, the better the sound clarity will be. Some chimes can have wooden rods, which can produce a more earthy, warm sound note, though it’s more common to see rods made out of metal.
The way the metal rods are made also factor into the sound note of the chime. Some use solid metal rods, which produce a much richer, more metallic sound, whereas hollow tubes may produce more sustained sounds depending on the thickness of the walls. - Quality of suspension strings
All chimes use some sort of string to suspend the rods from the mantle to let them vibrate freely and produce sound. Given the amount of beating they take, make sure to go for chimes that have high-quality strings that can withstand hundreds of performances, and steer away from plastic or low-quality synthetic strings. - Mounting support
Since bar chimes are usually mounted on cymbal stands, make sure to go for models that take standard screw mounts and ensure that the mounts you’re getting are compatible. Better yet, go for models that already include a good-quality mounting stand so you’re ready to use them out of the box. - Wooden mantle and mounting point
Make sure to look for bar chimes that have mantles made of high-quality wood. This way, you wouldn’t worry about damaging your mantle, its mount, or any of the mounting holes for its rods in the long run.
