Drum chimes provide drummers with a wide range of tonal possibilities. In addition, drum chimes are an excellent addition to cymbal sets. Typically, percussion sections in orchestras and concert bands utilize drum chimes. However, more drummers and percussionists utilize drum chimes over time due to their softer sound, providing better drum sound dynamics.
Furthermore, acoustic percussionists and Asian music often utilize drum chimes. Therefore, drum chimes are a must-have in every kit, especially for sessionists who play multiple genres. In this light, we collected 8 outstanding drum chimes to provide drummers with tonal versatility.
3 Things to Consider Before Buying Drum Chimes— A Buyer’s Guide
Before buying a drum chime, buyers must be wary of the various things to look for. Thus, ensuring that the product they are buying is of high quality. Therefore, we crafted this buyer’s guide to help readers find the best drum chimes according to their needs.
Number of Bars
Every drum chimes feature a specific number of bars. Each bar features a certain length that corresponds to a specific note. Generally, the standard amount of bars in a drum chime is around 20 up to 25. However, some manufacturers utilize a 35-bar construction; consequently, providing more tonal details in every run.
Of course, the more bars there are in a drum chime, the bigger the construction. Thus, making the product bulkier and cumbersome to bring around gigs. In addition, a bigger drum chime is usually more expensive than smaller ones. Therefore, we recommend gigging percussionists get smaller drum chimes. On the other hand, a bigger drum chime construction is ideal for bigger studio and home drum kits.
Materials
Drum chimes should come with a wood body material for a crispy bright sound. In this light, the wooden body of drum chimes provides them with excellent durability while remaining flexible and lightweight. Furthermore, drum chimes should feature chrome, steel, or aluminum bars to prove users with a clear tone.
Construction Type
Drum chimes come with either a mounted or tabletop construction. Mounted drum chimes come with a durable stand similar to remote hi hat stands. Thus, mounted drum chimes work excellently with a drum set.
On the other hand, table-top drum chimes are ideal for drummers on the go. However, these drum chimes often feature 20 and below chime bars, limiting the chime’s overall tonal range. Moreover, these table-top drum chimes require chairs or other elevated surfaces to prop them up within playable height.
8 Outstanding Drum Chimes from Amazon
Luvay 25-Bar Chimes Percussion Instruments with Mounting Stand and Stick
Brand: Luvay
Type: Mounted Drum Chimes
The Luvay Chimes is an excellent mountable drum chime for percussionists on a budget. Featuring an 18” wide bar, the Luvay Chimes come with 25 chrome bars with varying lengths from 3” up to 8”.
Furthermore, Luvay incorporated a mounting stand that easily adjusts between 2.5 ft and 4 ft. Moreover, the heavy-duty tripod stand utilizes chrome materials, providing decent stability and durability.
Finally, the Luvay 25-bar Drum Chimes is easy to install and portable. Therefore, if you are looking for affordable chimes with a crispy bright sound, then the Luvay Chimes is for you!
Specification:
- 18” Chime Bar
- 25 chrome bars
- 2.5 ft up to 4 ft adjustable chime stand
- 3” up to 8” chime bar sizes
- Chrome heavy-duty tripod stand
Pros:
- Features 25-bar chimes despite its budget-friendly price point.
- Adjustable and durable stand.
- Easy to assemble construction
- Produces a bright and crisp sound profile.
Cons:
- Affordable but inconsistent chime quality.
WB-01 Pro Chrome Percussion 25 Bar Chimes with Mounting Stand
Brand: Dealgrinder Co.
Type: Portable Mounted Drum Chimes
The WB-01 Pro Chrome Percussion is an excellent drum chime for on the go percussionists. Firstly, the WB-01 utilizes a 16.5” wooden bar. Thus, allowing the product to carry 25 bell percussion chimes, providing users with a decent tonal range.
Secondly, the WB-01 comes with an adjustable tripod stand from 2.5 ft up to 4 ft. As a result, users can easily customize the stand’s height for a comfortable playing experience. Lastly, Dealgrinder Co. specifically designed this drum chime for easy assembly. Therefore, allowing users to transport the product during gigs.
Specification:
- 25 Chrome Bells
- 16.5” wooden bar
- Adjustable Tripod
- Portable construction
- Crisp and bright sound profile
Pros:
- Offered within an affordable price point.
- Features a compact and portable construction.
- Easy and fast assembly.
- Comes with an adjustable tripod.
Cons:
- Features a smaller wooden bar in comparison with the Luvay Drum Chimes.
TreeWorks Chimes Complete Chime Set with Mounting Bracket and Bag
Brand: TreeWorks Chimes
Type: Premium Mounted Drum Chimes with Extended Tonal Range
Featuring 35 3/8” aluminum/titanium bars, the TreeWorks TRE35KIT Chimes is perfect for drummers and percussionists requiring an extended tonal range. Moreover, the TRE35 features chromatic tuning that helps bring out the color during rhythmic passages.
Furthermore, TreeWorks utilized an intensive 8-hour heating process, making the included bar’s tone extremely clear. In addition, TreeWorks hand-crafted the TRE35KIT to ensure maximum durability and performance.
Finally, the TreeWorks TRE35KIT comes with micro-braided CordLocs that boast a tensile strength of up to 50 pounds. Thus, ensuring the durability of the product’s chimes during performances and jamming sessions.
Specification:
- 35 3/8” Aluminum/Titanium Alloy Chimes
- Tennesee hardwood mantle
- Micro-braided CordLoc
- Laser-cut versatile mount
- ½” soft-padded chimes bag
Pros:
- Provides users with a wider range of tonal possibilities.
- Hand-made construction.
- Produces a crystal clear sound.
- Utilizes a rope tie, allowing the chime to reverberate more when hit.
Cons:
- The most expensive drum chime kit on our list.
ENNBOM 20-NOTE Chime Table Top Bar Chime
Brand: ENNBOM
Type: Table Top Drum Chimes
Despite its compact construction, the ENNBOM 20-NOTE features 20 metal pipes attached to a high-quality wood frame. As a result, the whole frame only weighs 1.94lbs, making them excellent for gigging musicians.
The chime also comes with a free wooden chime stick attachment, allowing users to use the 20-NOTE virtually anywhere. In addition, the 20-NOTE stands at 9.72” tall and spans at 15”, making them excellent on table-tops and elevated surfaces.
Lastly, the ENNBOM 20-NOTE comes with a gold chime coating. Consequently, providing the 20-NOTE with a premium look that will surely turn heads during performances.
Specification:
- 20 Gold-coated Chimes
- 1.94 lbs
- 9.72” tall
- 15” length
- Wooden chime stick
Pros:
- Extremely compact and portable construction.
- Budget-friendly price point.
- Comes with a free chime stick.
- Suitable for beginner drum kits.
Cons:
- Users cannot mount the ENNBOM 20-NOTE on stands and racks.
Table Top Bar Chime, Single-row Musical Percussion Instrument
Brand: Migargle
Type: Table Top Drum Chimes
If you are looking for affordable tabletop drum chimes, then the Migargle Chimes surely won’t disappoint. In addition, the Migargle Table Top Bar Chime’s smaller construction makes it ideal for compact drumkits.
Firstly, the Table Top Bar Chime features 9 high-quality aluminum pipes. Thus, providing users with a crisp and clear tone with great sustain. Secondly, the chime beam utilizes polished beechwood with rounded edges, ensuring that the product is safe for all ages.
Lastly, the Migargle Table Top Bar Chime incorporates a stainless steel frame, offering decent durability. Moreover, this specific construction allows the Migargle Table Top Chime to become stable on all flat surfaces.
Specification:
- 9 Aluminum Chimes
- Beechwood beam
- Stainless steel frame
- Tabletop construction
- Polished wood finish
Pros:
- Features well-constructed and polished beech wood, making it safe for all ages.
- Lightweight and compact construction.
- Playable with fingers or chime sticks.
- Easy setup right out of the box.
Cons:
- The 9 aluminum chime design is quite limiting in terms of sound and tone.
ENNBOM Bar Chimes with Adjustable Stand
Brand: ENNBOM
Type: Mounted Drum Chimes with Extended Tonal Range
The ENNBOM Bar Chimes features a 36-note extended chime range within a budget-friendly price point. In addition, the ENNBOM Bar Chimes comes with a sound stick, allowing users to easily play the chimes.
Moreover, ENNBOM utilized an adjustable metal bracket, allowing users to conveniently adjust the chime’s height. Thus, making the ENNBOM Bar Chimes excellent for all drum kit types.
Furthermore, ENNBOM incorporates a combination of high-quality wood, aluminum, and chime strings. As a result, the ENNBOM Bar Chimes provide an extremely durable performance perfect for gigging or practicing musicians.
Specification:
- 36 Aluminum Pipes
- 22.8” size
- Adjustable height from 28” up to 46”
- Stainless steel bracket material
- Frosted Gold finish
Pros:
- Offers a 36-note extended range within an affordable price point.
- Provides a durable performance.
- Wide height adjustability.
- Features a polished surface, eliminating the risk of wood splinters.
Cons:
- The product doesn’t come with a carrying case.
TreeWorks Chimes TRE23
Brand: TreeWorks Chimes
Type: Portable Drum Chimes
Excellent for gigging and touring percussionists, the TRE23 features a portable single-row construction paired with a carrying case. Moreover, TreeWorks designed the TRE23 with a 23-note medium range, making its construction compact.
Furthermore, the TreeWorks Chimes TRE23 produces a studio-grade chime sound. Therefore, making the product excellent for studio recordings and professional tracks. In addition, the utilization of 3/8” CordLocs makes the aluminum/titanium alloy robust and long-lasting.
Lastly, TreeWorks hand-crafted the TRE23, providing the product with unmatched attention to detail. Therefore, if you’re looking for compact and durable drum chimes, the TRE23 will surely not disappoint.
Specification:
- 23-note chime range
- 3/8” thick Aluminum/Titanium alloy bars
- Tennessee hardwood frame
- Braided CordLoc chime adjustment
- 17” x 3” x 3” dimension
Pros:
- Excellent for percussionists on-the-go thanks to its portable and compact construction.
- Produces studio-quality sounds, making them ideal for both beginners and professionals alike.
- Hand-crafted quality and attention to detail.
- Features highly durable and high-quality materials.
Cons:
- Considering it’s only a 23-note chime, it is comparatively more expensive than other 36-note chimes.
Rhythm Tech RT 8102 Bar Chimes
Brand: RT 8102
Type: Double Row Drum Chimes
If you are looking for the ultimate tonal range, then the Rhythm Tech RT 8102 is perfect for you! Firstly, the RT 8102 features double row bar chimes, resulting in a total of 40 chimes with 20 different pitches. Thus, making the RT 8102 excellent for percussionists who want the best tone within an affordable price point.
Secondly, the RT 8102 features aircraft aluminum chimes, making them incredibly durable in comparison with standard chimes. Moreover, these chimes provide a full tone ideal for enchanting a crowd with magical-sounding tones.
Finally, Rhythm Tech utilizes a design that enables the RT 8102 to fit on DSM2 or DS Quad stands. In addition, the RT 8102 also fits on standard cymbal stands; consequently, making them ideal for any kit.
Specification:
- Double row construction
- 40 aircraft aluminum chimes
- DSM2 or DS Quad compatible
- Standard cymbal stand compatible
- Chrome finish
Pros:
- Offers a wide range of tonal possibilities.
- Compatible with almost any stand.
- Ideal for both beginners and professionals.
- Features lightweight but durable materials.
Cons:
- The included attachment chime strings are somewhat brittle, requiring users to change them with aftermarket ones.
Frequently Asked Question about Drum Chimes
What is a drum chime?
Drum chimes are optional percussive add-ons for a standard or portable drumkit. In addition, drum chimes often utilize aluminum bars which imitate a soft bell sound perfect for soft passages.
What are the chimes on a drum set called?
Drummers and percussionists worldwide call chime sets with different names such as a mark tree. However, the standard name for these chimes is drum chimes. These chimes do a good job of replicating the sound of soft wind chimes. Typically, percussionists use drum chimes as a filler at the end of a drum passage, count, or song.
How do you use bar chimes?
Drummers and percussionists play drum bar chimes by brushing a thin stick across the bars. As a result, the chimes produce a soft chromatic bell sound that fills the overall mix of a band. Moreover, musicians utilize wooden bars or any flat surface that absorbs vibration to stop a drum chime’s sustain.
Are chimes an instrument?
Chimes are excellent additional instruments for standard, compact, and portable drum kits. However, the usual misconception among drummers is a drum chime is always a part of a drumkit. However, a chime is an instrument of its own.
What is the function of chime?
Drum chimes are excellent fillers during soft passages. For instance, an acoustic band may utilize drum chimes to produce unharmonized bell melodies, providing a better atmosphere during sets.