Wind Chime Buyer's Guide

Where to Hang Your Wind Chime

Wind Chimes can be hung pretty much anywhere! They can withstand most normal weather conditions, so, many people enjoy hanging them in trees, from eves, on porches, from shepherd hooks in their yard or flower beds, etc. Some also enjoy their chimes indoors where they may have a stand for the wind chime or may hang it from the ceiling or an open-door way. Some chimes are small enough people will hang them on doorknobs. Visit our Wind Chime Placement page for more information.

How a Wind Chime is Measured & The Typical Anatomy

A wind chime is measured by its overall length. The measurement starts at the very top, where it attaches to a hook, and then down to the very bottom of the chime. The typical wind chime has a few basic parts as shown below.

Ring or Knot Hook - Most wind chimes will have a sturdy ring or strong knot at the top for attaching to a hook or hanger.

Suspension Cord - This is where the overall balance and weight of the chime is distributed for optimum appearance and sound.

Suspension Ring - Typically this is made from various materials and is how the tubes are kept the right distance apart.

Tubes - The material the tubes are made from determine the demeanor and variance of the sound. The finish & color are for the visual effect of the chime.

Striker or Clapper - This is the part of the chime that strikes the tubes and makes the magic happen. The material this is made from determines the sound, as well.

Center String - This is the string in the center of the chime that attaches to the Striker and the Wind Sail.

Wind Sail or Wind Catcher -This catches the wind and moves the Striker, causing the wind chime to make sound. The more it moves, the more sound the wind chime will make.

Wind Chime Pairing Guidance

Many wind chime manufacturers provide the scale that the chime is tuned to. This can be helpful when trying to coordinate multiple chimes in close proximity to ensure musical tonal harmony. Below are some quick tips to help you find chimes that will sound complimentary together.

• Chimes keyed in the same scale will naturally sound good together. This is a great place to start. For example, if you have an existing chime in scale C, consider adding a larger or smaller scale C chime.
  
  
• Additionally, chimes with a higher or lower "fifth" also sound good together. A fifth is the interval from the first to the last of five consecutive notes. With this in mind, determine the scale of the larger (lower tone) chime and consider pairing it with a smaller chime in the same fifth. Use the table below as a reference:

Scale of Larger Chime	Pairs with Smaller Chime in Scale
C	G
C# / Db	G# / Ab
D	A
D# / Eb	A# / Bb
E	B
F	C
F# / Gb	C# / Db
G	D
G# /Ab	D# / Eb
A	E
A# / Bb	F
B	F#

Try to avoid pairing chimes where the scales are adjacent to one another, in other words one scale (letter) apart (for example, A and B, or E and F). Use the scale shown above on the keyboard for reference.

These tips aren't conclusive, there are other combinations of chimes that sound good together as well.

Maintenance

Wind chimes are designed to withstand exposure to weather, however as with any material, the more exposure it gets, the shorter its life. Below are good practices to keeping your wind chime in good condition.

Bad Weather Events: If a major or damaging weather event is expected, take your chime down and secure it in a safe place.

Winter: A good practice is to store your wind chime away for the winter. If your chime is bamboo or wood, it's best to store it in an unheated location as they are sensitive to humidity and temperature changes.

Cleaning: Simply use a mild detergent and damp cloth to wipe your chime clean. Dry with a soft dry cloth.

To maintain the wooden parts of your wind chime, you can apply a thin layer of exterior use Danish or lemon oil with a clean cloth to help protect it against the elements.

For more detailed instructions for maintenance and cleaning, check out our Chime Maintenance page.

Consider a Protectant

You can lengthen your wind chime's life by applying a generic UV protectant once a year or so. It is good to clean your wind chime off and then spray on the protectant. The protectant makes a considerable difference in the life of your chime!

Summary

Wind chimes add peace and tranquility to any space. Hang them where you'll enjoy them most, take reasonably good care of them and don't worry about the rest. Those chimes will make you happy for years to come. We hope you enjoy!