How to use wind chimes to add an inexpensive aural dimension to your patio.

Wind chimes can be a great addition to any home, both in the melodies they produce and the visual beauty they hold. The tones coming from well designed chimes can be incredibly soothing to the ears as well as the heart. Some of the most peaceful moments I have enjoyed have been at dusk, sitting outside a small desert house, a cool breeze easing away the last of the day’s heat, the gentle sounds of the wind chimes adding a quiet serenity to my chaotic existence. Like nature’s background music. Like eavesdropping on angels. Positively delicious. I particularly enjoy the idea that the chimes are man-made and still the distinctive sounds are literally brought to life by nature.

Wind chimes are manufactured in an almost unlimited assortment of colors, shapes and materials and tones. They can be made from wood, glass, bamboo, copper, brass, aluminum, steel, stone, seashells, and plastic. Each has its own distinctive sound; some are sharp and bold like metal, while others, like bamboo and wood, create a softer tone, or ring with the high-pitched, but more subtle, sound of glass. Some of the more famous designers are musicians who understand how to merge the individual sounds into a enjoyable and peaceful moment. Find more about large glass wind chimes.

Wind chimes’ sizes vary from just a few inches to over 6 feet in length. The longer and wider the tube the deeper the sound. There is something about the deep, lasting, comforting sound of a wood or bamboo chime that can bring tranquility; a pleasing and calming sound that resonates with the surroundings. The shorter, thinner tubes put out a higher, lighter and more energetic sound that gives you a sense of being lifted by the gentle breeze.

The two main types are Corinthian chimes and Woodstock chimes. Corinthian wind chimes, which date back to antiquity, are made of several hollow or solid tubes of different lengths and diameters and even materials. The tubes are suspended around a disk and a clapper hangs in the middle of the tubes. As the breeze moves the clapper, it hits the different tubes in their center and produces the individual sounds. Woodstock wind chimes are similar to Corinthian chimes, but are designed, manufactured and finely tuned to produce music with both harmony and melody. This style is found everywhere since it can be tuned to imitate music from other cultures. Classical, western, oriental, middle eastern, even Gregorian music has been imitated with Woodstock chimes. These wind chimes can come with butterflies, birds, animals and other aesthetically pleasing shapes. Find more about small bamboo wind chimes.

If you are looking for an inexpensive and quick way to enhance your porch, patio or deck, you can’t beat wind chimes. They can add a completely different ambiance to any outdoor setting.