Chimes and Bells

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Gongs

The gong originates from China and has spread widely throughout South-East Asia and of course has been adopted more recently by the Western symphony orchestras.

Gongs fall into 3 main categories:
Suspended gongs - flat, circular discs of metal suspended vertically by means of a cord passed through holes near to the top rim and are more commonly used in Western orchestras. 
Bossed or nipple gongs - with a raised centre boss, often suspended and played horizontally
Bowl gongs - these are bowl-shaped and rest on cushions . 

Our range concentrates on the Suspended Gongs that offers a substantially flat surface which vibrates to create a "crash" rather than a tuned note. This category of gong is sometimes called a tam-tam to distinguish it from the bossed gongs that give a tuned note.

Bar Chimes

A set of bar chimes may also be known as a chime tree or mark tree (named after Mark Stevens the inventor) and is a common percussion instrument used to embelish and colour musical works. The chimes themselves are cylinders of solid metal all at varying lengths and produce sounds of a different pitch all hung from a bar mount. The chimes are played by sweeping a finger or stick through the length of the hanging chimes and as they are mounted in pitch order they produce rising or falling glissandos.


Block Sets and Cow Bells

The cowbell and block are hand percussion instruments used in various styles of music including salsa and more recently popular music. Our range includes stand mounted cow bells and block sets.