How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners (2024)

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Our step by step guide to making wind chimes (that actually sound good)

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1Materials

2Suspension Platform

3Creating Chimes

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Co-authored byHannah MaddenReviewed byAmy Guerrero

Last Updated: March 16, 2024Fact Checked

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Do you love it when it’s windy out and you can hear the sounds of your neighbor’s wind chimes? These soothing, whimsical instruments make going outdoors that much more relaxing. And whether you’re an avid DIYer or a beginner craftsman, you can create your very own wind chime following our instructions. Keep reading to learn the materials you’ll need, the steps you should take, and the tuning process for your wind chime.

Things You Should Know

  • Drill 5 to 8 holes in a suspension platform. Thread a sail and a striker, then attach it to the center of the platform.
  • Cut your chimes to different lengths to create multiple notes. Drill holes in the top of the chimes so you can thread them.
  • Use cord to tie the chimes to the suspension platform.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Materials

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  1. 1

    Choose metal tubes or pipes to produce vibrations. The sound the chimes will make depends on many factors, such as what the chimes are made of, how long they are, and how thick they are. The most common substances for chimes are metal tubes, pipes, and rods, which you can find at hardware stores, craft stores, or from scrap metal. Try to choose pipes that have a uniform thickness on all sides for an even tone.[1]

    • Pipes and tubes are the same in wind chimes. Rods are not hollow and sustain notes longer.
    • Hard metals such as steel and aluminum produce sharper tones. Soft metals such as copper produce softer tones.
    • Metal objects are good at producing vibrations, so non-metal chimes such as glass sound more hollow.
    • To test out the sounds of different metal pipes such as copper or aluminum, visit a chime store or rap on the pipes with something that creates vibration, such as a piece of wood.
    • You’ll be creating 5 to 8 chimes out of your pipes or rods. Depending on how long you’d like your chimes to be, you may need to buy multiple pipes and rods, or just 1 very long one.
  2. 2

    Buy synthetic cord to hold the pipes. These lines connect the base from which the chimes dangle to whatever holds the wind chime. Cords such as strong nylon are good for bearing the weight of the wind chime and can also be used when connecting the chimes and the striker.[2]

    • The support line material has little impact on the sound. It's how you hang the chimes that will determine sound, so choose line materials that will last.
    • If you want to hang the chime from a hook or a tree, buy a metal ring to tie to the lines at the top of the chime.

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  3. 3

    Pick out a wooden striker. Also called a clapper, the striker is the piece that fits between the chimes and bumps into them to create the vibrations that cause sound. Possible choices for strikers include redwood or hockey pucks.[3]

    • Strikers are often circular so that they can hit all chimes equally. Strikers can also be star-shaped, but these hit all chimes at the same time with less force.
  4. 4

    Cut a wooden suspension platform that’s bigger than the striker. The platform holds the chimes, letting them hang around the object that will strike them. Cut a circular piece of wood big enough for your design that’s 1 to 2in (2.5 to 5.1cm) wider than the striker.[4]

    • Suspension platforms are often made out of wood, metal, or plastic.
  5. 5

    Pick out a block of wood for the sail. The sail is the part that hangs from the striker. Extending lower than the chimes, it gets caught up in the wind, forcing the striker to move into the chimes. Sails are often rectangular or rounded and made of a substance that can be moved by a decent wind, such as a block of wood.[5]

    • The sail can be carved from wood into many artistic forms, such as animal shapes, but you may find it easier to choose a simple block of wood that you can drill into and hang from the striker with a suspension line.
    • A small sail will be less durable, but a bigger sail will require more wind to move.
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  1. 1

    Mark 5 to 8 points on the base. Find the center of the base and mark it. Then, measure 5 to 8 equidistant points around the edge of the base that are all equally as far away from the center. Mark those points with a pencil as well.[6]

    • Mark the other side of the base, too, to indicate where you plan on drilling holes to make the base hang from the wind chime's point of suspension if needed.
    • Keep the holes at least 14in (0.64cm) away from the edge of the base.
  2. 2

    Drill the holes with a 1/8 inch drill bit. Clamp the base to a work bench or table, then use a drill with a drill bit. Drill through each marked point, and then drill through the very center of the base (to create an opening for the striker).[7]

  3. 3

    Thread the sail and striker with a piece of suspension line. The length of the line is up to you: it all depends on how long you’d like these pieces to hang. For a 5ft (1.5m) thread, for example, fold the thread in half, then pull it through the sail and knot it. Make a second large knot where the striker will hang about 16in (41cm) or less above, then thread it through the striker.

    • Try to keep the sail close to the bottom of the longest chime. The longer the sail's support line, the stronger the wind has to be to move the sail and its extra weight.
    • Remember that wind velocity is often stronger the higher you hang the wind chime, so a sail too close to the ground also won't cause the chimes to sound as much.
  4. 4

    Attach the striker to the base with cord. Take the thread coming out of the top of the striker and run it through the hole you made in the center of the platform. On the top side, knot the thread securely.

    • If you decide you don’t like the length of the striker, you can adjust it later on.
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Part 3

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Creating Chimes

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  1. 1

    Plan the tones that you want. The length and size that you cut your pipes determines which tones your chimes will make. In general, shorter chimes produce higher-pitched tones, while longer chimes create lower-pitched tones. Many commercial chimes play a 5-note pentatonic scale.[8] For a 1.5in (3.8cm) wide pipe on a C octave, for instance, you might use these measurements:

    • C9: 6.5in (17cm) long pipe
    • C8: 9.18in (23.3cm) long pipe
    • C7: 13in (33cm) long pipe
    • C6: 18.9in (48cm) long pipe
    • C5: 26in (66cm) long pipe
    • Looking for other scales? Check out this chart to find the notes and their chime measurements.
  2. 2

    Cut the chimes using a pipe cutter, hacksaw, or hand saw. Measure the length onto your chime material and mark it with a marker. Clamp the chime onto a workbench, then use your tool of choice to cut all the way through. For hand saws, be sure to choose a blade that is made for the kind of metal you are cutting.[9]

    • Your local hardware store may be able to cut the pipes for you. Just be sure to have your measurements handy.
    • If you have a piano, tune the chimes by playing a note and matching the sound they make when you rap on them. Then, cut off more of the chime as needed.
  3. 3

    Sand the edges to get rid of sharp points. Wrap the pipes in towels to protect them. Use a file or sander to wear down the sharp edges on points and get rid of any areas that might cut your skin or catch on your clothing. If you didn't cut enough off the pipes, you can sand off the excess here. Unless you're removing significant portions of the material, which makes the pitch higher, the chime's sound won't change.[10]

  4. 4

    Drill holes into the top of the pipes. The top holes are how the cord threads through each pipe to attach it to the base. Clamp each chime down once again, then use a 1/8 inch drill bit to drill a hole straight through the pipe.[11]

  5. 5

    Tie each chime about 34in (1.9cm) below the suspension platform. Cut a length of thread for each chime, then pull the thread through the holes at the top. Tie the chimes onto the base so they’re all an equal distance from it.[12]

    • Chimes that hang too low are more vulnerable in wind and move more, making the wind chime out of tune because the striker doesn't hit them evenly.
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  • Question

    How can I increase sound from wind chime?

    How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners (20)

    Community Answer

    Keep the chimes tightly packed around the striker. Place them all at even lengths from the striker and each other. Add a striker and sail if you don't have one. Hang the wind chime higher from the ground and place it in an area where more wind can reach it.

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  • Question

    If I use copper tubing, what is the best and lowest maintenance way to prevent long-term corrosion from weather?

    How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners (21)

    Community Answer

    Copper has its own corrosion resistance called "Patina". If you've ever seen green metal roofing, soffit or rain gutters, that's what this is. If you don't like either look and you want the reddish bright copper, you'll need to protect it from oxygen. A spray shellac or clear coat varnish with several coats will temporarily inhibit oxidation. Look for a product with UV stabilizers as sunlight tends to quickly break down most of these, especially water-based products.

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  • Question

    Is there any way to tune the chimes other than length adjustment?

    How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners (22)

    Community Answer

    Use a frequency counter. There is a PC program that will count the frequency of sound if a regular counter is not available.

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      • Be sure to keep testing your chime as you create it in order to achieve your own sound and sight preferences.

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      Things You'll Need

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      About This Article

      How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners (35)

      Reviewed by:

      Amy Guerrero

      Arts & Crafts Specialist

      This article was reviewed by Amy Guerrero and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement. This article has been viewed 486,695 times.

      40 votes - 88%

      Co-authors: 36

      Updated: March 16, 2024

      Views:486,695

      Categories: Featured Articles | Metalwork and Wire Projects | Home Decor

      Article SummaryX

      To build and tune a wind chime, start by drilling holes in the platform that your chimes will be suspended from. Then, cut the chimes into different lengths so they’ll produce different tones. Next, drill holes in the chimes and the pieces of wood that hang down between the chimes. After that, thread the chimes and the wood pieces, then attach them to the platform by running the threads through the holes you drilled into the platform. Finally, check to make sure the parts hang evenly and securely, and the chimes make the desired sounds. To learn more, like how to test your wind chime after hanging it, keep reading!

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      How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners (2024)

      FAQs

      How to Build and Tune a Wind Chime: DIY for Beginners? ›

      There are formulas that help predict the proper length to achieve a particular note, though a bit of fine tuning is often needed. Most chimes employ pentatonic or tetratonic scales as the basis for the pitches of their individual chimes as opposed to the traditional western heptatonic scale.

      How to make a wind chime step by step? ›

      Let's go - step by step
      1. Step15. Drill holes in a pie tin for your DIY wind chimes. You need: ...
      2. Step25. Transform your spoons into fish. You need: ...
      3. Step35. Cut the copper pipe. You need: ...
      4. Step45. Attach strings to the wind chimes. You need: ...
      5. Step55. Tie the chimes to the pie tin. You need:

      Do wind chimes need to be tuned? ›

      There are formulas that help predict the proper length to achieve a particular note, though a bit of fine tuning is often needed. Most chimes employ pentatonic or tetratonic scales as the basis for the pitches of their individual chimes as opposed to the traditional western heptatonic scale.

      How to make wind chimes sound deeper? ›

      Metal Pipes

      Aluminum tubing and copper tubing offer a distinctive and melodic sound that adds depth in deep bass-tone wind chimes. Metal's dense and solid nature allows for transmitting vibrations and generating sustained tones.

      What makes the best sound for wind chimes? ›

      Size and Sound

      Narrow, short tubes create higher pitched tones. So if it's high-pitched music you seek, choose a wind chime with slender pipes or ensure to choose short, thin tubes for your DIY project. You can use a pipe cutter from any local hardware store to cut all the chimes to the desired length.

      What type of string is used on wind chimes? ›

      Simply choose a high-quality, weather-resistant string like fishing line or nylon cord. Pro tip: even if only some of the thread is damaged, we recommend replacing everything for a properly-functioning, well-balanced chime.

      How many rods should wind chimes have? ›

      Wind chimes with at least six to eight hollow rods are helpful to attract positive energy into the house. Keep the expert's opinion regarding the apt direction to hang wind chimes in mind.

      What is the best chord for wind chimes? ›

      A safe choice by many wind chime suppliers has been the pentatonic scale (C D E G A). An enhancement to that scale can be the C9 Chord (C E G Bb and D) which has a wider note separation for a good sound both close in and at a distance from the chime.

      How are chimes tuned? ›

      Typically the tuning process involves cutting the chime a little long so that the initial pitch is below the intended pitch, then checking its pitch against either tuner or keyboard, shortening the chime a tiny bit to raise the pitch, checking again, and repeating until you've got it right.

      How do I get more sound from my wind chimes? ›

      In order to know how to make wind chimes chime more, use the proper materials. Material, length, and width are the most important variables in chime volume. You may buy metal pipes, rods, and tubes at your local hardware store. A narrow tube amplifies and raises the pitch.

      What metal makes the best sounding wind chimes? ›

      Of the metals, Brass is the most prized because of its sound and timbre. This is the same reason why brass is typically used in musical instruments. However, Copper is another popular choice due to the sound and the patina that it develops.

      How high should a wind chime be? ›

      Hang your chime where the wind can reach it from as many directions as possible. An open corner is ideal when hanging the chime from a building. Experiment with hanging your chime at different heights. Wind velocity tends to increase with higher elevation.

      How do you make a beautiful wind chime? ›

      To build and tune a wind chime, start by drilling holes in the platform that your chimes will be suspended from. Then, cut the chimes into different lengths so they'll produce different tones. Next, drill holes in the chimes and the pieces of wood that hang down between the chimes.

      What materials make good wind chimes? ›

      Metal is an ideal wind chime material for its durability. Aluminum is the best for a highly durable wind chime. It won't rust and can handle strong winds and rain, all the while creating more musical sounds. Bamboo creates soothing relaxing sounds but is not as durable as metal.

      What notes do wind chimes use? ›

      They consist of 5 metal tubes which are tuned G6, A#6, C7, D7 and F7. The Wind Chimes instrument is simply each of these notes with the notes time stretched down to give all the chromatic intervals.

      What is the best pipe for wind chimes? ›

      Aluminum is a trendy material for wind chime pipes due to its excellent sound quality. It generates a clear, bright tone with a long sustain, meaning the sound lingers longer after the chime is struck.

      How many pipes should a wind chime have? ›

      However, there are certain rules to be followed while deciding the position of the chime. In case these specifications are violated, instead of prosperity several negative incidents could occur in the house, says feng shui. To cast away bad luck, feng shui suggests hanging a wind chime with five pipes in the house.

      What materials are used to design wind chimes? ›

      But these days, wind chimes are made using bronze, brass, bamboo tubes or copper.

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