Are Soothing Wind Chimes the Help Your Garden Needs?

Wind chimes have been around for a long time, offering their soothing sounds to generations of people. The most common materials for wind chimes are wood or metal, and the most common shape is that of a hollow or solid tube. However, there are plenty of other wind chime designs and materials, including stone, bamboo, old silverware and dishware, and even scavenged hard drive parts.

Each material has a different look, of course, but also makes a different sound. The tone you hear from a wind chime will depend on whether the chime is solid or hollow, metal or a less "chimey" material, and how thick the walls of the chime are. The way you hang your chimes and the method used to sound them will also cause them to make different noises. All these different options mean there's a whole world of wind chimes out there.

In recent years, wind chimes have been more than just a garden ornament. They've also been featured in recent classical pieces as a type of percussion instrument. Composers like Oliver Messiaen, Toshiro Mayuzumi, and Giles Swayne have featured chimes made of glass, wood, and even shells in their compositions. While it's unlikely you'll use wind chimes this way, they can still contribute their beautiful, soothing music to your home or garden.

The sound of wind chimes also plays an important part in laying out your garden according to Feng Shui. Their sound is said to reduce stress and improve spiritual awareness. Metal chimes are prescribed for placement in the north, west, or northwest. If you'd rather place your chime in the south, east, or southeast areas, use bamboo or wood. Want to attract good luck? Tradition recommends chimes with four, six, seven, eight, or eighteen tubes. To keep bad energy away, five rods are better.

If you're tired of the look and sound of commercial wind chimes, consider making your own, or buying some made by local artists. That will give you a chime that's unique to you. Don't forget that you can use all kinds of materials to produce chimes. All it has to do is make a pleasant noise and be able to stand up to wind and weather to become a wind chime. If you use your imagination, it's amazing what you can come up with. A wind chime could be the perfect addition to your home or garden. These beautiful, pleasant sounding decorations add a certain something to any location. It's time to take a second look at wind chimes.

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