Feng Shui Your Home With Wind Chimes

Today’s windchimes are said to be descended from ancient Indian wind bells, which were cherished in China as decorations for pagodas and other buildings needing to scare away evil spirits. Japan developed glass wind bells, and wind chimes have long been associated with good luck in most of Asia, often placed according to the principles of geomancy such as feng shui.

Wind chimes found in the United States have a tendency to be created out of wood or some kind of metal. They also tend to be tubular in shape, though far more fanciful designs are not uncommon. Sounds made by wind chimes are not tunable and are just about entirely dependent on their construction – in particular the primary material. A typical wind chime generates sounds ranging from brightly tinkling to dull thudding.

These sounds are technically called inharmonic spectra, though occasionally very modest manipulation may perhaps be achieved through such variables as altering the height of their placement. Audial frequencies are determined by a wind chime’s dimensions.

People usually hang wind chimes right by the door in order to announce the presence of visitors. They are also used simply as decoration, and are specially enjoyable to those who like the singing of birds. While of ancient pedigree, the 21st Century wind chime is getting a technological makeover in the form of windless wind chimes, which rely on solar power instead of the wind. In this way, when the air is calm one can still enjoy the relaxing notes!

No introduction to wind chimes would be complete without mentioning their use in musical performances. While not actual instruments as such, the sounds they generate, in particular under what manipulation can be managed, have been found useful to both classical and rock music – for example, David Sitek of the band TV on the Radio often hangs a wind chime towards the end of his guitar.