Chimes article
Common Chimes Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems players have with this instrument come from early technique habits — mallet rebound, pedal use, positioning and strike accuracy. Here are the four most common mistakes and how to fix them.
Mistakes on chimes are often the result of poor technique habits established early or of misjudging the instrument's physical demands. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Resting the Mallet on the Tube After Striking
This is the most prevalent beginner error. When playing chimes, leaving the mallet in contact with the tube after the stroke kills the sustain and produces a muffled, strangled tone rather than the clear, bell-like ring the instrument is designed to produce. The mallet must rebound immediately — leaving the tube entirely after striking. Practice the rebound motion on a practice pad until it is instinctive, then transfer to the instrument.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Sustain Pedal
Playing chimes without using the sustain pedal — or using it incorrectly — produces either an undifferentiated wash of sound (no pedal at all in free-ring mode) or a dry, dead sequence of notes (pedal pressed throughout). The sustain pedal is a musical tool, not an afterthought. Practise with it from the first lesson: press it to separate notes cleanly, release it for passages that should sustain and bloom. Most musical phrasing decisions on chimes are made at the pedal.
Mistake 3: Poor Posture and Reach
Standing too far from the frame causes over-reaching, which leads to imprecise tube placement and extra physical effort. Standing too close restricts the mallet swing. Set up the chimes at the correct height (the top of the tubes at roughly chest height for the player) and stand close enough that the middle tubes are directly in front of you without reaching. In fast passages, the feet move; the common error is trying to stay planted and stretch instead.
Mistake 4: Striking Off-Centre
The mallet must strike the striking cap at the top of the tube — not the side, not the midpoint, not the cord. Striking off-centre produces a rattling, impure tone. This is harder to avoid than it sounds when navigating quickly between tubes of different heights and positions. Slow, deliberate practice of large intervals — crossing from one register of the chimes to another — develops the accuracy and spatial awareness needed for faster passages on the chimes. For a broader introduction to the instrument and how it works, the complete chimes overview covers construction and technique in detail.
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