Tubular Bells: Wind Chimes Lengths Calculator

Make Your Own Wind Chimes with this Simple Frequency/Length Calculator

Do you love the sound of wind chimes in the garden but are unwilling to pay the retail price for what amounts to be just a bunch of cut metal tubes? This handy calculator will help you make your own chimes out of a variety of commonly found material.

All you'll need to do is specify whether your wind chimes will be made from Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Copper or other material, measure the inner and outer dimensions of the tube and this page will tell you how long each segment should be for your desired tones, where to drill the suspension points of each tube to minimize the effect on resonance, will tell you how much material is required, and will give a template for helping you space your wind chimes on the Support Plate of your choosing.

Notes, Frequencies and Lengths for equal-tempered scale
Material = Aluminum, OD=1, ID=0.9, A4 = 440 Hz

Show More Octaves

C
85 1/4
60 1/4
42 5/8
30 1/8
21 5/16
15 1/16
10 5/8
7 1/2

C#Db
82 13/16
58 9/16
41 3/8
29 1/4
20 11/16
14 5/8
10 5/16
7 5/16

D
80 7/16
56 7/8
40 3/16
28 7/16
20 1/8
14 3/16
10 1/16
7 1/16

D#Eb
78 3/16
55 1/4
39 1/16
27 5/8
19 1/2
13 13/16
9 3/4
6 7/8

E
75 15/16
53 11/16
37 15/16
26 13/16
18 15/16
13 3/8
9 7/16
6 11/16

F
73 13/16
52 3/16
36 7/8
26 1/16
18 7/16
13
9 3/16
6 1/2

F#Gb
71 11/16
50 11/16
35 13/16
25 5/16
17 7/8
12 5/8
8 15/16
6 5/16

G
69 5/8
49 1/4
34 13/16
24 5/8
17 3/8
12 5/16
8 11/16
6 1/8

G#Ab
67 11/16
47 13/16
33 13/16
23 7/8
16 7/8
11 15/16
8 7/16
5 15/16

A
65 3/4
46 7/16
32 7/8
23 1/4
16 7/16
11 5/8
8 3/16
5 13/16

A#Bb
63 7/8
45 1/8
31 15/16
22 9/16
15 15/16
11 1/4
7 15/16
5 5/8

B
62 1/16
43 7/8
31
21 15/16
15 1/2
10 15/16
7 3/4
5 7/16

Solfeggio "Healing" Frequencies

174Hz285Hz396Hz417Hz528Hz639Hz741Hz852Hz963Hz 36 15/16
28 7/8
24 1/2
23 7/8
21 3/16
19 1/4
17 7/8
16 11/16
15 11/16

Material

Aluminum
Brass
Cast Iron
Copper
Steel
Stainless Steel
Titanium

Outer Diameter
Inner Diameter
Raw Material Length
Cost per Length
Cut Width
"A4"

432 Hz
434 Hz
436 Hz
438 Hz
440 Hz
442 Hz
444 Hz
446 Hz

Major Scale From ...
Natural Minor Scale From ...
PLAY NOTES
PLAY CHORD
Clear Selections

Special thanks to http://leehite.org for the base formulae and additional info about making chimes,
to https://keithwhor.github.io/audiosynth/ for his wav generator,
and to Erica Snyder for design consulting and other assistance© 2022 Larry Snyder

This document presents a calculator and accompanying data for constructing wind chimes based on specific tonal frequencies. It offers a practical guide for individuals seeking to create their own wind chime sets, detailing the necessary dimensions – length, drill points, and material requirements – to achieve desired musical intervals. The core of the document revolves around a table that corresponds to the standard equal-tempered scale, providing precise measurements for a variety of materials, including Aluminum, Brass, Cast Iron, Copper, Steel, Stainless Steel, and Titanium.

The table’s organization is predicated on the fundamental principles of harmonic series, with each row representing a note within the scale, starting with C and progressing through B. The data presented – outer diameter (OD), inner diameter (ID), and length – are critical parameters determining the resonant frequency of the tube. The length, in particular, is directly related to the mathematical relationship between the speed of sound and the wavelength of the sound wave. A longer tube will generally produce a lower frequency, while a shorter tube will produce a higher frequency. The outer and inner diameters contribute to the tube’s stiffness and mass, further influencing its resonance.

The document incorporates a range of frequencies, including the standard A4 (440 Hz), alongside supplementary frequencies identified as “Solfeggio” frequencies, suggesting a connection to traditional healing modalities. This inclusion expands the toolkit available to the user, allowing them to explore not only musical scales but also potentially therapeutic applications. The Solfeggio frequencies are noted alongside the standard intervals, broadening the potential uses for the wind chimes as musical instruments.

Furthermore, the calculator’s premise – and the document's accompanying notes – draws upon established resources such as http://leehite.org and https://keithwhor.github.io/audiosynth/, indicating a careful consideration of the scientific and technical foundations of chime construction. This demonstrates a deliberate approach to combining practical application with theoretical knowledge. The acknowledgement of Erica Snyder for design consulting adds a collaborative element to the project, suggesting multiple perspectives were engaged in the development of the calculator and its associated guidelines.

The inclusion of options for different materials significantly increases the range of potential designs. Each material has unique acoustic properties that affect the sound produced, allowing for customization based on desired tonal characteristics. Ultimately, the document’s value lies in providing a user-friendly, step-by-step approach to wind chime construction, empowering individuals with varied technical skill levels to create musically pleasing wind chime sets through a data-driven methodology.