Bells

Bring on the bells!

Good percussionists know the value of having several types of bells on hand for accenting and enhancing any type of song or melody. Bells of all types are very resonant and mastering them usually doesn’t take too much time or practice. Bells become even less intimidating when you consider all the different ways you can incorporate them into music and showcase their unique sound. You can shake them, strike them, pluck them, tap them or rake them with your hand depending on the bell style and the musical situation.

Some of the more popular bell percussion being used by drummers today are ankle bells, jingle, or sleigh, bells, and bell trees. Ankle bells have traditionally been worn on the wrists or ankles of dancers, but modern drummers like to hang them on their drum kit and stroke them as needed for well-timed sonic accents. Jingle bells, or sleigh bells, aren’t just for the holidays. They’re great for the music you play every day. Just shake, and row after row of bells give you the extra jingle you need. Bell trees also stack up as a percussionist’s favorite. Dozens of bells in low and high pitches combine to make the bell tree ideal for creating sound effects that ring loud and true in all styles of music.