Tubular bells (also called chimes) are commonly used in symphony orchestras and have a sound reminiscent of church bells, which they are often employed to imitate. They can be bought individually or in sets starting at half an octave though 1 1/2 octave sets are commonly chosen for orchestral use. A set will include the stand and a sustain/dampening pedal.
Tubular bells are played with a mallet resembling a hammer. Chime mallets have two sides made different materials (wood and rubber), for two distinctly different sounds. The hard wooden side gives a more piercing, brighter sound and the rubber side will produce a softer impact that emphasises the singing, resonant tone of the bells.
