Hand chimes work in a similar way to hand bells with a clapper or ringer attached which you ring by hand.
They are of metal consisting of square tubes that are tuned.
The hand chimes can be played with a variety of the hand bell techniques but when there are as many as six in the hand the techniques become more difficult to use on them.
We are told in the internet article referenced below that they originally were brought into use as a training instrument for prospective bell ringers as the chimes were so much lighter than the bells.
They were used by school groups, church functions and for retirement home entertainment.
Ensembles often incorporate hand chimes in conjunction with hand bells.
