Sound instruments

What are musical instruments?

A sound instrument is a musical instrument that can be used to produce and deliberately shape various sounds, vibrations, and noises. Examples include Singing Bowls, wind chimes, cymbals, kalimbas, rain sound columns, handpans, and various tube and chime instruments. Sound instruments are often played intuitively and are used, for example, for relaxation, meditation, therapeutic purposes, or in concerts.

Musical instruments differ in terms of material, construction, playing technique, and tonal character. As a rule, playing a musical instrument does not require musical training or the ability to read sheet music. It is more about feeling the vibrations and intuitive strike.

Some musical instruments are played by hand, while others require a mallet or a striker. You can buy musical instruments made of different materials: for example, there are instruments made of metal, wood, or even bamboo. Different materials produce very different sounds.

Which musical instrument should I buy?

Which musical instrument you should buy depends on how you plan to use it and what your personal preferences are. Musical instruments differ not only in size and material, but also in how they are played and the timbres they produce.

If you're thinking about buying a musical instrument, these questions can help you make your choice:

• Where would you like to use your musical instrument?
• Do you want to use it just for yourself, or do you also want to play it with groups?
• Would you like to use this musical instrument for meditation, yoga, sound therapy, or music?
• What kinds of sounds appeal to you personally?
• Is it important that your instrument be light and portable?
• Are you looking for a musical instrument that you can play with your hands, a mallet, or a a friction mallet ?
• Are you looking for a small, handy musical instrument, or would you prefer something larger?
• Would you like to use your musical instrument outdoors, too?

In our shop, you can buy a wide variety of musical instruments: Our rain sound column, for example, produces a long-lasting rustling sound and is ideal for quiet moments of sound, meditation, or improvisation. It’s easy to play and can be transported with ease. A tabletop tube set is particularly versatile and produces warm, clear tones with a soft, lingering resonance. Depending on how the tubes are arranged, the sounds can range from brief to almost endless. The Wah-Wah Tubes produce a sound rich in overtones and are played with a rubber mallet. Opening and closing the sound hole creates the characteristic wah-wah effect.

If you have any further questions, Olli and his team will be happy to assist you by phone or email. Together, we'll find the musical instrument that's the best fit for you.

Which musical instruments are suitable for meditation and yoga?

Musical instruments with harmonious tones that blend well into calm practices are well-suited for use during meditation or yoga sessions. Depending on your intention, different instruments and sound qualities may be appropriate. Singing Bowls, gongs, Koshi and Zaphir chimes, cymbals, kalimbas, and sansulas are musical instruments frequently used in yoga or meditation.

Musical instruments with long-lasting, steady tones and subtle overtones are well-suited for sound meditation. Rain chimes produce a gentle, continuous sound that can enhance meditation. Tube instruments can be played intuitively and produce clear, long-lasting tones. Gongs, on the other hand, offer a wide range of sounds and dynamics.

Musical instruments can also be used in various ways during yoga. Singing Bowls With their rich spectrum of overtones, they are well-suited for introducing, accompanying, or concluding yoga sessions. Which instrument you should choose for use in meditation or yoga always depends on your personal preferences and needs.

What makes ollihess musical instruments so special?

Many of the musical instruments you can buy in our store are made by long-standing partners. Even if we don’t develop an instrument ourselves, we hold our partners to the same high standards as we do ourselves: We insist on fair production conditions, the use of sustainable and locally sourced materials, and manufacturing in Germany. So you can be sure that every musical instrument we offer is of the highest quality.

Personally Selected: You may have already noticed—in our shop, you’ll find only a small but very special collection of musical instruments. Olli Hess personally selected them. That’s exactly what he loves: experimenting, discovering new things, and above all, making the entire universe of sounds accessible to everyone.

Here's what else makes our musical instruments so special:

• Handcrafted in small workshops
• Carefully selected and inspected by us
• Made from sustainable and locally sourced materials
• Made in Germany under fair production conditions

What kinds of musical instruments are there?

The term “percussion instruments” encompasses a wide variety of instruments. In addition to gongs and Singing Bowls , monochords, tamburas, wind chimes, koshis, cymbals, and kalimbas are also classified as percussion instruments.

At Olli Hess, you’ll find a small but very special selection of musical instruments. They can be categorized by material and playing style, among other things. Our selection ranges from bamboo rain chimes to metal wind chimes and tubular bells. We chose these instruments because we’ve played and tested them ourselves for a long time and are personally convinced of their quality.

Which outdoor musical instruments are suitable for use outdoors?

If you're looking for outdoor musical instruments, size, weight, material, and portability are particularly important. Compact musical instruments are easy to take with you and can be used, for example, during yoga, meditation, or sound therapy in nature.

Which instrument is suitable for outdoor use also depends on the specific conditions. Materials such as wood and metal are affected by moisture and temperature fluctuations. Musical instruments should therefore not be left outdoors unprotected for extended periods of time.

For mobile applications, smaller musical toys and portable instruments—which are easy to transport and versatile—are particularly appealing.

Bamboo Rainstick

The Rain Sound Column —also known as the Rain Tower—is made of oiled ash and cork and contains small stoppers inside; when the instrument is turned upside down, the filling material slowly trickles past them, producing a gentle, steady rustling sound. The sound lasts up to five minutes and is reminiscent of the gentle patter of rain in the forest. The Rain Tower is easy to use, and its sound has a calming, relaxing, and harmonizing effect.

Table Tube Set, Power-Chime chime , and Wah-Wah Tube

Power-Chime Chimes are available with individually tuned rods or as a three-row chime model. In this musical instrument, the rods are suspended within a band that allows them to swing freely. With the right mallet, you can produce clear, high-pitched, and long-lasting tones with the Power Chime chime .

The hollow tubes of a table tube instrument can also be moved freely in an elastic band suspension. This allows for even more flexibility and creativity while playing. From a short note to an almost endless one—with a tabletop tube instrument, you can experience it all. This musical instrument is also well-suited for children.

The popular "wah-wah" effect of the Wah-Wah Tube is created when you strike it with a rubber mallet while alternately covering and uncovering the sound hole. The instrument also works very well in combination with gongs or other sound instruments, such as a monochord or a Happy Drum.

All of our musical instruments are suitable not only for making music, but especially for use in sound meditation, sound journeys, or sound therapy.

What effects can musical instruments have?

How a musical instrument is perceived is highly individual. Many people describe certain sounds as calming, stimulating, or conducive to moments of mindful awareness. That is why musical instruments are often used in meditation, yoga, sound journeys, and relaxation sessions.

Low, high, or overtone-rich sounds can be experienced in very different ways. Sometimes low-frequency sounds are perceived as grounding and confidence-building; instruments with high-pitched and overtone-rich tones can be stimulating or uplifting. What matters, however, is not a predetermined effect, but rather the personal experience of sound, resonance, and vibration.

How a sound instrument is perceived is always a matter of personal experience. Sound instruments such as Singing Bowls, gongs, koshi chimes, or handpans are often described as calming, stimulating, or supportive. How a sound instrument is played and the intention with which you use it can also influence its effect.

However, all musical instruments have one thing in common: their sounds and vibrations can be felt throughout the body and bring a sense of calm and relaxation. In this way, musical instruments can help us consciously pause and slow down.

Percussion Instruments: Which Mallet or Striker Is Best Suited for the Instrument?

Many musical instruments are played with a beater or mallet. The size, weight, material, and design of the beater influence how the instrument responds and what timbres are produced when it is played.

With our specially developed ollihess mallets and bows , you can discover different playing styles and tonal nuances. They come in various designs and are available for different musical instruments, so we can find the perfect solution for you and your needs.

If you're not sure which mallet is right for your musical instrument, or are looking for accessories for your musical instrument , we’d be happy to help you make the right choice.

Craftsmanship, Materials, and Responsible Production

Whether we develop a musical instrument ourselves or offer it in collaboration with select partners, we want to know how and where our products are made, how they feel, and, above all, how they sound. That’s why we work closely with small businesses and long-standing partners.

We use regional materials whenever possible, are very familiar with the production conditions, and know that our partners ensure fair pay and equitable working conditions. We are convinced that all of this has a tremendous impact on your experience with our products—and, above all, on the sound.