How to Play Bass Handbells
Playing handbells in a handbell choir is becoming popular in churches and with other groups and organizations. In a handbell choir, there are treble bells and bass bells. The bass bells are usually the larger bells that play the harmony. Here are a few steps to teach you how to play the bass bells in a handbell choir.
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Instructions
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Learn the notes on the bass clef. The first line on the bass clef is the G. Then each line going upward is B, D, F, and A. Know the notes for the spaces as well. The first space on the bottom is A. Then each space going upward is C, E, and G.
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2
Play the lower bell in the left hand always. Keep the bells in order as they appear on the musical staff. Mixing the handbells may make you ring a bad note.
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3
Know the dynamic symbols on the music. This is very important because the bass bells can easily drown out the sound of the treble bells. The dynamic are : F = forte (Loud), P = Piano (Soft), MF = Metzoforte (medium loud), MP = Metzopiano (Medium soft), FF = Fortissimo (Very loud) and PP =Pianissimo (Very soft). Always watch for dynamic changes in the music.
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Practice. Train your hands to become accustomed to the feel of the bass bells. The bass bells are the heavier bells, so practice will allow the player to know when and where each bell is located and played. It also will build the wrist strength you need to swing the bells quickly and accurately.
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Tips & Warnings
Never bang the bass handbells together. This will damage the bell and distort the sound.
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Comments
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There is so much more to ringing bass bells (let alone ringing bass bells safely) that should really be included. Point #3 on dynamics is wrong. The bass bells can never drown out the treble bells. High bells cut through everything, while bass bells normally have to ring one dynamic level LOUDER than written unless the performance room is very small. (And it's "mezzo," not "metzo."). Wrist strength is needed, sure, but back, shoulder, and arm strength are much more important. A bass ringer should never bend their wrists very much. Bass handbells speak much more slowly and have more mass than the higher bells, so the ringer must start them moving much earlier that treble bells. More could also be said about techniques for assigning bells to bass ringers, because most handbell ensembles mix up their bass assignments and don't usually have enough people to play just two notes per person.
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bellboggie
Mar 23, 2009
This was obviously written by someone that has never rung bass bells. Bass bells can weight up to 28 pounds. You never want to use your wrists to lift them as you can severely harm yourself. It takes a decent amount of strength to ring bass bells. -
bellboggie
Mar 23, 2009
This was obviously written by someone that has never rung bass bells. Bass bells can weight up to 28 pounds. You never want to use your wrists to lift them as you can severely harm yourself. It takes a decent amount of strength to ring bass bells.
