How does each bell of the chime sound two tones?

What can be called the "treasure of the country" is the huge musical instrument group - chimes. There are sixty-five chimes, all of which are cast in bronze and beautifully made. The bell frame is in the shape of a curved ruler and is made of copper and wood. The bell is divided into three levels: upper, middle and lower on the bell frame. There are nineteen bells in the upper layer, and the middle and lower bells are the main parts of the chimes. They are divided into three groups. The three groups have different bell shapes. One set is called "Hu Zhong" and consists of eleven long-breasted Yong bells; the second set is called "Yingsi (sound sì) bells" and consists of twelve short-breasted Yong bells; the third set is called " "Jie Zhong" consists of twenty-three long-breasted Yong bells. Each bell body is engraved with a gold seal inscription, and the words "Zeng Hou Yi Zha Shi" (written by Zeng Hou Yi) are engraved between the bells on the front. The inscriptions on the qinta body are basically about the names of the pentatonic scale and the eight changing notes; striking the front and side of each bell can play two tones, rising and falling. The other five inscriptions of the Zeng Kingdom are all high-level, and the corresponding texts of the legal names of the Zeng Kingdom and the Jin, Chu and other states are also inscribed. These inscriptions are extremely valuable materials for studying ancient Chinese music rhythms.

The total sound range of Zeng Houyi’s chimes reaches five octaves, which is slightly lower than that of modern pianos. The middle part occupies about three octaves. Since there are chimes with roughly the same tone structure, three overlapping parts are formed, which can play almost a complete twelve semitones, and can play five, six or seven tones. Musical compositions of scales.

According to the research and speculation of modern scholars, this set of chimes should be played by three musicians, holding T-shaped mallets, striking the three sets of chimes in the middle to play the main melody of the music, and two others. The musician holds a big wooden stick and hits the bass bell on the lower floor as a harmony.