Editing Handbell (section)

===Multiple-bell techniques===
Normal ringing technique only allows a ringer to ring two bells at a time, one in each hand. Depending on the number of bells needed for a particular piece and the number of ringers, it may be necessary for each ringer to ring more than two bells at a time or in short succession (four-in-hand) There are also many techniques that change the sound of the bell as it is rung.

====Four bells====
[[File:Four in Hand Handbells.jpg|thumb|Performance with four-in-hand technique]]
There are two main ways of ringing two handbells with one hand: four-in-hand and Shelley.

In the four-in-hand technique, the ringer hold two bells in one hand with the clappers at right angles to each other. This allows the ringer to either move the hand normally ("ring" – primary bell) or ring knuckles-first ("knock" – secondary bell) to ring two bells independently with the same hand (for a total of four bells when ringing with both hands). The two bells can also be played simultaneously by holding the wrist at a 45° angle. In large ensembles, four-in-hand is typically used to ring multiple positions or pick up accidentals.

Shelley ringing is similar, except that the clappers are each orientated in the same direction, so that the two bells normally ring simultaneously with one movement. Shelley is typically used to ring notes in octaves, but can also be used to ring two notes separately by striking the primary bell sideways and the secondary bell forward in an action like tapping the fingers.<ref name="TSShelley">{{Citation
  | last = Leonard
  | first = Karen E.
  | title = Technique-ly Speaking: Shelley Ringing
  | journal = Overtones
  | volume = 46
  | issue = 5
  | pages = 13–14
  | date = September–October 2000
}}</ref>

As to the relative merits of the two techniques, some believe that Shelley ringing is rendered obsolete when four-in-hand is perfected, while others believe that the motion of the clappers in the same plane makes certain techniques more feasible, particularly shaking, [[martellato]] and [[vibrato]].

====Six bells====
There are several ways to play six bells at a time (i.e., to ring three bells in each hand). One way is to pick two bells up as if one were Shelley ringing, then pick the third up between one's little and ring fingers (a 'triple Shelley'). All three bells ring together when ringing in a knocking motion. A second way is to pick up the third bell sideways so the clapper swings outward. Ringers with good control can then ring the first bell without ringing the third, allowing them to play three notes in two hands.<ref>{{cite web
  | last = Anderson
  | first = Christine
  | title = Multiple Bells In-Hand
  | date = 2000-01-14
  | url = http://www.knology.net/~jkearns/faqtechniques.htm#Four-in-hand/Shelley
  | access-date = 2009-08-13}}
</ref>
Another method, called interlocked six-in-hand, can be set up by interlocking the handles of two bells so that the clappers move in the same direction (similar to the Shelley technique), rotating a third bell, and inserting it between the other two.

====Weaving====
Weaving is the technique of playing a succession of bells by changing which bell is in each hand as required. This is used by bass and solo or small-ensemble ringers. The large size and weight of bass bells makes four-in-hand ringing impractical and impossible, and often a solo or small-ensemble ringer will need to move up and down a range of bells, possibly sharing them with others. This technique means more than two bells can be rung in short succession, using the table to damp and free the hand to pick up the next bell. If the ringing sequence requires bells to be rung in tonal order, this technique often results in a weaving pattern as the ringer must often reach across their body for the next bell.<ref name="TSWeave">{{Citation
  | last = Allured
  | first = Don
  | title = Technique-ly Speaking: The Weave and Other Multiple Bell Doings
  | journal = Overtones
  | volume = 45
  | issue = 3
  | pages = 41–44
  | date = May–June 1999
}}</ref>
Weaving can also be used in combination with the four-in-hand in a technique called "traveling four-in-hand". By combining the ability to hold two bells in each hand with the ability to quickly drop and pick up the secondary bell of a four-in-hand, a ringer has quick access to several bells.