Yeah, chain adjustment and condition can make a big impact on noise but obviously difficult for me to say without hearing it.
You can check the chain in two ways, first get some gloves on if you wanna keep your hands clean and then work your way along the chain making sure that the links actually rotate around each other rather than being stuck or stiff.
Also, check the chain slack. Get sombody to sit on the bike whilst you move the chain up and down midway between the sprockets. Movement should be limited to about 25mm (1 inch) or so. If its much more than that you will certainly here noise, any tighter and you may well have damaged the chain by stressing it too much.
If it is really stiff it can be replaced but worth having a go at cleaning it. Get yourself some parafin from a local diy shop and a stiff toothbrush. A good pair of marigolds helps here too
if nothing else it might get your pulse racing........moving on. Work your way along the chain and give it a good clean. Afterwards a good clean off to remove the parafin with soapy water and then lube it up with chain lube.
However, might be nothing to do with the chain!