Mallet Percussion: Also known as tuned Idiophones, include instruments such as Marimba, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Tubular bells/ Orchestral Chimes and Crotales. All these instruments are arranged in pitch order in a style similar to that of a keyboard on piano. ie
Marimba: This instrument is made from wooden keys (often rosewood because of its grain and density) with brass resonating tubes underneath. There is no standard range for the Marimba, however they can be thought of as the 'cello' of the mallet percussion family and are available in;
4 octave- C3 to C7
4.3 octave- A2 to C7 (this is the most common range)
4.5 octave- F2 to C7
4.6 octave- E2 to C7
5 octave- C2 to C7
NB the lower octaves are often played with soft mallets to increase resonance.
4 octave- C3 to C7
4.3 octave- A2 to C7 (this is the most common range)
4.5 octave- F2 to C7
4.6 octave- E2 to C7
5 octave- C2 to C7
NB the lower octaves are often played with soft mallets to increase resonance.
Xylophone: Similar to the Marimba is made from wood with metal resonating tubes underneath, however is the octave higher than the Marimba and is often played with hard plastic or rubber mallets producing a sharper tone.
Vibraphone: Is in a similar octave to the xylophone however it is made with brass keys and also has a sustain pedal (which means the upper chromatic notes are not set above the main set so that the felt damping pad can reach all notes simultaneously). The elongated ringing vibrato sound that the Vibraphones are famous for is created through a butterfly valve which is run by a fan and a small motor. see diagram below. Also see below video for the use of the sustain pedal.
Glockenspiel: Is the highest of the mallet percussion instruments and is made from stainless steal and can therefore be played with hard plastic or metal mallets.
Tubular bells or Orchestra chimes consist of 30-38 mm wide metal tubes of varying lengths that are played with large hammers or leather mallets on the top of each tube where the cap is not in the center of the tube.
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