Mallet Instruments

Mallet instruments have an arrangement of bars very similar to a piano keyboard. The bars vary in length and are arranged from longest on the left to shortest on the right. Longer bars produce lower pitches, and shorter bars produce higher pitches. The most common mallet instruments are the marimba and xylophone, which have bars made of wood and the orchestra bells and vibraphone, which have metal bars. Sometimes marimba and xylophone bars are made out of synthetic materials for durability.

All of these instruments are played with mallets. Some mallets have a metal ball on the end, others have a plastic ball and some are wrapped with yarn. Each of these mallets produces a different kind of sound when they strike the bars of the instrument. Metal mallets produce a sharp, crisp sound. Plastic mallets produce a little softer sound. The yarn-wrapped mallets yield a very soft sound.

Mallets can play single notes or chords. Chords are a little more difficult since the player has to hold two or more mallets and adjust them to play the multiple notes to make the chord. Another mallet technique is the roll. The player alternates between mallets in striking the same bar over and over. This produces a sustained sound.

Mallet instruments can be heard in orchestras, concert bands, percussion ensembles, and jazz bands. Many mallet instruments can be heard in Spanish or Latin American music.

Study the image provided and listen to the sound sample of the marimba to gain an understanding of this instrument.

Listen to a sample of the marimba: