In my opinion, the modern North American xylophone is a hybrid instrument that evolved primarily through the efforts of manufacturers such as Deagan and later Leedy, as well as some player/designers who worked with them, like George Hamilton Green. Today we’re going to continue our series on mallet-related frequently asked questions (FAQ) by explaining the difference between marimba and vibraphone mallets. The xylophone originated in Africa and the marimba comes from Germany. All these are members of percussion family and are used almost all over the world in different forms. We appreciate that. Or are even they scratching their heads on the topic? The harder cord and rounder shape of the mallet head allows the mallets to produce a clear sound from the metal bars of the vibraphone. The Deagan Nabimbas were available in ranges of 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 5.0 octaves (C2 to C7). The main difference is that it has a more resonant and lower-pitched “sweet spot” compared to the xylophone. A marimba’s bars are meant to be struck with rubber or yarn mallets. It would appear that is the view taken in Chenoweth’s article. The harder cord and rounder shape of the mallet head allows the mallets to produce a clear sound from the metal bars of the vibraphone. Yes, but only in certain circumstances. I am also curious about your own experience as you have traveled around giving this clinic; I imagine most students are stumped by the opening question, but do most professionals seem to know the answer? Despite Chenoweth’s academically accurate comments, I stand by my original statement that both the meaning and derivation of the terms ‘xylophone’ and ‘marimba’ depend on who is using them (the terms as well as the instruments), and when. It was a brief article, but the conclusion she reached at the end was: “In short: (1) the xylophone is a percussion instrument with a wooden keyboard; (2) the marimba is a xylophone with resonators.” In other words, it seems as though she differentiates the instruments in the same way that we differentiate a rectangle and a square. Thanks for your support and the shoutout! In April, 2013 I received an email from Jesse Strauss, a student at Belmont University, asking for my thoughts about an article by Vida Chenoweth in which she reached some conclusions about the terms ‘xylophone’ and ‘marimba’. The earliest marimbas manufactured in North America were produced by the J.C. Deagan company, and included a unique instrument called a Nabimba – a word Deagan himself concocted, but obviously a take on ‘marimba’. In April, 2013 I received an email from Jesse Strauss, a student at Belmont University, asking for my thoughts about an article by Vida Chenoweth in which she reached some conclusions about the terms ‘xylophone’ and ‘marimba’. ‘Marimba’ derives from a Bantu root found throughout East Africa, which traveled with the Spanish slave trade to Central America, in particular Guatemala. The first keyboard instruments made by the American percussion pioneer John Calhoun Deagan were, I believe, glockenspiels (real ones, with steel bars). Octave-tuning involves tuning the fundamental and 4th overtone. The M1 on the left is a popular marimba mallet. Incredible articulation,… https://t.co/xD3r5SJX7t, Happy Mother’s Day to all the Band Moms our there! Starting March 19th, we will be open for curbside service only. Xylophone vs. Marimba: more thoughts. These modes are nearly in t… https://t.co/yDNM3VSZO3, previous mallet FAQ on marimba mallet hardness. The soft yarn heads of marimba mallets limit their volume, and therefore effectiveness, on the vibraphone. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The marimba has a higher pitch than the xylophone. What Is A Vibraphone? Xylophone vs. Marimba - More Thoughts By Bob Becker , first published May 14, 2013 In April, 2013 I received an email from Jesse Strauss, a student at Belmont University, asking for my thoughts about an article by Vida Chenoweth in which she reached some conclusions about the terms ‘xylophone’ and ‘marimba’. Its flexibility is better suited to vibraphone techniques like mallet dampening. The resulting superior sound and projection of Deagan instruments made them the standard of excellence for several decades. It’s similar to a term like metallophone; although xylophone is also a vernacular term that people use for many kinds of instruments, including toy glockenspiels. Like the xylophone, the marimba is considered an idiophone. Modes 4, 5 and 6 appear to determine the strike tone. https://t.co/5H9C8Q59zg, You’re very welcome! While they are very similar in appearance, and can sometimes be used for the same purpose, there are significant differences in marimba and vibraphone mallets. Please be polite. The head of both style mallets contain a rubber core, but the material wrapped around that core varies. The mallet percussion family is made up of five instruments: marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel (sometimes called “orchestral bells”) and chimes.In the a recent blog posting, we discussed the wooden mallet instruments: marimba and xylophone.Now let’s talk about the metal mallet instruments: vibraphone, glockenspiel and chimes. Glockenspiels and vibraphones use the same tuning system as the marimba: octave-tuning. If you read books like Curt Sachs’ The History of Musical Instruments, you find the word xylophone as the principal heading for all wooden-keyed instruments. Vibraphone is used in Jazz music while Xylophone is used in western style music. In addition to their respective instruments, both mallets can also be used to play suspended cymbals. According to Grove Music Online, “An interesting acoustical property of chimes is that there is no mode of vibration with a frequency at, or even near, the pitch of the strike tone one hears. The first documented xylophone he constructed was in 1893, and had only a diatonic keyboard and no resonators. A case can be made for a currently-accepted standard range for the xylophone as well as for the marimba, but ranges have continually changed over time and are really at the discretion of manufacturers and players. Xylophone vs. Marimba: more thoughts. The xylophone has a range of 3-4 eighths while the marimba has a range of 2.5 to 3 eighths. Both are commonly available in birch or rattan, but marimbists and vibraphonists have different preferences.