Range
- 4 octave: C 3 to C 7.
- 4.3 octave: A 2 to C 7. ...
- 4.5 octave: F 2 to C 7. ...
- 4.6 octave: E 2 to C 7, one semitone below the 4.5. ...
- 5 octave: C 2 to C 7, one full octave below the 4 octave instrument, useful for playing cello transcriptions, e.g., J. ...
- Bass range (varies, but examples range from G 1 –G 3 or C 2 –F 3)
What is a marimba made of?
The marimba is a pitched percussion instrument. It consists of wooden tone plates lined up like piano keys. When struck, the notes sound out. They are longer and lower the note, and are also wider. On a five-octave marimba, the tone plate for the lowest note has a width of 80 mm and a length of around 620 mm.
How do you lengthen a note on a marimba?
When you want to lengthen a note: on a marimba, whose notes are shorter than those of a wind or string instrument, you repeatedly hit a tone plate, keeping the amount of time that the mallet in contact for any one blow as short as possible. Doing so makes it sound almost exactly like a single note is continuing for a long time. This is tremolo.
What is a marimba and how is it played?
What is a Marimba? – A Marimba is a percussion instrument of African origin popularized in Central American. It consists of a set of wooden bars of differing lengths [and pitch]. It is played with mallets whilst resonators or pipes underneath the bars create the amplification of the notes played.
Where are the bass notes on a marimba?
The bass notes are on the far left-hand side where the thickest bars on the marimba are located. As you move to the right, the bars become smaller and smaller, and the pitch becomes higher. Also check out our blog article “What’s the Difference Between Marimba and Xylophone?”
How do you read notes on a marimba?
2:589:42How To Read Notes (Beginner Piano Lesson) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut if any time you see a middle c there'll be a line drawn through it anytime you see a d aboveMoreBut if any time you see a middle c there'll be a line drawn through it anytime you see a d above middle c it exists just below the first line of the treble.
How many notes does the marimba have?
There is no standard range of the marimba, but the most common ranges are 4.3 octaves, 4.5 octaves and 5 octaves; 4, 4.6 and 5.5 octave sizes are also available.
How do you play a marimba for beginners?
0:133:05Percussion: Marimba Basics - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd hitting the bar coming back up trying to avoid coming going directly into the box let the bestMoreAnd hitting the bar coming back up trying to avoid coming going directly into the box let the best place to play is directly in the middle the bar that creates the best tone.
How many notes can a marimba play at once?
Commonly, the marimba is played either with holding one mallet in each hand or holding two mallets in each hand, producing up to four notes at any given time.
What is the lowest note on a marimba?
The most common size of marimba is 4.3 octave, where the lowest note is A, so the A should be default color. There are also 4.5, 4.6, and 5 octave marimbas, with notes of F, E, and C, respectively.
Is a marimba like a piano?
Basically, a marimba is like a big xylophone that you play standing up with mallets. It's a gorgeous sounding instrument and it's really fun to play! Like the piano, the marimba is not exactly portable. In fact, it's roughly the same size as a piano, with a typical marimba being just a little bit wider.
Can you play chords on a marimba?
Chords are produced by the musician using three or four mallets at once, i.e. two mallets per hand. The span covered by two mallets in one hand depends on the width of the bars and the length of the mallets.
How can I learn marimba music fast?
3:3626:41How To Learn And Practice ANY Marimba Solo! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd eighteen steps which sounds like a lot but actually it goes by pretty quickly Stage one isMoreAnd eighteen steps which sounds like a lot but actually it goes by pretty quickly Stage one is called analysis. I would refer to it as self. Study because it is done without the instrument.
What Clef is marimba?
Marimba parts are often written like a piano part, that is on a grand staff (two staves - one bass clef and one treble clef).
How do you write marimba parts?
0:244:33Composition tips for writing marimba music - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe transit will be smooth. Here's a piece that demonstrates comfortable intervals used in anMoreThe transit will be smooth. Here's a piece that demonstrates comfortable intervals used in an efficient. Way.
How many bars does a marimba have?
The result: better sound but higher cost. Now multiply the cost of each bar and resonator by 36 to 54 (since most marimbas have from 36 to 54 bars) and add on the cost of the frame and it's easy to see why they cost so much!
Is marimba a definite pitch?
When we refer to definite pitch, we mean a sound that can be discerned from other sounds. The percussion instruments that clearly have a definite pitch include the xylophone, marimba, and drum.
What is a marimba?
The marimba ( / məˈrɪmbə /) is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with yarn or rubber mallets to produce musical tones. Resonators or pipes are suspended underneath the bars to amplify their sound.
How many octaves does a marimba have?
There is no standard range of the marimba, but the most common ranges are 4.3 octa ves, 4.5 octaves and 5 octaves; 4, 4.6 and 5.5 octave sizes are also available.
What is a marimba player called?
A person who plays the marimba is called a marimbist or a marimba player . Modern uses of the marimba include solo performances, woodwind and brass ensembles, marimba concertos, jazz ensembles, marching band ( front ensembles ), drum and bugle corps, indoor percussion ensembles, and orchestral compositions.
What is the most popular marimba in Colombia?
In Colombia the most widespread marimba is the marimba de chonta ( peach-palm marimba). Marimba music has been listed on UNESCO as an intangible part of Colombian culture. In recent times Marimberos (marimba players) and the marimba genres as a whole have started to fade out in popularity. Nonetheless the genre is still popular in the departments of Chocó and Cauca.
Where did the name Marimba come from?
In Latin America, enslaved Africans recreated them in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name marimba stems from Bantu marimba or malimba, 'xylophone'. According to some Western sources, the word marimba is formed from ma 'many' ...
Where is the Marimba found?
Music instruments like the Marimba are present through the entirety of Sub-Saharan Africa. The instrument itself is most similar and shares its name with the marimbas of modern-day Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although it is also similar to instruments that exist in West Africa such as the balafon or heri of Mali and Guinea, known as gyil among the Gur peoples in and around northern Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Which grip is more popular on marimba?
The choice of grip varies by region (the Musser-Stevens grip and the Burton grip are more popular in the United States, while the traditional grip is more popular in Japan), by instrument (the Burton grip is less likely to be used on marimba than on a vibraphone) and by the preference of the individual performer.
How to lengthen a note on a marimba?
When you want to lengthen a note: on a marimba, whose notes are shorter than those of a wind or string instrument, you repeatedly hit a tone plate, keeping the amount of time that the mallet in contact for any one blow as short as possible. Doing so makes it sound almost exactly like a single note is continuing for a long time. This is tremolo. During a tremolo, a soft mallet is usually employed. In cases such as when a player wants to play the marimba while performing with another instrument using one hand, the player may play the marimba by sandwiching the tone plates up and down between mallets. The glissando, in which the tone plates are rubbed to the left and to the right to produce a continuous sound, is another playing method characteristic of the marimba.#N#See these videos of performances.
What is the name of the instrument that plays with one hand?
This is tremolo . During a tremolo, a soft mallet is usually employed. In cases such as when a player wants to play the marimba while performing with another instrument using one hand, the player may play the marimba by sandwiching the tone plates up and down between mallets.
How many mallets do you use?
In general, it is most common to perform with two (one in each hand) or four (two in each hand) mallets. However, there are also some people who use six (three in each hand), as well as those who take four in each hand for a total of eight, producing grand, stately tones. The key is to hold the mallets in such a way that the thumbs and index fingers can move freely, in order to adjust the distance between mallets to hit the intended tone plates.
The Frame
The marimba has many parts, but one of the more important ones is the frame, which supports the tone bars and the resonators.
Resonator Tubes
One of the most recognizable features of the marimba is the resonators.
Tone Bars
While you can’t have a functional marimba without a frame, you can’t have any kind of marimba without the tone bars.
Other Parts
The above parts are intrinsic to the marimba, but you don’t have a viable instrument without these other, less glamorous parts.
What is a marimba used for?
In addition to solo performances, marimbas are used in woodwind and brass ensembles, jazz ensembles, marching band (front ensembles), drum and bugle corps, and indoor percussion ensembles. They are also sometimes used in orchestras. Here’s an annotated illustration of a typical marimba, followed by a description of the main components in ...
Where are the tone bars on a marimba?
Tone Bars (Natural / Accidental). The bass notes are on the far left-hand side where the thickest bars on the marimba are located . As you move to the right, the bars become smaller and smaller, and the pitch becomes higher.
What is the instrument that is made of wooden bars?
The marimba is a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars struck with yarn-covered mallets to produce musical tones.
How many accidentals are in a marimba?
The bars of a marimba are arranged like the keys of a piano, with the groups of two and three accidentals raised vertically, overlapping the natural bars to aid the performer both visually and physically.
What supports tone bars?
Rail. These wooden crossbars support the tone bars. Never push or pull a marimba by the rails!
What are the parts of a Marimba?
What are the parts of a Marimba? – The main parts of the Marimba are the frame and legs , [the marimba is played standing up], and then the tone plates, the resonator pipes, and finally the bar suspension cord.
What Does the Marimba Look Like?
The marimba looks similar to another instrument that you might be aware of. That Being a xylophone or Glockenspiel. Indeed, I was unaware of a Marimba until looking at the previous two instruments. What drew me to the Marimba was both the impressive look of the resonators beneath the bars and the sound which was quite different altogether.
Where is a Marimba Used mostly?
The modern use of a marimba can be seen in some contemporary solo performances or as part of Marimba concertos, marching bands, as part of the percussion section of an orchestra or woodwind and brass ensembles.
How Easy or Hard is the Marimba to play?
Just with any instrument, things may seem difficult at first but become easier with practice. You may see a highly skilled player holding four mallets in each hand, playing with a total of eight and you would be right to assume this would be very difficult, NOPE – impossible to do at any early stage of learning.
How to Choose a Marimba – Which one is right for me?
There are two main considerations when choosing which Marimba is the one for you. The tone plates and the range . This leads directly to size of instrument, and where you plan to store and how you will transport it as required too. The bigger the more costly of course, so your budget should also be a consideration.
Where to buy a Marimba?
I have a couple of recommended products on the Marimba Gear page, one from the bottom end of the market and available on Amazon, and one excellent 5-octave range marimba from Thomann in Germany.
What were the resonators of the marimba influenced by?
The resonators were almost certainly influenced by the gourds used to amplify early xylophones in Africa, and it is easy to see how the development of the tubular pipe resonators of the modern marimba were arrived at given this source.
How many octaves does a marimba have?
The Size of the Marimba – which is refered to as the amount of octaves it has: 3, 3.5, 4.5 or 5. The Tone Bars – which are the pieces you hit with the mallets. The Resonators – these are the tubes fixed right under the tone plates, some can be tunable.
What octaves should I play a marimba?
5. 5.5. Now, generally speaking anything under 4.3 octaves may potentially hold you back and prevent you from playing a significant amount of marimba pieces. So unless space and price is an issue, or you’re buying for a child, I wouldn’t recommend you get a marimba under 4.3 octaves.
What family is the marimba in?
Newbies often end up mixing up the marimba and xylophone, and that is mainly because: They both belong to the struck idiophones family (which also includes the glockenspiel and vibraphone) They both have wood tone bars. They produce a rather similar sound.
What are the sound plates on a marimba?
The sound plates on a marimba are are the elements you hit with your mallets in order to create sound.
How many mallets can you hold on to a marimba?
Of course you can play the marimba with 2 mallets only. But you’d be missing out on a lot of potential. The marimba’s greatest strength is that you can play it with 4 mallets, 2 in each hands. And there are also 3 main techniques to hold the mallets, called “grips”.
Why is marimba so unique?
And so on…. On top of that, the marimba is unique because of several other reasons: It has a wide range – its lowest note is the name as the cello’s. The wood combined with metal resonator creates a unique tone. Some of the world’s most famous pop hits actually have a marimba part!
What instrument lives in the shadows?
The marimba is one of these instruments that kind of lives in the shadows.

Overview
Construction
Marimba bars are typically made of either wood or synthetic material. Rosewood is the most desirable, while Padauk is a popular affordable alternative. Bars made from synthetic materials generally fall short in sound quality in comparison to wooden bars, but are less expensive and yield added durability and weather resistance, making them suitable for outdoor use; marimbas with wooden bars are usually played inside because the bars are susceptible to pitch change du…
Etymology and Terminology
The term marimba refers to both the traditional version of this instrument and its modern form. Its first documented use in the English language dates back to 1704. The term is of Bantu origin, deriving from the prefix ma- meaning 'many' and -rimba meaning 'xylophone'. The term is akin to Kimbundu and Swahili marimba or malimba.
History
Instruments like the marimba are present throughout the entirety of subsaharan Africa. The instrument Itself is most similar and shares its name with the marimbas of modern-day Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although it is also similar to instruments that exist in West Africa such as the balafon of the Mandinka people, known as gyil among the Gur peoples in and around northern Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Mallet technique
Modern marimba music calls for simultaneous use of between two and four mallets (sometimes up to six or eight), granting the performer the ability to play chords or music with large interval skips more easily. Multiple mallets are held in the same hand using any of a number of techniques or "grips". For two mallets in each hand, the most common grips are the Burton grip (made popular by Gary Burton), the Traditional Grip (or "cross grip") and the Musser-Stevens grip (made popular by Leigh …
Repertoire
The marimba is a standard member of the orchestral percussion section.
The first solo marimba concerto, Concertino for Marimba, was composed by Paul Creston in 1940, after a commission by Frédérique Petrides. The Concertino for Marimba premiered on 29 April 1940 in Carnegie Hall with marimba soloist Ruth Stuber Jeanne and the Orchestrette Classique.
The Oregon Symphony Orchestra commissioned Tomáš Svoboda to compose Concerto for Mari…
Popular music
Traditional marimba bands are especially popular in Guatemala, where they are the national symbol of culture, but are also strongly established in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and Oaxaca. They are also very popular in other Central American nations such as Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, as well as among Afro-Ecuadorians and Afro-Colombians.
There have been numerous jazz vibraphonists who also played the marimba. Notable among the…
See also
• Quadrangularis Reversum