Xylophone
The xylophone is a tuned percussion instrument comprised of wooden bars struck by mallets. It has a much more shrill tone compared to the marimba.1
Range: 3 - 4 octaves Tone: bright; sharp; penetrating; shrill; clear Mallet Construction: Shaft: Wood; rubber Head: Rubber; plastic; wood – sometimes wrapped in yarn Mallet Technique: 2 per hand Useful techniques:
- Arpeggios
- Tremolos – single note and chords
- Trills
- Glissando
- Chords Orchestration:
- Can pierce through the whole orchestra; good for doubling the melody
- Can work as a solo instrument
- Pairs with other percussion
- Pairs with trumpet
- Pairs with high woodwinds (fl, picc)
- Pairs with harp