{"id":302,"date":"2022-07-27T03:06:47","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T03:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/noisebuilders.com\/?p=302"},"modified":"2022-09-14T23:14:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T23:14:02","slug":"xylophone-vs-marimba-vs-vibraphone-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/noisebuilders.com\/xylophone-vs-marimba-vs-vibraphone-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Xylophone vs Marimba vs Vibraphone: What’s the Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At first glance, all of these musical cousins could be twins, but there are big differences between the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone that make them all uniquely awesome. As pitched percussion instruments, they produce a sound when you strike them, and musicians use different mallets to produce different sounds. So, let’s look at some of the distinct differences when comparing xylophone vs marimba vs vibraphone.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re going to learn all about what makes the xylophone and the marimba different. Plus, we\u2019ll spend some time giving some love to the vibraphone. Soon, you\u2019ll be a total expert on the differences between the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a xylophone? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If we\u2019re going to tackle the question of what makes the xylophone different from the marimba and the vibraphone, we need to figure out what a xylophone is first.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A xylophone is a pitched percussion instrument made of tuned wooden bars that are strung in order on a frame. A xylophone is played by striking the bars with a mallet. Striking the bars produces vibrations, heard as a pitch or a tone. The xylophone is usually played with two mallets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These facts are true of most members of the pitched percussion group of instruments, like marimba and vibraphone, but there are some really important differences that make them unique and ideal for different kinds of music and styles of playing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like to know more about the history of the xylophone in-depth, we recommend checking out the Britannica<\/a> article. One of the things that makes percussion so awesome is that many prehistoric instruments were also members of the same family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Difference between xylophone and marimba<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a few important differences between xylophone and marimba. We\u2019re going to summarize them very quickly before unpacking them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The differences between xylophone and marimba are in the materials used to make them, how they\u2019re shaped, their range, the styles and materials of the mallets used to play them, and finally their tone. Xylophone and marimba sound distinctly different when played owing to these differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After learning a little about them, it\u2019s very easy to tell when a xylophone is being played vs a marimba. Vibraphone sounds the most unique of the three for the same reasons! Let\u2019s dig in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Materials used in xylophone and marimba<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first difference on our list is the materials used to make each instrument. Xylophone and marimba are typically made of woods that are commonly referred to as tonewoods. We’ll talk about two types here.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rosewood <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rosewood is the most popular wood used in creating a marimba or xylophone. It’s a hardwood with a beautiful sound and color. Generally richer in the lower tones, rosewood also has an excellent attack on high tones. The professionals typically play rosewood instruments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Padouk <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Padouk is another great hardwood choice for crafting a marimba or xylophone. It’s very similar in quality but offers a slightly different sound than rosewood. Most people won\u2019t be able to tell the difference, but padouk offers a slightly brighter sound and is less rich in lower octaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think you can tell the difference between rosewood and padouk? Test your ear against Adam Tan\u2019s blind test video!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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