Chimes have the most complex tuning system of any mallet percussion instruments. In the a recent blog posting, we discussed the wooden mallet instruments: marimba and xylophone. These bars are struck with mallets in order to produce musical sound. He now travels the country sharing his passion for music education. Oct. 14, 2020. Yamaha offers a wide variety of mallet percussion instruments to fit any situation. Sorry, but we seem to be having a problem. in Music Education from California State University, Long Beach. Marimba has wooden bars and it needs resonating tubs for better sound, while sound produced by glockenspiel is more penetrating and do not need any amplification. The sound characteristics of vibraphone, glockenspiel and chimes differ due to factors such as the bar material (aluminum or brass), physical construction, and the type of mallet being used. It has wooden bars, which are struck by mallets. Octave-tuning involves tuning the fundamental and 4th overtone. A pair of hard mallets is used to strike the bars. It produces bell like sound. from the University of Southern California, an M.M. Marimba stands on floor while Glockenspiel … These videos demonstrate the sonic differences between the three instruments: Glockenspiels and vibraphones use the same tuning system as the marimba: octave-tuning. Vibraphone is used in Jazz music while Xylophone is used in western style music. Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time. These bars are made of metal, which gives its sound a higher pitch. In some cases these bars are held horizontally, while at times they are mounted vertically. 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. Xylophone produces a crisp sound, while vibraphone produces a mellower sound. The vibraphone and some glockenspiels have metal resonators (sometimes called resonator tubes or resonator pipes) suspended beneath the tone bars, with the length of each resonator varying depending on the pitch of the tone bar; the lower the note, the longer the resonator. Different instruments produce different sounds and vary in pitch and quality. It consists of tuned metal bars and is usually played by holding two or four soft mallets and striking the bars. By David Andrew Wiebe Leave a Comment. We already have your request. The bars of the vibraphone and glockenspiel are made of an aluminum alloy. These modes are nearly in the ratio 2:3:4, so the ear considers them as overtones of a missing fundamental an octave below mode 4.”. Chimes have the most complex tuning system of any mallet percussion instruments. Comparison of the xylophone/ glockenspiel to the vibraphone. In Glockenspiel metal bars are used, while in Vibraphone and Xylophone wooden bars are used. Some vary from culture to culture, while some others are universal. Different musical instruments are used in different parts of world. Gerhart holds a D.M.A. Its tonal range is lower than that of xylophone. In vibraphone, each bar is paired with a resonator tube, which creates a vibrating voice. 164 shares; Facebook 164; Twitter; Xylophones, glockenspiels, marimbas, vibraphones, xylorimbas and marimbaphones are basically all considered members of the percussion family of instruments. Video conferencing best practices: Tips to make meeting online even better In this way, it is similar to the xylophone, although the xylophone's bars are made of wood, while the glockenspiel's are metal plates or tubes, thus making it a metallophone. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a vibraphonist, vibraharpist, or vibist.. Dr. Dave Gerhart is the assistant segment marketing manager of education and is a nationally recognized performer, composer and educator. Vibraphone is used in Jazz music while Xylophone is used in western style music. The Western glockenspiel and vibraphone are also metallophones: they have two rows of bars, in an imitation of the piano keyboard, and are tuned to the chromatic scale. Chimes have the smallest range of any mallet percussion instrument (one and a half octaves) and are sonically reminiscent of church bells. Octave-tuning involves tuning the fundamental and 4th overtone. In his free time, he teaches at the CSULB Steel Drum Orchestra and has published works for percussion and steel drum ensembles. Each bar is tuned to a pitch of musical scale. In music of the 20th century and beyond, the word metallophone is sometimes applied specifically to a single row of metal bars suspended over a resonator box. Thank you for your interest. Modes 4, 5 and 6 appear to determine the strike tone. In Glockenspiel metal bars are used, while in Vibraphone and Xylophone wooden bars are used. In this instrument tuned keys are arranged like a piano keyboard. It is usually used in creating Jazz music. All these are members of percussion family and are used almost all over the world in different forms. Another member of percussion family is xylophone. (Some glockenspiels use a wooden box as the resonating chamber.) These modes are nearly in t… So, what exactly is the difference? The glockenspiel, additionally, is usually smaller and, because of both its material and smaller size, higher in pitch. The vibraphone resembles the marimbaphone and steel marimba, which it superseded. Glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba and Xylophone looks nearly similar, but actually they all are different. Here we are stating some basic differences between them. All rights reserved. Modes 4, 5 and 6 appear to determine the strike tone.