Is a Marimba the Same as a Xylophone? + Other Questions

Last updated on May 8th, 2023 at 01:58 pm

Both the marimba and the xylophone are considered types of xylophone instruments. They look similar. You differentiate the two by looking at the undersides of the tone plates for the lower-ranged notes. The central portions of these bars on a marimba hollow out, while those of a xylophone are wavy.

The marimba has a soft and mellow tone regarding the sounds. The impression one receives is restrained. Xylophone notes are distinct and sharply defined.

The tuning between the two instruments is not the same. The marimba has soft tones, whereas the xylophone has hard tones. This difference is the result of each instrument’s tuning method.

The marimba tunes on even-numbered harmonics. You can tune the pitch, fourth harmonic, and 10th harmonic. On the contrary, the xylophone is on the fundamental pitch and the odd-numbered third harmonic.

When tuning the C tone plate on the marimba, the bar matches C, high C, and high E. 

On the xylophone, the bar matches C and high G. When the marimba plays with an orchestra, the notes blend in.

Xylophone’s notes stand out because the tuning method is different. Its harmonics resemble those of woodwind and string instruments. Yamaha’s xylophones are unique as they are tuned with odd-numbered harmonics. Some manufacturers make instruments tuned with even-numbered harmonics.

Glockenspiel vs Xylophone vs Marimba

The marimba has similar wooden bars to the Glockenspiel with resonators underneath. The Glockenspiel has metal bars tuned to the relevant notes, and the Xylophone has a series of wooden bars. They are tuned to the relevant notes.

Xylophones have a range of two-and-a-half to four octaves, whereas the Marimbas have a wider range, between three and five octaves. A xylophone comes with an extended range downwards to give pitches in the marimba.

What is a Xylophone?

It is a musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with one or more small wooden or plastic beaters. Use a mallet to strike the bars. It comes with a set of tuned keys arranged in the fashion of the keyboard of a piano.

Average Price

A decent xylophone costs above $100. However, there are usually promotions on websites like Amazon. If you are working on a tight budget, keep checking for sales to choose a better model without limiting yourself.

Marimba vs Xylophone vs Vibraphone

Vibraphone is a member of the percussion family. That means it is also an idiophone. It has metal bars and plays with two or four soft mallets. What separates each instrument from the rest are its unique characteristics.

These are played in different situations and for different music styles. Xylophones and vibraphones are similar contexts but differ in terms of sound. While xylophones produce a crisper and richer sound, vibraphones have a much more mellow and damp sound.

What is Marimba?

The marimba is a percussion instrument consisting of wooden bars. These are struck with yarn-wrapped or rubber mallets to produce musical tones. Use rubber mallets to strike the wooden bars to produce musical tones. It uses suspended pipes underneath the bars to amplify the sound of the wooden bars. See our guide for how to make marimba.

The bars of a marimba are like piano keys. It has groups of two and three accidentals raised vertically. They overlap the natural bars to help the performer visually and physically. This instrument belongs to the idiophone family but with a more resonant pitch than the xylophone.

Average Price

The price for marimbas starts at around $2500, up to 15000 and even higher.

Musical Differences between Marimba and Xylophones

The marimba has soft tones, while the xylophone has hard tones. This difference is due to each instrument’s tuning method. The marimba is tuned on even-numbered harmonics, including the fundamental pitch, fourth, and 10th harmonic. In contrast, the xylophone is tuned on the pitch and odd-numbered third harmonic.

Xylophones can be used in band concerts or symphony orchestras, while the marimba is often played as a stand-alone instrument or combined with other percussion instruments.

The xylophone produces a sharp tone, while the marimba produces a mellow tone.

Similarities between xylophones and marimba

Xylophones and marimbas have several things in common as percussion instruments. First, both instruments are played by striking bars with mallets to produce sounds. Also, they are usually made of similar materials. Finally, both instruments create rhythmic and melodic elements in different musical styles.

• They are all percussion instruments.
• They have bars struck by mallets to produce sound.
• They are of the same material.

What is the difference between a xylophone, vibraphone and a marimba?

The vibraphone looks like a xylophone or marimba but uses a different technology for future music. The difference between xylophone and vibraphone is in wooden bars. These are thicker and shorter, whereas a vibraphone uses aluminum bars. The materials used to make the bars are also different.

Are bells a xylophone?

No, bells are not a type of xylophone. Both instruments belong to the percussion instruments but differ in their construction and playing technique. Bells are idiophones, which means they produce sound by the vibration of a fixed resonating body, while xylophones are tuned percussion instruments that produce sound by striking tuned wooden bars. Bells come in various shapes and sizes, which can affect their intended use and cultural significance.

What instrument is similar to a xylophone?

The marimba is an instrument similar to the xylophone in many ways. Both instruments have bars that are struck with mallets to produce sounds. Although the two instruments look similar, their main difference is the material from which the bars are made and the instrument’s tuning. Xylophones are usually made of wood and tuned to specific pitches, while marimbas use larger wooden bars tuned to lower pitches. In addition, the marimba often has a deeper and more resonant sound than the bright, sharp sound of the xylophone.

What is the wooden xylophone called?

A wooden xylophone is called the marimba. It is also a larger version of a xylophone with wood or plastic resonators attached to the bottom of the wooden keys. That gives it a mellower and a more rounded sound.

What is the difference between a marimba and a vibraphone?

The difference between marimba and vibraphone mallets is in the materials used in their construction. The head of both mallets contain a rubber core, but the material wrapped around that core differs.

Marimba mallets use a softer yarn than vibraphone mallets. Vibraphone mallets use a cord. The harder cord and rounder shape of the mallet head gives a clear sound from the metal bars of the vibraphone.

The material used for their shaft is also different. Marimba comes with the rigidity of birch shafts, while vibraphonists have rattan, which is flexible. Flexibility suits vibraphone techniques like mallet dampening.

The soft yarn heads of marimba mallets limit their volume. That minimizes performance on the vibraphone. However, vibraphone mallets work on the marimba for a clear, cutting tone.