vibraphon

The vibraphone, often written vibraphone or vibra-harp, is a pitched percussion instrument in the mallet family. It consists of a grid of long, narrow aluminum bars arranged over a set of resonator tubes. The bars are struck with mallets, typically with yarn- or cord-wrapped heads, to produce musical tones. The resonators amplify the sound and contribute to the instrument’s characteristic, singing timbre and sustain.

A distinctive feature of the vibraphone is the motor-driven mechanism inside the resonators that spins rotating discs above the bars. The rotating discs create a vibrato-like tremolo by modulating the sound’s amplitude, and the motor speed can be adjusted to vary the effect. Many instruments also include a damping mechanism or pedal that lowers dampers onto the bars, allowing the player to shorten notes for staccato articulation.

Range and technique: A typical vibraphone has about four octaves, commonly from F3 to C7. Players use two or more mallets and can play melodies, harmonies, and chords. Extended techniques include dynamic damping, sustained notes, and the use of the instrument’s resonant overtones for color.

History and use: The vibraphone was developed in the United States in the early 20th century and was popularized in jazz by performers such as Lionel Hampton in the 1930s and 1940s. It is used in jazz, big band, chamber music, and some orchestral and contemporary works, and modern models are often amplified or electronically augmented.

Notable vibraphonists include Milt Jackson, Gary Burton, and Bobby Hutcherson.