xylophones

Xylophones are percussion instruments consisting of a series of pitched wooden bars that are struck with mallets to produce musical notes. The bars are arranged in ascending pitch and are typically laid out in a frame with resonators beneath each bar to amplify the sound. The name comes from the Greek xylon, wood, and phone, sound, reflecting the instrument’s wooden construction.

Construction and range: Modern concert xylophones have carefully cut hardwood bars—often rosewood or synthetic substitutes—mounted over sound posts or tubes. The bars are tuned and may be overlaid with a cloth or felt to affect tone. A typical instrument covers roughly two to three octaves and is accompanied by resonators that extend the note duration and projection. Orchestral and marching versions differ in size and mounting.

Playing and technique: The instrument is played with two mallets in each hand. The mallets vary in hardness to produce different timbres; softer mallets yield mellower tones, hard mallets a brighter attack. Strikes are usually centered on the bars for stable pitch; players use single strokes, doubles, and rolls for decay and tremolo effects. Dampening helps control sustain.

History and use: Xylophones have roots in African musical traditions, where wooden idiophones with tuned bars were used in ensembles. In the 19th century, interest from European composers and instrument makers led to the modern concert xylophone, with standardized keyboard-like layouts. Since the 20th century, it has become a standard instrument in orchestras, bands, and percussion ensembles, featuring in both traditional repertoire and contemporary works.

Related instruments: Metallophones such as the glockenspiel and vibraphone share a similar layout but use metal bars and, in the vibraphone, rotating dampers.