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Marimba Facts

Marimba Facts
The marimba is an instrument from the percussion family that looks similar to the xylophone - but is larger in size. It is also different than the xylophone because it has a wider compass and lower register and has resonators. The wood bars of the marimba are thinner than the wood bars of a xylophone. This results in a deeper and darker sound. The marimba did not become popular with musicians and composers until the 1950s, but has since become more popular than the xylophone in many different musical applications. Earlier versions of the marimba date back centuries to Latin America and African slaves, but the current version used in orchestras and modern music was adapted in the 1900s in Europe and the U.S. from the earlier designs.
Interesting Marimba Facts:
The word 'marimba' originated from the African language Bantu spoken in Mozambique and in Malawi. The word 'ma' meaning 'a great number of objects' and the word 'rimba' meaning 'xylophone with a single bar'.
A musician that plays the marimba is referred to as a marimba player or a marimbist.
In some countries the word 'phone' is added to marimba and the instrument is then referred to as a marimbaphone.
The frame of the marimba is usually made of metal but in some rare cases it is made of wood. The frame sits on wheels.
The marimba has two rows of wood bars, most often on two levels about 4cm apart in height.
The bars of the marimba are made of wood and are ordered on the frame according to size. The wood bars have holes drilled in one end to allow for string to be threaded through in order to hold the bars in place.
The bars of the marimba rest on pegs that are mounted on the frame which allows them to vibrate when stuck with the mallet.
The number of bars used to create a marimba depends on what the range will be.
Marimba bars are often made of rosewood. It is possible to break a marimba bar with a mallet if it is too hard.
The pitch of the bars on a marimba is determined by the length of the bar, its thickness, and its density. The width has not effect on the bar's pitch when struck.
When the instrument must be tuned quickly it is possible to add a lump of wax to a bar. Other tuning methods include adding or removing wood or other material. In some cases it is necessary to file material off the end of the bar to produce the correct pitch.
The mallet used for playing the marimba varies depending on the sound required. The mallets used for playing the marimba are classified according to hardness: hard, medium, or soft. The mallet heads are usually rubber, plastic or wood. They are usually wrapped in yarn.
Marimbas are used in a variety of musical styles and performances including jazz, ensembles, concertos, marching bands, bugle and drum corps, orchestras, and Latin music.
Brian Jones played the marimba in the Rolling Stones' songs Out of Time and Under My Thumb.


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