Glockenspiel

The glockenspiel is a member of the struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.212). Listen to 4 recordings and learn how it makes its sound.

Listen to the glockenspiel

Glockenspiel des Neuen Rathauses in Freiburg, Wem Gott will rechte Gunst erweisen

0:58CC BY-SA 4.0by Andreas SchwarzkopfWikimedia Commons

0:58

Glockenspiel Kieler Rathausturm

0:19CC BY 4.0by Michael BrandtnerWikimedia Commons

0:19

Vals folías (Glockenspiel)

1:13CC BY-SA 4.0by Luis AlvazWikimedia Commons

1:13

Neues Rathaus Freiburg, Glockenspiel

1:38CC BY-SA 4.0by Andreas SchwarzkopfWikimedia Commons

1:38

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

How the glockenspiel makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the glockenspiel belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.

More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.

Press play above and watch the spectrum: the evenly spaced peaks are harmonics, and their relative strength is what gives the instrument its character.

From Wikipedia

The glockenspiel or bells is a percussion instrument consisting of pitched aluminum or steel bars arranged in a keyboard layout. This makes the glockenspiel a type of metallophone, similar to the vibraphone.

The glockenspiel is played by striking the bars with mallets, often made of a hard material such as metal or plastic. Its clear, high-pitched tone is often heard in orchestras, wind ensembles, marching bands, and in popular music.