How the lithophone makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the lithophone 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.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
A lithophone is a musical instrument consisting of a rock or pieces of rock which are struck to produce musical notes. Notes may be sounded in combination (producing harmony) or in succession (melody). It is an idiophone comparable to instruments such as the glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylophone and marimba.
In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, lithophones are designated as '111.22' – directly-struck percussion plaques.
Other struck idiophones
Frequently asked questions
What does a lithophone sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the lithophone?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.222).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q1704079 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Lithophone – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by A. Davey from Where I Live Now: Pacific Northwest – CC BY 2.0