Marimba

The marimba is a member of the struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.212). It originates from Mexico and Guatemala. Listen to 3 recordings and learn how it makes its sound.

Listen to the marimba

2. Entrada Mango (marimba)

0:04CC BY-SA 4.0by Luis AlvazWikimedia Commons

0:04

Ave Marimba (ISRC USUAN1700024)

2:50CC BY 3.0by Kevin MacLeodWikimedia Commons

2:50

The Marimba Gang (Antti Luode)

3:06CC BY 3.0by Antti LuodeWikimedia Commons

3:06

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

How the marimba makes its sound

In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the marimba 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

The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the marimba has a lower range. Typically, the bars of a marimba are arranged chromatically, like the keys of a piano. The marimba is a type of idiophone.

Today, the marimba is used as a solo instrument, or in ensembles like orchestras, marching bands (typically as a part of the front ensemble), percussion ensembles, brass and concert bands, and other traditional ensembles.