
What musical instrument should you play?
Ultimate 2021 Instrument Quiz
- A Guide to Choosing the Instrument You Should Play. Starting a career in music or even doing it for fun always comes with lots of questions. ...
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What is the best musical instrument?
Best Musical Instruments. The Top Ten. 1 Electric Guitar The electric guitar is a type of guitar that unlike an acoustic guitar, is solid body instead of hollow. They use pickups and amps to produce sound that's audible from more than a few feet. They are mainly used in rock and metal music and in those genres are commonly the main instruments.
What musical instrument would you like to play?
You should say:
- What musical instrument it is
- What it looks like
- What it sounds like
What is the most widely played musical instrument?
The voice. In music, the voice is regarded as one of the most common, popular and easily accessible music instrument. The voice, if well trained, can also represent and sound like other music instruments you can think of. 265 views

What instruments use a mallet?
This article is designed as a primer on the most common band instruments and the types of mallets most often used to play each one.Timpani (aka Kettle Drums) ... Xylophone. ... Marimba. ... Vibraphone (aka Vibes) ... Glockenspiel (aka Bells or Orchestra Bells) ... Chimes (aka Tubular Bells)
Which percussion instruments uses a mallet to produce sound?
There are three main types: Unwrapped mallets, used on glockenspiel, xylophone, and other instruments with keys made of durable material, have heads made of brass, rubber, nylon, acrylic, wood, or other hard materials.
What are mallets used for in music?
A device used by a percussion player to strike the instrument. It typically has the appearance of a light hammer with a small, rounded or spherical head used to play certain percussion instruments (marimba, xylophone, orchestra bells, chimes etc.).
What are the four different mallet percussion instruments?
1:229:47Guide to the Orchestra: Mallet Percussion Instruments - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd i'm going to demonstrate. Four unique mallet keyboard percussion instruments today the first oneMoreAnd i'm going to demonstrate. Four unique mallet keyboard percussion instruments today the first one that i just played with four mallets is called a marimba the marimba. Is made up of wooden bars and
How many mallet percussion instruments are there?
In western music, there are 6 main types of mallet percussion instruments.
What type of mallet is used for a xylophone?
Mallets for the xylophone are typically made of poly (plastic) material, rubber or wood. Up until now, articulation played a big role in mallet selection. The marimba, glockenspiel and vibraphone all have resonance that are affected by mallet choice.
Why are mallets called mallets?
Their baby was named Brody Fordham and fans were confused on why Mallet wasn't used. During a Q&A on her page, a fan asked: "Congratulations could you plz explain. I'm confused by baby's surname did I miss something?" The star added a few laughing emojis to her answer before writing: "Mallet is a nickname for Tommy!
What instrument uses sticks?
Xylophone. The xylophone is made of bits of wood that are tuned to different notes. The player uses sticks, or beaters, to hit the wooden bars, sometimes as many as six at a time!
What does the word mallets mean?
Definition of mallet : a hammer with a typically barrel-shaped head: such as. a : a tool with a large head for driving another tool or for striking a surface without marring it. b : a long-handled wooden implement used for striking a ball (as in polo or croquet)
Is a piano a mallet instrument?
A keyboard percussion instrument, also known as a bar or mallet percussion instrument, is a pitched percussion instrument arranged in a similar pattern to a piano keyboard and played with hands or percussion mallets.
Are all drums played with mallets?
Percussion mallets are mostly used for kettle drums and other, large drums, but they can also be used by drummers playing a regular kit. Mallets are the same length as basic sticks, but they have thicker handles. Drummers who choose mallets typically play classical music as part of an orchestra.
Is mallet a percussion tool?
Mallet percussion instruments are a group of pitched percussion instruments. These instruments feature bars made of wood or metal arranged like a piano keyboard. The xylophone is one of the most prominent members of this group due to its bright, wooden sound.
What are wrap mallets made of?
Wrapped mallets have heads that are made of rubber, nylon, or acrylic, which are then wrapped in softer materials, such as yarn or latex. These softer mallets are primarily used with instruments that are less durable, including the marimba and the vibraphone. However, they may also be used on more durable instruments to provide a more muffled sound when the keys are struck.
What is an unwrapped mallet?
Unwrapped mallets are the type that is generally used on more durable instruments, such as the glockenspiel or xylophone. This is due to the hardness of the material of these heads. They can be made using hard rubber, wood, brass, acrylic, and other hard materials designed to strike clean, clear notes on solid keys.
What is the best way to play timpani?
Felt mallets or cartwheel mallets are most commonly used to play the timpani. The heads are made up of several layers of felt stacked on top of one washer, while a second washer sits on the top of the head to hold the felt in place.
Do tongue drums come with mallets?
Indeed, many tongue drums come supplied with mallets like the one on my recommended tongue drum page.
Why are mallets used?
Different mallets are used primarily to alter the timbre of the mallet instrument being played. Generally, mallets composed of softer materials will stick to the instrument for longer as they bounce off of it, which gives a deeper sound made up of lower frequencies.
What kind of mallets are used for cymbals?
Wrapped mallets are also the mallets of choice to play suspended cymbal, though drum set players will typically use drum sticks instead. Felt mallets or cartwheel mallets have heads composed of layers of felt, held between two steel washers. They are mainly used on untuned percussion as well as on timpani.
How many mallets are in a four mallet grip?
Mallet choice is typically left up to the performer, though some compositions specify if a certain sound is desired by the composer. Players frequently employ two mallets in a matched grip or four mallets in a four-mallet grip; however, use of up to six mallets is not uncommon.
What is a drum stick?
Drum sticks are beaters normally used in pairs, with each held in one hand, and are similar to or derived from the snare drum sticks that were subsequently adopted for kit drumming . They are the most general-purpose beaters, and the term covers a wide variety of beaters, but they are mainly used for untuned percussion.
What are vibraphone mallets called?
Some mallets, such as vibraphone mallets, are normally just called mallets, others have more specialized names including: Drum sticks, of many types, some used with a wide variety of instruments,. Rutes, used with many instruments. Brushes, used particularly with snare drum but also with many other instruments.
What is a cartwheel mallet?
Cartwheel mallets with wooden shafts and heads of felt held between steel washers. As well as being a general term for a hand-held beater, mallet is also used specifically to refer to a hand-held beater comprising a head connected to a thin shaft, and used in pairs. There is a wide selection of mallets to choose from to create a desired sound, ...
What is a rute?
A rute or multi-rod consists of several thin sticks that are bound together to form one stick. Its sound is midway between a stick and a brush. Long used in orchestral music, in the mid 20th century rutes also became popular for many other purposes including kit drumming and bodhrán .
What is a mallet percussion instrument?
Mallet Percussion (マレットパーカッション#N#,#N#Marettopākasshon) is a subfamily of percussion instruments who share several common themes, the most notable of which is the way they produce sound: being struck with a mallet. Someone who plays mallet percussion instruments is called a mallet percussionist or simply a mallet percussion player.
What is mallet percussion?
The most basic and standard construction of a mallet percussion instrument is a set of idiophone s arranged like a keyboard. These idiophones can vary in size, shape, and material, from the wooden bars of a xylophone, to the metal tubes of chimes, and the round disks of crotales. They are also mounted on a frame of sorts that accommodates the needs of the instrument.
What is a tubular bell?
The tubular bells, also commonly called chimes is a unique mallet percussion instrument. It consists of a set of large metal tubes arranged like a piano, suspended vertically along its frame. It is quite loud and is often used to add color to pieces.
What is a crotale?
Crotales, sometimes called antique cymbals are small percussion instruments consisting of disks of an average 10 cm (4") in diameter. They usually come in chromatic sets which are played by striking with a mallet, or by striking two individual crotales together. It is a transposing instrument pitched in C, reading music two octaves below sounding. They are often used in orchestras and concert bands. They have a very bright, piercing tone. Crotales are often criticized for being out of tune, and since they cannot be retuned, the bells in question either have to be replaced, or the ensemble must tune to them.
What is the difference between a marimba and a xylophone?
The marimba, like the xylophone, consists of a set of wooden bars. The two differ in that marimbas are much larger , and use yarn mallets. It has a warm, rich tone compared to the xylophone.
What is a vibraphone?
The vibraphone is a metallophone, consisting of a set of metal bars ranging in size, struck with mid-soft yarn mallets. The instrument has plenty of additional features including pedals and a motor. It has a mellow tone.
What is a glockenspiel?
The glockenspiel, also commonly called bells is a metallophone, consisting of a set of small metal bars, struck with hard, often metal mallets. It is quite high pitched and produces a sweet, yet piercing tone.
How does an orchestral xylophone work?
The construction of the modern orchestral xylophone consists of a frame, sitting on a metal stand, on which bars sit in turn. Wheels attach to the frame so that the device is easy to move as needed.
What is a xylophone?
Its name has been in use for decades. A series of wooden bars of different lengths arranged according to pitch and struck with mallets essentially comprise this instrument.
What instruments are included in the scoring mallets?
Scoring Mallets includes 3 instruments – Marimba, Xylophone, and Vibraphone. Recorded in a beautiful large scoring room, its primary use is for scoring applications, however, due to its full-featured mixer and microphone balance options, it fits virtually every musical style! Marimba. Custom Marimba made by ‘Marimba One’.
What can you play with scoring mallets?
With Scoring Mallets you can elegantly play single notes, Trills, Rolls, Glissandi, and for the first time, have dedicated access to 4-Mallet playing techniques. These options allow complete freedom of idiomatic writing without the use of pre-recorded loops.
Why use a mallet?
Besides simply producing sound, mallets are used to achieve different articulations, colors, characters and dynamics. Choosing the right mallet is the first step in producing the best possible sound for a piece. With the number and types of mallets on the market, it's easy to get overwhelmed.
What type of ball should I use for a mallet?
If you desire the instrument to be more blended in musical texture, I would recommend a soft poly ball. Depending on the size of the mallet's head, articulation and dynamics will be affected. A smaller ball will sound thinner in tone, while a larger ball will provide a fuller response from the bar.
What are mallets made of?
Mallets for the xylophone are typically made of poly (plastic) material, rubber or wood. Up until now, articulation played a big role in mallet selection. The marimba, glockenspiel and vibraphone all have resonance that are affected by mallet choice. The xylophone, however, is different.
What kind of mallet should I use for a legato?
For a bright sound and sharp articulation, a very hard mallet is best. For a soft legato sound, I recommend a soft cord. Although not ideal, yarn mallets can be used at softer dynamics to produce different tone qualities.
What is a Marimba mallet?
Marimba. Marimba is the ideal instrument for introducing the capabilities of mallets. All of the principles listed below apply to other mallet instruments. Marimba mallets generally are made with yarn or synthetic yarn. The yarn is wrapped around a core and is glued to a rattan, birch or fiberglass shaft.
What is the difference between a soft and hard mallet?
The hardness of the mallet will change how the initial attack of a note sounds. Harder mallets result in a brighter and louder tone, while soft mallets, such as rubber, produce a warmer and more rounded tone. Wooden mallets are also a good choice.
Why is it important to have a good selection of mallets?
It's important that your band/ensemble has a good selection of mallets to begin the music-making process. As your mallet collection grows, you can focus on how to choose the right mallet for the music, repertoire or style you are playing.
What determines the amount of contact a mallet has with the instrument?
The size and shape of the mallet head determines the amount of contact the mallet has with the instrument, which affects tone. A wider contact surface usually leads to a less pointed attack while a narrower contact surface tends to lead to a more pointed attack.
Why use a harder mallet?
It is common for percussionists and conductors to go to a harder mallet when they need more volume. This usually leads to a brittle sound that, although more audible, isn't always the most appropriate. Harder mallets also run the risk of introducing a "click" that isn't usually considered a desired tone.
What is the shape of a marimba mallet?
For marimba and vibraphone mallets, the shape applies to the core, but can usually still be seen through the wrapping. Ball: The most popular mallet shape is ball. Most marimba mallets and many vibraphone mallets have a ball-shaped core. Consider this the middle ground for mallet shapes.
Why are brass mallets not used on crotales?
Additionally, harder mallets can lead to premature wear and intonation problems with the instrument over time. For these reasons, many players avoid brass mallets on crotales (antique cymbals) or bell kits made from aluminum; instead, they favor aluminum or hard plastic mallets.
What is a heavier mallet?
Heavier mallets also have a higher limit to how loud they can sound before being overplayed and creating a distorted sound. Weight used to be largely an issue of core material, but manufactures have been using brass to add weight to mallet cores, which has led to mallets with very specific balances and weights.
What is a wrap around mallet?
The wrap around mallets intended for marimba, vibraphone and cymbals affects the contact sound of the mallet. Different wraps used to be associated with specific instruments, but that is no longer the case.
What is a mallet head?
The mallet head consists of a core and, in the case of wrapped mallets, a wrapping. The material of the core can influence the sound independently of its hardness. Cores are usually categorized as rubber (also known as latex) or plastic (also known as synthetic).

What Are The Best Percussion Mallets?
What Are Percussion Mallets Made of?
What Mallets to Use on A Xylophone?
What Mallets to Use on A Glockenspiel?
What Mallets to Use on A Marimba?
What Mallets to Use on A Vibraphone?
- Similar to the marimba, the vibraphone tends to used wrapped mallets, however, where the marimba almost always uses yarn heads, it is recommended that cord heads are used for the vibraphone. This difference is due to the material that vibraphone keys are made out of. The metal keys or bars have a higher likelihood of damaging yarn-wrapped mallets, ...
Mallets For Handpan?
Mallets For Tongue Drums?
Overview
Types
Drum sticks are beaters normally used in pairs, with each held in one hand, and are similar to or derived from the snare drum sticks that were subsequently adopted for kit drumming.
They are the most general-purpose beaters, and the term covers a wide variety of beaters, but they are mainly used for untuned percussion.
Drum sticks are beaters normally used in pairs, with each held in one hand, and are similar to or derived from the snare drum sticks that were subsequently adopted for kit drumming.
They are the most general-purpose beaters, and the term covers a wide variety of beaters, but they are mainly used for untuned percussion.
Major percussion mallet companies
See also
External links