Xylophone vs Marimba
Both the xylophone and marimba are percussion instruments that may appear quite similar to those without formal music education. They may also sound alike to some.
Key Takeaways
- The xylophone’s bars vary in length and are arranged according to size, while the marimba’s bars are the same length as piano keys and arranged similarly.
- Xylophones have a range of two and a half to four octaves, while marimbas have a wider range of three to five octaves.
- Marimbas have long resonators that contribute to the quality of their sound, while xylophones have shorter, less noticeable resonators.
What is a Xylophone?
The xylophone gets its name from two Greek words meaning “wooden sound.” It is believed to have originated in Asia and can be tuned to various musical scales, from pentatonic to chromatic. The bars on the xylophone are arranged according to size, and its range typically lies between two and a half to four octaves.
What is a Marimba?
The marimba is another percussion instrument with bars arranged similarly to a piano. It has a wider range of three to five octaves and is played using a mallet to strike its keys. The marimba’s resonators are long and visible, directly affecting the quality of its sound.
What is the difference between Xylophone and Marimba?
The xylophone and marimba can be differentiated by several characteristics. A xylophone has bars arranged according to size, while a marimba has bars the same length as piano keys. The marimba has a range of three to five octaves, while the xylophone’s range is two and a half to four octaves. Both instruments have resonators, but xylophones have short, less noticeable resonators, while marimbas have long ones.
Xylophone vs Marimba
- Xylophones have bars arranged by length, while marimbas have bars the same length as piano keys and arranged similarly.
- The xylophone has a range of two and a half to four octaves, while the marimba has a range of three to five octaves.
- Marimbas have long resonators, while xylophones have short ones.
