What is the Difference Between Xylophone and Marimba?

The xylophone and marimba are both mallet percussion instruments, but they have distinct differences in terms of size, range, sound, and tuning:

1. Size and Range: The marimba is the larger instrument, with its range covering over five octaves (beginning at C), while the xylophone occupies a higher range (beginning at F) and has a brighter, more piercing sound.
2. Sound: The marimba has a soft and mellow tone that blends well with wind instruments, while the xylophone has distinct and sharply defined tones.
3. Tuning: Marimbas are tuned on even-numbered harmonics, with tuning on the fundamental pitch, the fourth harmonic, and the 10th harmonic. Xylophones are tuned on the fundamental pitch and the odd-numbered third harmonic.
4. Resonators: Both instruments have resonators that amplify the sound and cause the note to resonate fully when the bar is hit with a mallet. The length of each resonator varies depending on the pitch of the tone bar; the lower the note, the longer the resonator.
5. Material: Marimba bars are usually made of wood, while xylophone bars are made of synthetic materials.

In summary, the marimba is a larger instrument with a darker, fuller sound, while the xylophone is smaller and has a brighter, more piercing sound. The marimba is tuned on even-numbered harmonics, and its bars are made of wood, while the xylophone is tuned on odd-numbered harmonics and has synthetic bars.

Comparative Table: Xylophone vs Marimba

Here is a table comparing the differences between a xylophone and a marimba:

In summary, the xylophone and marimba are both mallet percussion instruments with wooden bars, but they differ in their range, bar material and size, resonators, sound characteristics, tuning methods, and usage in various musical genres.