The heavier a mallet, the darker the sound will be. Weight can come from several factors, including the mallet’s core, the core’s materials and how much yarn is wrapped around the core.

Weight/Color: Not all mallets weigh the same. This is often seen in solo playing, but can be effective in some of the band and ensemble parts requiring four mallets.

This allows for a nice full tone throughout the instrument. For example, you may wish to have a soft mallet in the bass, along with three medium mallets. Graduated Mallets: If you are playing with four mallets, it is common to graduate then. If more articulation is desired in the low range, try switching to a soft cord mallet. This will allow both the high range to speak with little force, and the low range to sing without damaging any of the bars. If you are covering a large range, I recommend starting with a medium yarn mallet. To avoid damaging the bars, the lower the range you are playing, the softer the mallet should be. Most marimbas are made of rosewood, a hardwood that needs to be protected due to its limited amounts. Range: When choosing a mallet for marimba, you must take the range into consideration. For articulate passage, a hard mallet should be considered to allow all notes to speak. For rolls, a soft to medium-soft mallet is recommended for a nice smooth legato tone. determines the articulation at the instrument. The hardness of a mallet - very soft, medium, very hard, etc. Articulation: Determining your desired articulation is the first step in finding the right mallet.

Soft tone music