A marimba is a musical instrument that belongs to the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden bars, typically made of rosewood or synthetic materials, arranged in a similar fashion to a piano keyboard. The bars are of varying lengths, with the shorter bars producing higher-pitched tones and the longer ones producing lower-pitched tones.
Each bar is suspended above resonators, which can be made of metal or wood, and these resonators amplify and sustain the sound produced when the bars are struck with mallets. The mallets used to play the marimba can have different hardness or softness, which affects the timbre and volume of the notes.
Marimbas are often used in a variety of musical genres, including classical, jazz, folk, and world music. They are known for their rich and melodious tones and are capable of producing intricate and expressive melodies and rhythms. Marimbas come in various sizes and configurations, from small, portable models to large, concert-sized instruments. They are particularly popular in Latin American and African music traditions and have also found their way into contemporary Western classical and popular music.