How to Play Xylophone for Beginners

New Learn Pilates App! http://mhlo.co/qvbwyH
http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-play-xylophone-for-beginners/

If you're looking to take up a musical instrument and need an easy one to start with, you might want to consider learning how to play the xylophone.  Some music teachers consider the xylophone an "easy start" for beginners, because playing it doesn't necessarily require the detailed technique other instruments require.  The xylophone produces a ready tone for beginners and masters alike, allowing budding musicians to learn quickly and get more immediate results for their efforts.

The xylophone is a musical instrument with a long history - the first instrument of its type originated in Africa.  The xylophone is part of the percussion family - you play it by hitting wooden bars of varying lengths with a mallet that's made of rubber or wood. 

To play the xylophone, you'll first need to familiarize yourself with the instrument.  Different xylophones may have different note ranges, for instance - some as small as 2.5 octaves or as large as four.  Take note of the xylophone's bars: the longer the bar, the lower the pitch it produces.  Most xylophones are set up like a piano, with lower notes played on the left and bars for flat and sharp notes located in sets of two and three just above the main bars.

Go ahead and strike some keys to see what sounds they produce.  You might want to experiment with different mallets, as well, as tones will vary depending on the type you use.  Harder mallets will likely produce brighter, sharper sounds - soft mallets will produce more gentle tones.

Now that you're a bit more familiar with the xylophone, you'll want to learn the instrument's various notes.  The xylophone is made up of a series of notes that are repeated across the instrument - just like a piano.  Larger xylophones allow you to play a larger range of these notes.  Also, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the sharps and the flats of the notes.  Take the time to label your xylophone with the appropriate letters of the alphabet - and name each sharp and flat on the instrument as well.  You can use stickers to do this, or you can tape small pieces of paper onto the bars to help you memorize the placement of the notes.

Once you've got the basics down, you can begin playing the xylophone.  As a beginner, you're going to need to take things slowly: try to choose a simple song in the key of C to avoid sharps and flats in the music.  As your playing improves, you can begin branching out into other keys.

Finally, remember that practice makes perfect!  As with any instrument, regular practice is a must if you want to become a skilled xylophone player.  Learn some basic melodies and keep practicing them until you become proficient.  You might also consider practicing xylophone "drills" each day to help increase speed and accuracy and to properly hone your xylophone-playing skills.


REFS

http://www.mallet-percussion.com/for_teachers.html

http://ghscomlab.genevacsd.org/HostedSites/MalletsUnlimited/Mallet_Instrument...

http://www.dsokids.com/listen/instrumentdetail.aspx?instrumentid=17

http://www.playmusic.org/percussion/xylophone.html

http://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/3keyboard.html

http://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/3keyboard.html

http://www.playpiano.com/keyofCmusic.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHP5xjBP-9I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fW5cF9pHoo&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvWUqtc48H8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzJUf99FXoE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2SwhD5hbFU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1e0k9cBSEM

Mahalo Daily Videos Playlist:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4F1A4F3978CDD3EC
Celebs in 60 Seconds:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AA094BA366DB9B7B

Check out More Videos from Mahalo:
How to Play Guitar: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=BE077DEF7EB33D00
How to Speak French: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D2521D2616635BAF
How to Speak Italian: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=887048ECD49FDF31
How to Speak Spanish: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2450C6C9DCDFCBFD
How to Speak Korean: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CFD5322C76EEBB0F
Learn Math: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=13A0006C18545940
Learn German: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E7400E6F49B7211D
Learn Biology: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=16EB9E5F60FAD9BD
Learn Math: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=13A0006C18545940
Learn German: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E7400E6F49B7211D

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• xylophone
• marimba
• how
• to
• play
• mahalodotcom
• mahalonews
• piano
• keyboard
• super
• mario

[DesmonJones]

By the way, a marimba is not a "larger xylophone," it's a marimba. There are distinctions. Same goes for the glockenspiel/bells. Saying marimbas, xylophones and glockenspiels are all the same is like saying cellos, violas and violins are the same. And don't get me started on vibraphones...

[killuazaoldyekdragn]

hehe i have no idea why i watched this video... when i have no reason to... XD

ummm... thanx for uploading it i guess... o.o XD

[shavethebravedave]

@RamTerritory exactly! what about "porgy & bess" or other orchestral stuff? also easy to play?

[RamTerritory]

I don't see why they act like a retarted 3 year old could play a xylophone. Playing a xylophone does take skill. If you can say that xylophone doesn't take skill, then piano doesn't take skill. A xylophone is like a piano that you hit with mallets.

[HerrWozzeck]

Thank you, MahaloNews. Thank you for misinforming people by calling all mallet percussion "xylophones". There are differences between all of them, and calling them all 'xylophones' is not only incorrect but shows the lack of research that went into this video.

Seriously. It's not cool.

[ryobakura92]

u suc