Reg Kehoe and his marimba queens

This one is a special treat...no educational content except the observation that marimbas are usually made of wood!

The bars for the lowest pitched notes are wider and longer, and gradually get thinner and shorter as the notes get higher.

Like the bars of a xylophone, the bars of a marimba are most commonly made from rosewood, but they can also be made from padouk and various synthetic materials.

Rosewood is the name given to a number of different timbers which have a rich dark red colour and a sweet smell. They are heavy and have strong resonance making them good for musical instruments. Unfortunately, many rosewoods, like Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra), are endangered due to over exploitation and should not be used.