Making Marimbas and Other Bar Percussion Instruments

by Bart Hopkin, Carl Dean

This book tells how you to make bar percussion instruments of all sorts. That includes marimbas and related instruments with sounding bars of wood, metal, bamboo, and other materials. Some of the instruments presented here are simple enough for children to make, while the most sophisticated of them -- fully chromatic marimbas with overtone tuning and tuned air resonators -- are on a par with professionally made instruments. In addition to presenting complete plans, the book explores both the practical and acoustic aspects of bar instruments, providing the understanding and know-how that will allow you to create instruments of your own design. With the accompanying CD you can hear and compare the sounds of the instruments. It's a useful guide, and a pleasure to listen to in its own right.

180 pages, Paperback

First published September 20, 2008