Selecting the proper keyboard mallets is the same as a woodwind or brass player choosing the correct mouthpiece. Utilizing a variety of mallets allow percussionist to explore the various timbre possibilities of each instrument.
Using sound as the priority, the correct tools or mallets enables you to create the desired effect with out damage to the instrument or using incorrect technique. For instance high volume doesn’t necessarily mean a harder mallet. Two basic sounds of mallet instruments are attack and resonance. Using too hard of a mallet can distort the bar sound and even cause damage. Using heaver mallets with a soft attack can create the combination of sounds to increase volume while maintaining the integrity of the instruments sound. Let mallet selection made with common sense and good musical judgment be your guide to the desired sound.
Mallets are in two categories wound and unwound. Mallets also come in a variety of shaft materials: rattan, fiberglass, and birch.
This is a guide for the most common configurations:
|
Instrument
|
Head
|
Shaft
|
|
Marimba
|
yarn wound
|
birch or rattan
|
|
Vibes
|
cord wound
|
rattan
|
|
Xylo
|
rubber, phenolic, wood
|
birch or rattan
|
|
Bells
|
brass, phenolic, lexan, polyball
|
birch
|
There are always exceptions, for example the use of cord mallets on marimba will produce more attack, or for a mellow sounds on a vibe try, yarn mallets. The standards also will vary between brands of instruments, types of materials for example wood vs. synthetic and so on.
Regarding shaft selection, some like to use fiberglass for younger students because of the durability but the feel of rattan and birch are preferred by advanced players. The birch shaft has a rigid feel to the player and transmits some vibrations to the player. Birch shafts are typically used with the Burton or Stevens grip. The rattan shaft is more flexible and transmits less vibration to the player. Rattan is typically used with the Musser grip.
