About Bell Mallets
Bell mallets are used to strike a bell or vibrating instrument like a xylophone or related instrument. They are simple but fascinating because there are so many different effects and sounds that can be achieved using different bell mallets on various instruments. There are bell mallets made for each type of instrument, and they have different striking surfaces and handles and are made of various materials.
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Significance
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The type of bell mallet you choose will affect the type of sound you produce. A solid metal bell mallet gives a higher frequency sound because of the rate of vibration it causes. Of course, the mallet will sound different on different types of instruments. The key is to experiment and have many at your disposal.
Function
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The bell mallet is plain and simple. It functions as the instigator of the sound. It strikes the block, bell, chime or gong and creates a resonating vibration that has a frequency, pitch and tone that can be very distinguishable. If you want to create a certain mood, the mallet selection is very important, because the sound it creates can be associated with fear, surprise, urgency or another emotion.
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Types
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There are many types of bell mallets. Two major groups can be defined by the actual mallet material. While most handles are made of wood (a few are made of metal), the end of the mallet, or the striking head, can be made of a hard wood, brass or another metal, or be a combination of metal and cloth, or wood and cloth. In addition, there are resonator mallets designed to create a broader sound that resonates. There are also mallets designed for specific instruments like bells, gongs, xylophones and glockenspiels.
Features
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Many bell mallets are made of steel. Xylophone mallets are commonly made of brass. Block mallets are usually made of wood, because metal is too hard and will damage the wood when it is struck. A typical mallet has a handle that is straight and long, with a striking head attached to it. Cloth-covered mallets are made of either wood or metal and designed to dampen the vibration, offering control over the sound and emphasizing the percussion or beat rather than the resonating effect of the mallet strike, as in resonator mallets.
Size
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Most bell mallets are about a foot long, but they can range in size from tiny 2-inch-long mallets to 3 feet long or more. The end of the mallet striking head is typically round and small, no more than the size of a golf ball, but a few are cylindrical. The round shape and small size allows for more control and gives the user the option to strike the bell or instrument from any angle and on any part of the bell.
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