How to Play a Glockenspiel

The glockenspiel is a small steel percussion instrument that resembles a xylophone and piano. The glockenspiel has a high pitched chime and sits horizontally on a stationary stand or on a harness for marching. Use a mallet to play the piano style keyboard. Use the following instructions to play a glockenspiel.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the glockenspiel. Imagine the keys look like a piano, with black keys on top and white keys on the bottom section. A glockenspiel generally has two and a half octaves or groupings of 12 keys; each octave contains two groups of "black keys," one with two keys and the other with three.

2. Find the C key just to the left of the group of two black keys. Hit the C key with a hard rubber mallet. Pull the mallet up slightly after striking the key to resonate and project the sound.

3. Play the "white keys" in left to right progression or a scale. The white keys progress from C as follows: CDEFGAB.

4. Affix tiny stickers or matte-finish tape to the base of the glockenspiel, beneath each white key. Write CDEFGAB on the stickers to remind you.

5. For a simple tune, play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" as follows: CC GG AA G, FF EE DD C, GG FF EE D, GG FF EE D, CC GG AA G, FF EE DD C.

6. Use a specialty piano or glockenspiel book to learn advanced techniques and music theory. Learn how to read music to improve your glockenspiel skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Inquire about private lessons.
• Many instruments are in the same key as the glockenspiel and piano so the sheet music is transferable.

Resources

• Fall Creek Marimbas online glockenspiel sales and repairs