How to Play Four-Mallet Marimba Music

Four-mallet marimba music is more complex and challenging than marimba music that only requires two mallets. Four mallets are used to play chords but individual mallets in a four-mallet set can be isolated to play single notes or running melodies.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Four mallets
• Marimba (or xylophone)

1. For beginners, it is easiest to lay out all four mallets on the marimba (or a table for practice) with the stick end pointed towards the player.

2. I find it easier to pick up the outside mallets first. Start by wrapping your pinky and ring fingers around one of the sticks so that the end of the stick peaks out a little past the base of the pinky.

3. The inside mallet will be placed with the very tip of the stick end in the center of your palm moving between your thumb and index finger.

4. To control the outer mallets you will need to move your pinky and ring fingers in a twisting or rotating motion. Rotating them in will move the mallet out, while rotating your fingers back out will move the mallet back in.

5. The inner mallet is controlled almost exactly like you would play the marimba with only two mallets. Your fingers will move in the same direction you want the mallet to move.

6. If you have to play a two-mallet segment between four-mallet segments then you just need to isolate the two inner mallets. Tighten your grip on the outer mallets so they don't go anywhere.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to keep your wrists loose. Stiff wrists will cause you to operate from the elbow, and that just doesn't sound good.
• It will hurt if you aren't used to it. You will see red spots on the middle of your palm and probably on the sides of your ring and middle fingers. You will develop calluses if you keep playing though!