Need to build a marimba

[Brian Hoskins]

Yesterday was the last day of school for my 3rd grade daughter. She volunteered me to build her 4th grade music class a marimba.

Any one got plans, advice or lessons learned? I have sufficient wood (rosewood for the tone bars; ohia, kamani and koa for the frame), but would like to get out in front of this project.

BTW, I need it for the start of school at then end of July... :(

[Philip Berman]

I googled "how to build a marimba" and came up with quite a few links, at least one of which should help you out.

Phil

[Jamie Buxton]

My woodworkers club built a run of marimbas for charity. Somebody found plans, which we followed. The plans specified the dimensions of the bars. However, the instruments were not in tune. The pitch of each bar depends on the density of the wood in the bar, and that varied enough to force us to tune each bar individually.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

A thing I have been contemplating too.

http://tinyurl.com/587sjy
http://tinyurl.com/5oahvd
http://tinyurl.com/6p4k3a

[Randal Cobb]

I googled "how to build a marimba" and came up with quite a few links, at least one of which should help you out.
Phil

<rant on>
Why not include a link or two to the results... or the search terms you used... or something productive to add to the thread. Not everyone thinks of themself as an internet guru. Some people actually come here for help.
<rant off>

On top of the links Cliff posted, you also might want to check here:
http://www.buildamarimba.com
or this one:
http://www.makeamarimba.com (http://www.makeamarimba.com/)

The second link actually links back to the first one for plans, but, there is some good additional information available here.

[Peter Quinn]

<rant on>
Why not include a link or two to the results... or the search terms you used... or something productive to add to the thread. Not everyone thinks of themself as an internet guru. Some people actually come here for help.
<rant off>

On top of the links Cliff posted, you also might want to check here:
http://www.buildamarimba.com
or this one:
http://www.makeamarimba.com (http://www.makeamarimba.com/)

The second link actually links back to the first one for plans, but, there is some good additional information available here.

So you are suggesting the OP was able to find and navigate the creek presumably with a computer, but will be unable to go to google.com and type "How to build a marimba"? as Philip suggested? Not sure I understand the rational behind ranting at Philip whose suggestion while simple I thought was helpful. End Rant.

[David DeCristoforo]

"...suggesting the OP was able to find and navigate the creek presumably with a computer, but will be unable to go to google.com and type "How to build a marimba"?..."

Ditto. If only I got a dollar for every time someone posted a question to which I did not know the answer, prompting me to drop the subject line of the post into a search engine and see literally hundreds of resources pop up. Sheech....

[Brian Hoskins]

So you are suggesting the OP was able to find and navigate the creek presumably with a computer, but will be unable to go to google.com and type "How to build a marimba"? as Philip suggested? Not sure I understand the rational behind ranting at Philip whose suggestion while simple I thought was helpful. End Rant.



Yeah, I can Google.


What I wanted to know is if anyone here has built one.
That's why I asked for "plans, advice or lessons learned."

But thanks for that great Google tip!

[Randal Cobb]

No, guys... My rant was about someone coming looking for help and getting told to "go search Google". I've already said I'm sorry to Philip. there was really no ill intent involved other than to rant about something that bugs me. You see it in just about every forum out there... Someone comes in looking for information just to be told to go Google the answer. Maybe the person doesn't know the correct term to Google? Not knowing the OP's skill level, it's very arrogant to say "Go Google it" when the OP may very well have no idea what to Google for. Personally, I'm just more of a "I don't know the answer, but you might want to Google for something like 'How to build a marimba'" type of responder. Usually on the other forums I frequent, it's usually some snot-nose little 13 year old kid who thinks he's the owner of the internet that would rather post a snide remark when someone who is truly less experienced than he needs or wants information. It just boils my blood when I see it. I'm here to learn and share as well, and I happen to think I'm pretty computer/internet savvy, and I don't always know what to search for!

[David DeCristoforo]

Oh goodie... a fight!

No really Randal, you should re-read Philip's reply which I quote:

"I googled "how to build a marimba" and came up with quite a few links, at least one of which should help you out."

So assuming that the OP truly knew not what to type into a search engine, Philip's reply should have been quite helpful since it gave the OP exactly that information. Castigating him (Philip) for not bothering to take the time to cut and paste all of the links that come up when one performs that search seems to me to be somewhat unfair.....

[Brian Kent]

I inherited and play my father's 4-1/3 octave Musser, made in about 1965. I would never attempt to reproduce this kind of Marimba.

Even larger marimbas are made by Marimba One, Yamaha, Vancore, Adams, and Musser. Some examples here:
http://inconcertpercussion.com/_wsn/page2.html

My guess is that you really can't make one of these without making it your career as a part of a highly trained team with specialized equipment. Theoretically, I could figure out how to build a concert piano, but not really effectively.

But that is just one definition of the word "Marimba".

One of the best experiences of my life was listening to two percussionists on an African Bush Marimba, which was bars of wood cut with an axe and a big knife, laid out on a bed of straw, tuned on a 5-note octave scale, about like the flats and sharps on a piano.

In-between is stuff that would be really fun, possible, and still a major tuning challenge. One of the marimbas that had a box for a resonator and up to two octaves of notes is in the range of the sort of possible.

The million dollar questions:

Are you courageous and challenged by projects just barely possible?

Have you ever tuned a guitar or piano or timpani or any other instrument?

If not, you need a partner who has done that. Either way, you need a chromatic tuner that can produce a tone and then tell you what note you are playing and whether you are sharp or flat. These are under $100 or can even be downloaded as a program that works through your computer.

If you cut all of the bars to perfect length and width and thickness, they will still be way out of tune. Each one needs highly skilled work. But isn't that what makes the challenge exciting. It's not easy. So what?

If you take on the right size challenge, go for it and have a wild time!

Brian Kent

[Brian Hoskins]

I inherited and play my father's 4-1/3 octave Musser, made in about 1965. I would never attempt to reproduce this kind of Marimba.

Even larger marimbas are made by Marimba One, Yamaha, Vancore, Adams, and Musser. Some examples here:
http://inconcertpercussion.com/_wsn/page2.html

My guess is that you really can't make one of these without making it your career as a part of a highly trained team with specialized equipment. Theoretically, I could figure out how to build a concert piano, but not really effectively.

But that is just one definition of the word "Marimba".

One of the best experiences of my life was listening to two percussionists on an African Bush Marimba, which was bars of wood cut with an axe and a big knife, laid out on a bed of straw, tuned on a 5-note octave scale, about like the flats and sharps on a piano.

In-between is stuff that would be really fun, possible, and still a major tuning challenge. One of the marimbas that had a box for a resonator and up to two octaves of notes is in the range of the sort of possible.

The million dollar questions:

Are you courageous and challenged by projects just barely possible?

Have you ever tuned a guitar or piano or timpani or any other instrument?

If not, you need a partner who has done that. Either way, you need a chromatic tuner that can produce a tone and then tell you what note you are playing and whether you are sharp or flat. These are under $100 or can even be downloaded as a program that works through your computer.

If you cut all of the bars to perfect length and width and thickness, they will still be way out of tune. Each one needs highly skilled work. But isn't that what makes the challenge exciting. It's not easy. So what?

If you take on the right size challenge, go for it and have a wild time!

Brian Kent
I don't want to make one of these:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:WlDXcu0_toHXnM:http://classical.marimba.googlepages.com/1.JPG/1-full.jpg

I want to make one of these:
http://www.buildamarimba.com/images/marimbashot500x346.jpg



I've made a cannon, built a 24' boat, a teardrop trailer and a replica of a civil war desk. I'll give this is a shot and post the results. It prolly won't be ready for the philharmonic, but I'm guessing the 4th graders will like it.

[Jamie Buxton]

.....
Have you ever tuned a guitar or piano or timpani or any other instrument?

If not, you need a partner who has done that. Either way, you need a chromatic tuner that can produce a tone and then tell you what note you are playing and whether you are sharp or flat.
...


A chromatic tuner might be useful, but people were tuning musical instruments by ear long before electronics were invented.

[Doug Shepard]

A chromatic tuner might be useful, but people were tuning musical instruments by ear long before electronics were invented.

Some ears are better than others though:D

One thing I'm wondering about is a digital weight scale. If you had the formula for determining the pitch given the size and density, and had a good estimate of the density for your wood, could you get pretty close by weighing and adjusting? Then less to do by ear? I dunno - just wondering.

[Brian Kent]

I don't want to make one of these:
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:WlDXcu0_toHXnM:http://classical.marimba.googlepages.com/1.JPG/1-full.jpg

I want to make one of these:
http://www.buildamarimba.com/images/marimbashot500x346.jpg



I've made a cannon, built a 24' boat, a teardrop trailer and a replica of a civil war desk. I'll give this is a shot and post the results. It prolly won't be ready for the philharmonic, but I'm guessing the 4th graders will like it.

Sounds like you are very well qualified to go for it!

[Steven Wilson]

You really want a Peterson strobe tuner for this project. Theory is pretty simple, build slightly large and trim (shave the back) to get the pitch (removing wood should sharpen the pitch). I would also seek out someone knowledgeable about the Marimba and have a talk with them about tuning

[Philip Berman]

Ok, I'll stick my toe back in the water. I have nine others if this one gets bitten off :-)

1) the kids are gonna love whatever you build, however it sounds, just because your daughters' 'daddy' made it. That immediately elevates you to mythic proportions

2) Ask the music teacher at your kids school to give you a hand with the tuning. That could be turned into a fun adventure for all the kids if you're armed with a plane and some sandpaper, with the kids participating in getting the pitch just right. As a trained musician, I know it would be a great exercise for them as well as great fun in seeing how the pitch changes with the removal of wood.

Phil

[Brian Kent]

Quoting Doug Shephard: "One thing I'm wondering about is a digital weight scale. If you had the formula for determining the pitch given the size and density, and had a good estimate of the density for your wood, could you get pretty close by weighing and adjusting? Then less to do by ear? I dunno - just wondering."

I would love to see some research on that. Sounds like it might get one step closer.

You would probably tune with a very soft mallet, whether with a tuner or an ear that is better than mine. Professional marimba makers tune the overtones as well as the main pitch. Soft mallets emphasize the main pitch. Hard mallets emphasize the many overtones that come with it.

Marimbas and xylophones are notoriously hard to record. The overtones really mess with the microphones. Older recording equipment often distorts when the xylophone or marimbas play.

One of the sites listed above recommended only tuning the main pitch and not even tackling the bright overtones.

[Peter Quinn]

You can definitely do this and the kids will love it. I guess its a question of your expectations and how far you want to take this project. I think you clearly have the skill to put together pieces of wood in a form that resembles a marimba. As others have said tuning it and having it sound correct over its scale is perhaps the greatest difficulty you will face. I've been playing guitar most of my life at this point and I'm too busy and too chicken to build one. Most amateur attempts I've heard sound like crap next to a professionally made instrument. Instrument making is a very advanced form of wood working. Other things made of wood don't have to tuned, and beyond simple pitch being correct, there is a certain warmth that exudes from a well made instrument crafted by a seasoned maker.

You haven't made reference to your musical back ground, so tuning the bars might be an area to get some specific professional help. I smell field trip! You, the kids, the music teacher, the freshly minted marimba all on a bus to the nearest symphony with a marimba player for a learning by doing day! This sounds like a beautiful opportunity to learn and grow for everyone involved. My music teacher way back in high school was a marimba major in college! He would have loved it if more people took an interest in the instrument.

And, at least they haven't asked you to make a set of drums!

[Brian Kent]

You really want a Peterson strobe tuner for this project. Theory is pretty simple, build slightly large and trim (shave the back) to get the pitch (removing wood should sharpen the pitch). I would also seek out someone knowledgeable about the Marimba and have a talk with them about tuning

Another odd twist - you raise the pitch by trimming the length. You slightly lower the pitch by taking wood from the middle of the underside of the bar.

For some reason, as you say, it is always easier for me to start low and tune up to a pitch (timpani and other tuned drums, guitars).

[Glen Gunderson]

Don't get discouraged by what people here are saying. I understand they are telling you to be cautious in your expectations, which is true, but you don't need perfect pitch or specialized equipment like a strobe tuner to make a half decent marimba. You're not making a fine instrument for concert performances, just a decent instrument for kids to learn and have fun on.

First off, I would buy Jon Madin's book "Make Your Own Marimbas." It's a fairly useful outline of building a marimba and includes plans for several (though they are in metric). It can be difficult to find, but I was able to order it off the internet a couple of years ago. That, coupled with some information off of the web should give you more than enough information to build a decent one. One site I found useful was one a teacher made about making a marimba for her class:

http://www.craftymusicteachers.com/bassmarimba/


Other than woodworking tools, all you'll really need is a chromatic tuner that has a built in mic like the Korg CA-30 which can be had for $20. Tuning the bars is fairly easy. It can get a little more complex when you try to tune the overtones, but it's still not that difficult to get a good sound as long as you follow the procedure correctly.

Other than the wood, you'll need a resonator of some kind, PVC pipe usually being the most common for home made marimbas. If you use PVC you'll have to tune those as well, but this is all outlined in the book I mentioned. Basically you cut them all to length (the longer the tube the lower the note) and put caps on the bottom. The length of the tube determines the pitch. For instance, here's some pipe lengths for 3" PVC:

C: 24.6"
D: 21.9"
E: 19.5"
F: 18.1"
G: 16.1"
A: 14.4"
B: 12.8"
C: 12"


Probably the most difficult part is getting the bars and the resonators all in perfect tune with each other, but with a little work, it's not that hard. To start, you make all of the bars and resonators to the proper size and carve them as needed, then you can do the final tuning which, while tedious, allows you to make minute adjustments to get the best pitch. For instance, as some have said, final tuning of the bars consists of taking bits of wood off the bottom to flatten the pitch or off the ends to sharpen it. The resonators too can be altered a little after being cut to get to perfect pitch. If the resonator is too flat, you cut a little off. If it's too sharp, you can back the cap off of the bottom a little to effectively increase its length. All you have to do is approach it methodically each note at a time and make sure you're getting each note correct. As long as each note is in tune, the notes up and down the scale will sound good.