The xylophone is a percussion instrument consisting of wooden bars of graduated lengths arranged like a keyboard. The player strikes the bars with mallets, producing bright, short-lived tones of definite pitch. Resonators beneath the bars help amplify the sound on concert instruments.

The xylophone’s clear, penetrating attack makes it effective for melodic lines, rhythmic patterns, and colorful accents in orchestral and band music. It also appears in solo and chamber works and in various traditional music cultures. Different mallets—hard or soft—alter the tone from sharp and brilliant to more mellow.

Technique requires accurate aiming, controlled stroke height, and the ability to move quickly across the instrument. The xylophone is often paired with other mallet instruments such as the marimba and vibraphone in percussion sections. Its distinctive sound is immediately recognizable even in a full orchestral texture.

• Wooden bars struck with mallets
• Produces bright, definite pitches
• Used in orchestras, bands, and solo music
• Requires precise mallet technique