Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone

Subject: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 02:06 PM

My 2021 resolution is to learn *an* instrument, to accompany myself on the Singarounds. I don't read music or grok keys so I figure a simple higher-righter lower-lefter might work.
Advice? Those of you who know my voice from the Singarounds, especially?
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 02:52 PM

If you don't know keys or chords, the best thing is a percussion instrument. Why not form a resolution to learn to read music? It's not hard.

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 04:13 PM

No desire to. Took music for 10 years in French school, that was enough. Besides, all I want to learn to play are the songs I already know... I want to learn to go from heard sung note to heard played note, not from eye to note. To learn a new song, I listen to it, and memorize it, then sing it. So I never need to read music. Topic for a separate queation, that.

So, anyway, I just spent a while in a music store. Apparently I will want a xylo rather than a metallo as the metal one I tried played way too high for how low I sing. I could get one and only play the bottom but that seemed silly. What the helpful staff [get it?] showed me was something called a bell set, which looked perfect, just like a 2-layer xylophone with maybe 2 octaves, but the sound, like I said, way too high.

Are there such things as bass (or at least way lower) bell sets?

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 04:46 PM

Bass Xylophone

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 05:13 PM

That is gorgeous, Guest, thanks.

Any recommendations for how to try these out? I am reluctant to buy online sound unheard.

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: leeneia
Date: 08 Jan 21 - 07:01 PM

You don't wish to accompany yourself in the sense that a folk guitarist accompanies a singer by using chords. You want to duplicate the melody you are singing, is that right?

If so, how about an Orff xylophone or a mini-electric piano. The piano will allow you much more freedom.

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 01:12 AM

Bingo, and I have seen the name Orff in my perusals. Thanks.

I can't believe it took me this long to find out what the xylo meant.

And what about vibraphones, which my spellchecker wants to change to vibrators? Had a friend with one of those. It was wooden but he said vibra and it was his instrument...

I never argue with what men call their instruments.

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 10:17 AM

Wait why are vibraphones thousands of dollars and the xylo- and metallophones mere hundreds?

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 11:13 AM

Possibly because of the time needed to shape the individual wooden bars and get them in tune.

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 10 Jan 21 - 05:39 AM

Anyone wondering what intrument to take up should if at all possible find an opportunity to try various kinds. Depending on your previous experience (if any) and on how your brain is wired up, you are likely to find some kinds much easier than others. I dabbled with various kinds in my childhood and youth before settling on one kind to stick with.

For song accompaniment, a further consideration is that the instrument must be able to be played quietly enough not to smother the words. Many singers focus too much on the instrument and not enough on making their words clearly audible. I still find that aspect challenging with my choice of instruments, which are Anglo concertinas.

Subject: RE: Buying a grown-up xylo- or metallophone
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Jan 21 - 05:25 PM

Good points, Richard Mellish.

In big cities are there music stores one can try out several instruments in?