The purpose of this page is to pass on to others what I have learned as a beginner and to fill the gap. If your browser can display images, the one at the top of the page is an example of a concert grand marimba of the type you would find in an orchestra. It is also very similar to the marimba that I now own. For a larger view of the instrument, just click here. The marimba is officially a member of the xylophone family with full length resonators below each bar.
Rosewood is preferred but is, unfortunately, very expensive.
This is easily seen in this close up of a concert grand marimba. The marimba is played by striking the bars with mallets which come in a wide variety of shapes, coverings, weights, and sizes. Some mallet heads are simply made of rubber or other synthetics graduated in hardness from soft to hard. Other mallet heads consist of a core covered with yarn, cord, or rubber. By controlling the core and winding a large variety of timbres are possible.