Understanding Mallet Shafts And Heads
Mallet Heads
Given the fact that it is the head of the mallet that (except for certain extended techniques) will be coming into contact with the bars of an instrument, the design and materials of a mallet head will have a significant effect on the sound that is produced.
There are myriad types of mallets available on the market, so rather than specifying certain mallets for certain situations, here are some issues to consider when selecting a mallet:
Weight vs. Hardness – the common misconception is that a harder mallet is always louder than a softer mallet. However, the difference in volume is often a result of the differing timbres between soft and hard mallets.
A harder mallet will produce a sound which projects more clearly, by “cutting through” the sound of other instruments.
A softer mallet (generally speaking) will emphasize the fundamental tone of a bar, and in fact may produce more volume than a harder mallet, even though a harder mallet will be heard more prominently in an ensemble.
A heavier mallet will produce more volume than a lighter mallet, as more energy will be transferred from the mallet to the bar(s) as the instrument is played.
Contact sound – quite literally, this is the sound of the mallet striking the bar (as opposed to the actual sound of the bar itself). The more pronounced the contact sound, the more articulate each note will be.
Players seeking a very legato effect (i.e., a rolled chorale-type piece on marimba) will seek a mallet with minimal contact sound; those seeking more staccato articulation (say, if performing as a soloist with an ensemble) will be better served by a mallet with a more prominent contact sound. Generally speaking, softer mallets will have less of a contact sound than harder mallets.
Cores – The core is the center of the mallet head. Some cores are made from rubber, some from plastic, and some from wood. Some mallets incorporate rubber tubing or some other sort of padding around the core, to mitigate the hardness of the original material. Harder mallet cores will – as one might guess – help to create a harder mallet.
Wrapping – mallets may be wrapped with yarn (common for softer marimba mallets), cord (common for harder marimba mallets, and vibraphone mallets), or may be unwrapped altogether (common for bell and xylophone mallets, and some marimba mallets).
Cord mallets tend to produce more of a contact sound than yarn mallets do, and the tighter a mallet is wrapped, the harder it will be.
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