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JimP
Tiger Talk Pro


Reged: Jul 01 2002
Posts: 66
Loc: NY
4.3 or 4.5 Octive?
      #38699 - Wed Apr 11 2007 01:39 AM (209.217.195.93)

Finally after a long search I've found the instrument I've been searching for. Now the question. 4.3 or 4.5 octive marimba? Is a 4.3 enough to get through the majority of 4 mallet pieces or has all the newer stuff expanded the range? Please advise because back in the 80's a 4.3 was the thing to have. Thanks, Jim P

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James WalkerModerator
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Reged: Mar 18 2002
Posts: 1283
Loc: Connecticut
Re: 4.3 or 4.5 Octive? [Re: JimP]
      #38701 - Wed Apr 11 2007 05:31 AM (4.245.227.16)

Since the late '80s, more and more literature has been written requiring extended ranges - a 4.5 at the bare minimum, if not a five-octave instrument. Now, all of that literature written for 4.3 marimbas (or smaller) still sounds great, and much of it is still worth learning and performing, but if you buy a 4.3 now with an eye towards learning the current standard literature, you'll run into problems very quickly due to the limited range of the instrument. If the only choices on the table are 4.3 or 4.5, I'd opt for the 4.5. If you can wait to save up a bit more, I'd at least consider looking into a 5 octave instrument (if you haven't done so already).

One thing I'll definitely suggest: if you opt for the 4.5, and not a five-octave, get one that has the low E (often marketed as a "4.6"). This way, you can play guitar transcriptions in the proper sounding octave (remembering that guitar music is transposed, and sounds an octave lower than written).

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