 A glockenspiel made by Malletech | |
| Percussion instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names |
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| Classification | Keyboard percussion |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 111.222 (Sets of percussion plaques) |
| Playing range | |
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| Related instruments | |
The glockenspiel (/ˈɡlɒkənʃpiːl/ GLO-kən-shpeel; German pronunciation: [ˈɡlɔkənˌʃpiːl] or [ˈɡlɔkn̩ˌʃpiːl], Glocken: bells and Spiel: play) or bells is a percussion instrument consisting of pitched aluminum or steel bars arranged in a keyboard layout. This makes the glockenspiel a type of metallophone, similar to the vibraphone.
The glockenspiel is played by striking the bars with mallets, often made of a hard material such as metal or plastic. Its clear, high-pitched tone is often heard in orchestras, wind ensembles, marching bands, and in popular music.