How to Play Four Mallet Marimba

Last Updated: February 20, 2020

Learning to play the marimba is fun and rewarding, but once you’ve become proficient while using two mallets, the next step is learning to play with four mallets. Holding them and playing with them feels awkward at first, but after sufficient practice it will become like second nature.

Steps

1
Put the first mallet between your pointer finger and thumb. The end of the mallet should reach to the center of your palm. The mallet is kept in place by your palm, pointer finger and thumb.^{[1]
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2
Put the second mallet between your ring finger and your middle finger. The end of the mallet should reach to about the first line in your palm.^{[2]
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3
Repeat steps one and two for the third and fourth mallets, which go in your other hand.^{[3]
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4
Play the mallets that are between your thumb and pointer finger, you simply hold onto the mallet with those fingers and move it up and down. Try not to move your hand at all while doing this; only the mallet and the two fingers should move.^{[4]
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5
Playing the mallet between your ring finger and pinkie is slightly harder. To make the movement, imagine that you’re opening a doorknob. In fact, a good way to practice this movement is by turning a doorknob a couple of times and paying particular attention to the rotation that occurs. You want to duplicate this rotation. Your wrist should twist slightly away from you, bringing the top of the mallet downward. With practice, this movement will become minimal – you won’t have to move your wrist very much at all to make the mallet move downward. As you play you'll teach yourself how to roll just imagine a doorknob you can't open and your twisting and turning it.^{[5]
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Community Q&A

Question

When I try this, my hand begins to hurt very badly and my hand becomes sore for a few hours after I'm done playing. Is this normal for beginners?

Community Answer

Yes, this is normal for beginners, but take care of yourself. Ice your hands and wrists if they're sore after practicing, and stretch regularly before, during and after playing.
Question

How much of the mallet should stick out of my hand?

Community Answer

If you're playing with four mallets with Stevens grip, less than an inch, or you will hit your hand and be unable to play fast.