Tuning Marimba Bars with Altair Inspire

We’re following Altair CTO James Dagg on a fun project to build a Marimba with his son! Using Altair Inspire, they used simulation to show how Marimba bars are tuned before making them with Brazilian cherry wood! Watch (and listen!) to the video:

[@institutodemusicaspegazzin9386]

Thanks from Argentina!

[@MeowfaceMusic]

Might you know of an ultra-advanced method for node-finding, like a fancy camera that detects/shows vibration-imagining? Might you know how the big boys do it? I can’t imagine the Marimba One and Yamaha guys doing the salt trick for all their thousands of bars. 🙂

[@Edelce]

thank you so much, this video has been incredibly useful

[@MeowfaceMusic]

Wooden bars over time slipping out of tune:
Both factors combined--wood drying out and abuse--which direction in pitch do bars tend to go? What percentage of bars go flat? What percentage of bars go sharp? Consistent and predictable?
Thanks : )

[@jack-sm7jy]

What kind of wood is that ?

[@GuruPercussion]

I wait you can answer my ask. From which key does it start tuning overtones and what does it do if it does not reach the desired overtones?

[@cpatlynch]

Hey MUSOFT a bit late, but I am in the process of building a marimba as well. For myself, my tuning roughly follows: C2-C4 (fundamental, 2nd transverse, and 3rd transverse), C4-C6 (fundamental, and 2nd transverse), and then C6-C7 (just the fundamental). the first two are the most important, and I tuned the 2nd transverse as much as I could until around the C6 bar. This was a really nice resource for me www.lafavre.us/tuning-marimba.htm . Also, great job guys on the marimba!

[@GuruPercussion]

@@cpatlynch Thank you very much for the information. I already tuned all my bars (4 octaves). Now I'm fine tuning the resonator tubes. I also recommend this website. There is valuable information, you can write an email to its creator, he is a very kind person and helped me understand many things about overtones. www.hopestreetmarimba.com/

[@cpatlynch]

@@GuruPercussion thanks too, I'll look in the website!