Frequencies, input admittances and bandwidths of the natural bending eigenmodes in xylophone bars

The results are reported of experimental measurements of the response of xylophone bars to a random signal applied at their centre and at one end. Empirical values are obtained with these spectra for the frequencies, input admittances and bandwidths corresponding to the natural bending eigenmodes of xylophone bars. The results explain the acoustical behaviour of the vibrating elements of xylophones and show that it is possible to estimate the vibrational effects of the geometrical shapes of such bars. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.