Keyboard percussion instrument

A keyboard percussion instrument, also known as a bar or mallet percussion instrument, is a pitched percussion instrument arranged in the same pattern as a piano (organ, or piano accordion) keyboard and played with hands or percussion mallets. While most keyboard percussion instruments are fully chromatic, keyboard instruments for children, such as ones used in the Orff Schulwerk, may be diatonic or pentatonic.

Despite the name, keyboard instruments such as the celesta and keyboard glockenspiel are not considered keyboard percussion, owing to the different skills required to play them. These instruments are percussion instruments in most senses but are part of the keyboard section rather than the percussion section of an orchestra. Keyboard percussion instruments do not possess keyboards as such, but instead follow the arrangement of the keyboard.

Keyboard percussion instruments include marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, and tubular bells.

Current manufacturers

 * Adams Musical Instruments
 * Majestic Percussion
 * Musser Mallet Company
 * Premier Percussion
 * Yamaha Percussion