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The use of flat aluminium bars or plates is common in the construction of xylophones and marching bells.
Such plates are very versatile instruments and like the chimes, can be tuned to any desired note or scale. As you can see from the image, plates can be used for the creation of piano-style keyboards. or may be left loose with small rubber feet so that they can be played on a table top or a floor on any arrangement. Such loose keys are perfect for Orff instruments. As pictured left, the plate mountings are designed so that sharps and flats can sit directly over the natural keys.
All plates are anodised to protect them from exterior effects and either clear (silver) or black are available. This finish is hardwearing but will be damaged aesthetically by the use of a metal or other striker that is of a harder material than aluminium.
Plates may be fixed directly to a solid, non-resonant surface, (a wall - not a wooden surface) where they will be relatively quiet. They do benefit significantly from the use of resonators but these are not a standard supply item as they are intended for indoor use. |







