A Homemade Xylophone Using Pipes

By Ros Dickinson
Published on November 1, 1981
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An impromptu performance on the homemade xylophone.
An impromptu performance on the homemade xylophone.
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Diagram shows the proportions and layout of the xylophone's foam support blocks.
Diagram shows the proportions and layout of the xylophone's foam support blocks.
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Diagram shows a top view of the xylophone.
Diagram shows a top view of the xylophone.

Many children first experience musicmaking while banging on the tinny, offkey bars of a toy xylophone. And though it’s wonderfully stimulating for the youngsters, such activity is often a real headache-producer for their parents. However, you can inspire your young musician’s creativity, and soothe your own nerves, with my homemade xylophone.

After a shopping trip for materials (during which you’ll lay out a lot less cash than you’d need to purchase most manufactured toys nowadays) and an hour or so of assembly time, you’ll have a permanent instrument on which your child can enjoy learning the elements of musical theory. Furthermore, I think you’ll be amazed by the xylophone’s pleasing tone … and if you have a good ear, you can even adapt the design to vary the number or pitch of the instrument’s “keys.”

How it’s Put Together

The simple pipe xylophone is made from common, readily obtainable materials, some of which you may already have around the house. The pipes are nothing more than sections of electrical metallic tubing (E.M.T.), usually sold in hardware or building supply stores. You’ll need one standard 10-foot length, which should cost between $2.00 and $3.00. The 1/2″ sizewhich has an outside diameter of almost 3/4″–will make a xylophone consisting of 13 pipes with three notes below the standard eight-tone octave and two above it.

The instrument’s base is a wide piece of 3/4″ shelf board (about 11″ X 24″). Rather than resting upon the wood, though, the pipes are supported and cradled by an assembly of long strips and small blocks of polyurethane foam secured with ordinary white household glue.

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