Balo
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The Balo is a West African xylophone with wooden bars. Each bar has its own hollow gourd resonator to make the sound louder. Balos are often played with drums, and are an important part of official ceremonies and village festivals.
| Family |
| Percussions |
| Pitch range |
| Two-and-a-half octaves. |
| Material |
| Wooden bars, with gourd resonators. |
| Size |
| Variable : this balo is 3 ft 3 in (1 in) long. |
| Origins |
| This example of a balo is from Ghana, bur similar instruments are found in other parts of West Africa.. |
| Classification |
| Idiophone: an instrument that produces its sound through the use of the material from which it is made, without needing strings or a stretched skin. |
| And also... |
| Balos are usually played in performance by professional musicians, and rarely by amateurs. |
