About The Marimba
The marimba is more than just an instrument—it’s the heartbeat of Ricardo’s music.
This beautiful percussion instrument is made up of rows of wooden bars that are played by striking them with mallets. Underneath each bar are resonators—metal tubes that help amplify the sound and give the marimba its deep, rich tone. If you’ve ever heard Ricardo play, you know how warm, calming, and powerful the marimba can be.
The bars of the marimba are laid out much like a piano keyboard, which helps players find their notes more easily. In fact, the marimba is often thought of as a larger, lower-pitched cousin of the xylophone—but its sound is softer, rounder, and often more emotional.
The marimba has a long and meaningful history. It was first developed centuries ago in what is now Chiapas, Mexico, and it’s still celebrated as the national instrument of Guatemala, where its roots run deep in tradition and culture.
🎶 Ricardo’s Connection to the Marimba
For Ricardo, the marimba isn’t just an instrument—it’s an extension of who he is. It allows him to express emotion, rhythm, and joy without needing a single word.
At every performance, Ricardo uses 6 to 8 different pairs of mallets, each selected to match the mood of the music. Lighter, harder mallets bring clarity and energy to upbeat classical songs like The Entertainer, while softer, darker mallets create a gentle, flowing sound for Latin and lounge pieces like Spanish Eyes and Meditation.
Ricardo’s ear and intuition help him choose the perfect mallets for every song and setting. And while most marimba players rely on sheet music to keep up with the instrument’s complexity, Ricardo plays entirely from memory. All he needs is a list of songs and the right pair of mallets—then, he lets his heart and hands do the rest.