The most common way that idiophones produce sound is by being struck with a beater or mallet. This causes the material of the idiophone to vibrate, creating a sound. For example, a xylophone or marimba consists of a series of wooden bars that are struck with mallets to produce different pitches. Similarly, a gong is struck with a mallet to produce a loud, resonant sound.
Some idiophones, such as bells, cymbals, and triangles, are struck with a beater or rubbed with a stick. This causes the metal of the instrument to vibrate, producing sound. For example, a bell is struck with a clapper or hammer, causing the metal of the bell to vibrate and create a ringing sound. Cymbals are clashed together, causing the metal of the cymbals to vibrate and produce a shimmering, crashing sound.
Other idiophones, such as castanets or claves, are clicked together. This causes the wood or bone of the instrument to vibrate, producing a sharp, percussive sound. For example, castanets are clicked together between the fingers to create a rhythmic sound often associated with Spanish music. Claves are two wooden sticks that are struck together, creating a sharp, clicking sound used in Afro-Cuban music.
Some idiophones, such as a singing bowl or a musical saw, are vibrated directly. Singing bowls are made of metal and produce a rich, resonant sound when struck around the rim with a mallet or rubbed around the rim with a stick. A musical saw is made of metal and produces a smooth, ethereal sound when a bow is drawn across its edge.
In conclusion, idiophones produce sound through the vibration of the instrument itself. They can be struck, rubbed, clicked, or vibrated to create different sounds and pitches. The diversity of materials used in the construction of idiophones, such as wood, metal, and bone, contributes to the wide range of sounds that they are capable of producing.