The xylophone, a pitched percussion instrument of African origin, consists of tuned blocks of wood laid out in the shape of a keyboard.

In this example, its crisp, dry sound is penetrating.


	Example: Saint-Saëns, Carnival of the Animals, "Fossils"
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yangqin A Chinese hammered dulcimer with a trapezoidal sound box and metal strings that are struck with bamboo sticks.

zither Family of string instruments with sound box over which strings are stretched; they may be plucked or bowed. Zithers appear in many shapes and are common in traditional music throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa.