The Rylophone The materials used to make my instrument are a box, elastic bands, copper pipes, wrapping paper, paper, glue, paint, tape and wood. This instrument is a member of the orchestral percussion family. The sound is produced by hitting the pipe with a wood mallet. When you strike the longer bar you get a lower pitch and when you strike the shorter bar, a higher pitch. The dynamics are controlled by how hard or soft you strike the pipes, which causes them to vibrate.