Relationship between sound classification of xylophone-like bars and wood species properties Mitsuko Aramaki (1) , Henri Baill` eres (2) , Lo¨ ıc Brancheriau (2) , Richard Kronland-Martinet (1) and Sølvi Ystad (1) (1) CNRS - Laboratoire de M´ ecanique et d’Acoustique 31, chemin Joseph Aiguier 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France (2) CIRAD-Forˆ et, TA 10/16, avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Abstract In this paper, we propose a methodology associating an analysis-synthesis process and a per- ceptual classification test of impacted wooden bars to point out the relationship between sound quality and physical parameters characterizing wood species. Statistical analysis have made it possible to point out the influence of the pitch in the classification, and the importance of two timbre descriptors, i.e. the frequency dependent damping and the spectral bandwidth. These descriptors can be linked to physical and anatomical characteristics of wood species, leading to new clues in the choice of attractive wood species from a musical point of view. INTRODUCTION This study is the first step towards a better understanding of what makes the sound produced by an impacted wooden bar attractive for xylophone makers. Sounds from a wide variety of wood species have been recorded and their sound quality has been compared and linked to the wood properties. To this aim, an original methodology associating analysis-synthesis pro- cesses and perceptual classification analysis is used and tested with a renowned instrument maker. The xylophone maker community seems to agree in the choice of wood species, and most commonly uses the (Dalbergia sp.) which fulfulls certain sound quality criteria together with properties like robustness and esthetic aspects. In spite of this specific choice of wood specie in xylophone manufacturing, other tropical wood species fulfill the conditions for high sound quality and could replace traditional species. Several authors have already addressed the problem of understanding which physical characteristics are of importance for the generated sound. In particular, [1] has concluded that an “ideal” xylophone wood type bar is charac- terized by a specific value range of density, Young modulus and damping factors. Studies