The orchestral glockenspiel (orchestra bells) is made up of a series of steel bars laid out chromatically. The width of the bars varies between 1 to 1 ½ inches. Because there is less surface area to strike, musicians find it more difficult to play bars that are narrow in width. Therefore orchestral players prefer larger instruments. The bars of the glockenspiel give a high, bright, bell-like sound when struck by a mallet. A modern development on this instrument is the pedal damper. The player can depress this pedal to sustain the sound. The range of instrument can vary between 2 ½ to 3 ½ octaves. Mallets can be made from the following material: brass, plastic, hard rubber, and wood. The choice of mallets depends on the musical setting.