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vibraphone

vibraphone

2 9.1
A musical instrument like a xylophone with metal bars that make a soft ringing sound when they vibrate
  • noun
  • /ˈvaɪbrəˌfoʊn/
translation icon : vibrafono
  • L: Mallet Percussion Goldenburg, Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, Vibraphone
  • play the vibraphone
  • jazz vibraphone

And we piled the vibraphone in the car, went down, played two songs together before some record session started.

Examples

  • Bowed vibraphone.

  • And we piled the vibraphone in the car, went down, played two songs together before some record session started.

  • On the vibraphone, Warren Smith.

    Academic text (2001)
  • And the drummer, Ted had a vibraphone in his room.

  • Mother, tomorrow, before the Kirbys come... ...let them put everything down in the cellar, the typewriter, the kittens, the vibraphone....

  • Texturally, the instrumentation is diverse, including layers of strings, synthesizer, guitar, piano, and vibraphone, creating an entrancing thick wall of sound with a cinematic quality.

    Blog text (26)
  • Try to imagine an improvised duet played by jazz master Lionel Hampton on vibraphone and seven-year-old beginner Sean on an alto xylophone.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The trio players were Bob Chalfant on piano, Henry Burch on vibraphone, conga, bells, and trumpet, and Marsh Padillo on guitar, flute, and percussion.

    Blog text (25)
  • The musician played a beautiful melody on the vibraphone during the concert.

  • In jazz bands, the vibraphone adds a unique sound that enhances the overall performance.

Synonyms

vibes
vsvibraphone
  • Jargon
1 8.5

A musical instrument with metal bars that makes a soft, ringing sound when hit

is the standard full name rather than an informal short form
vibraharp
vsvibraphone
  • Specialized
9.9

A percussion instrument with metal bars and rotating disks in the boxes that make a soft vibrating sound

is the standard term rather than that alternate name

How Bright

glockenspiel
5 8.2
vibraphone
2 9.1
xylophone
7 5.3
marimba
4 8.1

Surface Forms

vibraphone singular
vibraphones plural

Morphology

vibraphone = vibrate + phone (semi-transparent) = vibra + phone

The parts correspond to 'vibrate' + the combining form '-phone' meaning 'sound', but 'vibra-' is not a standalone word and '-phone' is often interpreted by learners as 'telephone', so the instrument name is only partly inferable.

Etymology

Vibraphone comes from vibra- meaning 'to shake', as in vibrate, and -phone meaning 'sound', as in telephone. So the name fits: the instrument's metal bars and rotating discs make the sound 'shake' or wobble, giving its mellow, shimmering tone.