mark tree

noun

A percussion instrument consisting of many small chimes hanging from a bar, played by sweeping a finger or stick across them.

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Meanings

nounmark tree (plural mark trees)

plural mark trees

  1. A percussion instrument consisting of many small chimes hanging from a bar, played by sweeping a finger or stick across them.

    The Mark Tree is generally used as an effect to accentuate transitions in music, either at the beginning or end of a phrase. When used sparingly, they ^([sic]) can add an exotic "shimmer" effect.

    2008, Kalani, All about Hand Percussion: Everything You Need to Know to Start Playing Now!, Alfred Publishing Co., Inc., →ISBN, page 24

Origin

Named after studio percussionist Mark Stevens, who devised the instrument in 1967.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

mark tree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mark%20tree

MLA

“mark tree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mark%20tree. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mark tree,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mark%20tree.

Source: mark tree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.