Dobro

American  

[doh-broh] / ˈdoʊ broʊ /

Trademark.

1. a brand of acoustic guitar commonly used in country music, usually played on the lap and having a raised bridge and a metal resonator cone that produces a tremulous, moaning sound.

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noun

plural

Dobros

1. (lowercase) any guitar of this type.

Dobro British  

/ ˈdəʊbrəʊ /

noun

1. an acoustic guitar having a metal resonator built into the body

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Example Sentences

Weaving around the many period-rich diegetic songs, he took a 1932 Dobro resonator guitar — the same one that Caton’s character, Sammy, plays in the film — and channeled his father’s blues-loving DNA.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2025

It’s a Dobro, which means it’s a guitar with this metal hybrid resonator, so it sounds slightly different.

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2018

Bluma’s guitar and a supporting cast that includes Lloyd Maines on Dobro and pedal steel deftly straddle musical genres.

From Washington Times • Jul. 6, 2017

The other originals usually started sparely, accompanied only by piano, Kane Ritchotte’s drums, Max Whipple’s bass and Cary Singer’s guitar, which imitated a mournful Dobro on a semi-countrified “Bad Words.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2015

James picked up the Dobro and plucked at it with his fingers.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt