An instrument to the side of his desk sounded a tone.

The instrument sounded tinny on the night, something from another time and place, like the old man himself.

A musical instrument sounded and the gates began to swing open.

When finished, the instrument was too big but sounded magnificent.

Once the box was closed, the instruments would sound.

It is a musical term to indicate that an instrument or voice does not sound.

"Is that why your grandmother's instruments sound different from anyone else's?"

For the remainder of the concert, new instruments sounded like existing ones.

Contrast is also when you compare two different instrument sounds to each other.

While the musical effect was sometimes excessive, the instrument sounded magnificent.