Classification of Common Musical Instruments

Aerophones
(Wind
Instruments Vibrating Air)
Free
Aerophones
Free
Aerophones
(Moving object
vibrates air to
create sound)
Bull-roarer
Buzzer
Free Reed
Aerophones
(Vibrating reeds
without
resonators)
Accordion
Harmonica
Harmonium
Mouth Organ
Sheng
Flutes (Flue
Voiced)
(Air column
split by lip of of
the instrument)
Open Tube
End Blown
Single Flutes
Kaval
End Blown
Multiple
Flutes
Panpipes
Antara
Whistle
Blown
Boatswains
Whistle
Flageolet
Recorder
Side Blown
Flute
(transverse)
Closed Tube
Ocarina
Keyboard
Organ

Chordophones
(Stringed
Instruments Vibrating
Strings)
Zithers
Ground
Zithers
Musical Bows
Aeolian Bows
Pluriare
Stick Zithers
Vin
Bladder and
String
Raft Zither
Trough Zither
Frame Zither
Tube Zither
Board Zither
Long Zither
Individually
Bridged Long
Zither
Fretted Long
Zither
Box Zither
Monochord
String Drum
Trumpet
Marine
Psaltery
Aeolian Harp
Fretted Zither
Bell Harp
Autoharp
Dulcimer
Zither
Keyboard
Chordophone
s
Keyboard
Experimental
Keyboard
Transposing
Keyboard
Chekker
Dulce Melos
Clavichord
Cimbal
d'amour
Harpsichord
Clavicytheriu
m

Idiophones
(Vibrating
Instruments)

Membranophones
(Vibrating Membrane
Instruments)

Concussion
Idiophones

Predrum
Membranophones

Clappers

Ground drums
Pot drums

Claves
Slapstick
Castanets
Cymbals
Percussion
Idiophones
Stamped
Idiophones
Percussion
Beams
Marimba
Bell Lyre
Celesta
Gender
Glockenspiel
Orchestra Bells
Saron
Vibraphone

Tubular Drums
Frame Drums
Shallow Drums
Cylinder Drums
Hourglass Drums
Conical Drums
Goblet Drums
Barrel Drums
Rattle Drums
Water Drums
Drum Kit / Drum Set
Talking Drums
Drum Chimes
Bass
Drum
Bongos
Conga
Snare
Drum
Tenor
Drum
Timbale
s
Tomtom

Percussion
Disks
Gong
Percussion
Sticks
Triangles
Xylophone
Crystallophone
s
Lithophones
Metallophones
Percussion
Tubes
Stamping Tubes
Slit Drums
Tubular Bells &
Chimes
Angklung
Percussion
Vessels
Percussion
Gourds & Pots
The Echeion
Steel Drums
Bells
Temple Blocks
Wood Block

Kettledrums
Timpani
Friction Drums
Mirliton

Electrophone
s
(Electronically
Created
Sounds)

Reedpipes
(Vibration of
reeds)
Double Pipes
Triple Pipes
Hornpipes
Bladder pipe
Crumhorn
Bagpipes
Musette
Shawm
Oboe
Cor Anglais
or English
Horn
Rackett
Sordone
Sordun
Bassanelli
Bassoon
Curtal
Bassoon
Contrabassoo
n
High-pitched
Bassoon
Single-reed
Bassoon
Sarrusophone
Single-reed
Reedpipes
Clarinet
Saxophone
Free-reed
Aerophones
Lip Vibrated
Aerophones
(Vibration of
Lips)
Horn
Fingerhole
Horns
Cornett
Serpent
Trumpet
Conical Bore
Alphorn
Bugle
Cornet
Euphonium
Flugelhorn
Tuba
Cylindrical
Bore
English

Gut-strung
Harpsichords
&
Enharmonic
Harpsichords
Spinet
Virginal
Claviorganum
Piano-organ
Bowed
Keyboard
Instruments
Pianoforte
Harpsichord
Piano
Tangent Piano
Sustaining
Piano
Pedalboard
Piano
Enharmonic
Piano
Player Piano
Fortepiano
Piano

Shaken
Idiophones
(Rattles)
Vessel Rattles
Pellet Bells
Gourd Rattles
Maracas
Basketry
Rattles
Hollow Ring
Rattles
Suspension
Rattles
Stick Rattles
Sistrum
Strung Rattles
Frame,
Pendant, and
Sliding Rattles
Sistro
Scraped
Idiophones
Scrapers

Lyres
Lyre
Crwth

Giro
Cog Rattles
Cog Rattle
Ratchet
Washboard

Harps
Ground Bows
Harps
Harp
Harp Zither
Harp Lute
Lutes
Long-necked
Lute
Short-necked
Lute
Archlute
Theorbo
Theorbo Lute
Chitarrone
Angelica
Mandora
Mandolin
Sitar
Cittern
Archcittern
Bandora
Orpharion
Penorcon
Polyphant
Balalaika

Split Idiophone
Plucked
Idiophones
Jew's Harp
Thumb Piano
Music Box
Sansa
Mbira
Friction
Idiophones
Friction Sticks
Friction-bar
Pianos
Friction
Vessels
Musical Glasses
Glass Armonica
Musical Saw

Baritone Horn
Sousaphone
Trombone

Charango
Colascione
Guitar
Gittern
Vihuela
Spanish
Guitar
Bass Guitar
Bandurria
Ukulele
Organistrum
(hurdygurdy)
Bowed
Chordophone
s
Bow
Fiddle
Rebec
Kit
Folk Rebec
Polnische
Geige
Lira da
Braccio
Lira da
Gamba
Viola da
Gamba
Violone
Baryton
Viola
Violino
d'amore
Violin
Viola
Tenor Violin
Violoncello or
'Cello
Double Bass