Classification of Musical

Instruments
The Hornbostel-Sachs System
Hornbostel-Sachs
Classification System
First developed in 1914
Allows all the worlds instruments to be
classified under one system
Based upon two criteria
The way sound is produced
The nature of the resonating material
Method used by ethnomusicologists today.

Five Instrument Families in
the H&S System
Idiophones
Membranophones
Chordophones
Aerophones
*Electrophones
Idiophones
Make sound
primarily by way of
the instrument itself
vibrating without the
use of membranes
or strings

Struck
Plucked
Friction
Blown
Membranophones
Make sound
primarily by way of a
vibrating membrane.
This includes all
drums.
Struck
Plucked
Friction
Singing

Chordophones
Produce sound
primarily by the
vibration of a string
or strings.


Simple
Composite
Aerophones
The vibrating air itself is
the primary cause of
sound. This can include
a column of air being
set in vibration (as in
wind instruments) or an
air-flow being
interrupted by an edge
(as in free-reeds).
Free
Non-free
Flutes
Reed
Trumpet
*Electrophones
sound is generated
by electrical means
Its really more complex than
what I introduced today
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-
Sachs

Sources of Information
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibition
s/Instruments/Anglais/classement_en.ht
ml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musi
cal_instruments_by_Hornbostel-
Sachs_number