Classification

of
Instruments
 Classification
• Musical instruments may be classified or
grouped in several ways

• Traditionally, the European culture classifies

instruments according to orchestral
instrument families.
 Ethnographic Classification
• Orchestral classification does not cover the
wide variety of instruments and playing
styles which are found in various ethnic
groups worldwide.

• Early in the 20th century Erich Moritz von

Hornbostel and Curt Sachs derived a
system to classify all musical instruments.
 Ethnographic Classification
• The Hornbostel-Sachs system is based
on how an instrument creates vibrations
in order to produce sound.

• This is the most widely accepted

system of musical instrument
classification used today.
Classification of Instruments
Hornbostel-Sachs system identifies five
categories of instruments.

Aerophones
Chordophones
Membranophones
Idiophones
Electrophones
 Aerophones
An aerophone produces its sound by the vibration of air

Examples:

Flute
Recorder
Trumpet
 Unusual Aerophones
Dgeridoo - Australia
Panflute - Peru
Bagpipe – British Isles
Shakuhachi - Japan
Shofar – Middle Eastern (Jewish)
 Chordophones
Chordophones produce sound by the vibrating of strings.
To make the sounds: pluck, bow or strike the strings.

Examples

Guitar
Sitar
Violin
 Unusual Chordophones
Celtic Harp – British Isles
Koto - Japan
Washtub Bass – Southern USA, Jamaica
Harpsichord - Europe
 Membranophones
Membranophones produce sound
when a stretched skin (membrane) vibrates.

Examples

Conga Drums
Djembe
Tabla
 Idiophone Instruments
Idiophones produce a sound by the vibration of the
actual instrument itself.
These instruments can be struck or shaken.

Examples

Maracas (Chac Chac)

Steel Pan
Cow Bell
Electrophone Instruments
Electrophones produce by an electronic sound.

Examples

Electric Guitar
Synthesizer (electric keyboard)
Electric Drum Kit
 Review

• Aerophones produce sound by the vibration of

what?
• Chordophones produce sound by the vibration of
what?
• Electrophones produce what kind of sounds?
• Membranophones produce sound by vibrating
what?
• Idiophones use the vibration of what?
 Instrument Match
• Aerophone • Flute
• Conga
• Chordophone • Mandolin
• Synthesizer
• Idiophone • Pipe Organ
• Timpani
• Membranophone • Guiro
• Amplified Acoustic
• Electrophone Guitar
• Castinets
• Cello
 Acknowledgements
• Adapted from a presentation found on Lewiston-
Porter Central School District’s web site.
• http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/texth/H
ornbostel-Sachs.html
• http://thebirdfeednyc.com/2012/08/20/musical-in
strument-families/