Hornbostel–Sachs

Hornbostel–Sachs taxonomy

Musical instruments classified by how they produce sound — from the five abstract families down through ever more particular subclasses.

1Idiophones6 subcategories 2Membranophones4 subcategories 3Chordophones3 subcategories 4Aerophones3 subcategories 5Electrophones6 subcategories

11Struck idiophones2 subcategories 12Lamellaphones2 subcategories 13Friction idiophones4 subcategories 14Blown idiophones2 subcategories 15Metal sheets4 subcategories 16Flexed diaphragms

111Idiophones struck directly2 subcategories 112Idiophones struck indirectly3 subcategories

111.1Concussion idiophones (clappers)4 subcategories 111.2Percussion idiophones4 subcategories

111.21Percussion sticks2 subcategories 111.22Percussion plaques2 subcategories 111.23Percussion tubes2 subcategories 111.24Percussion vessels5 subcategories

111.25Percussion boulders 111.241Gongs2 subcategories 111.242Bells2 subcategories 111.243Slit drums 111.244Percussion troughs

111.241.1(Individual) gongs2 subcategories 111.241.2Sets of gongs [gong chimes]2 subcategories

111.241.21Sets of bossed, flat gongs (with flange) and intermediate types 111.241.22Sets of gongs with divided surface sounding different pitches