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

51Electro-acoustic instruments and devices5 subcategories 52Electromechanical instruments and devices5 subcategories 53Analogue electronic instruments, modules and components3 subcategories 54Digital instruments, modules and components7 subcategories 55Hybrid analogue/digital configurations 56Software

541Digital synthesizers4 subcategories 542Digital control sources and interfaces 543Digital signal mixing, modifying, and processing devices 544Digital samplers and sampling synthesizers 545Digital record/playback devices 546Other digital modules, components or configurations 547Digital modules communicating between devices