HornbostelSachs

1.1

HornbostelSachs or SachsHornbostel is a system

of musical instrument classication devised by Erich
Moritz von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs, and rst published in the Zeitschrift fr Ethnologie in 1914.[1] An English translation was published in the Galpin Society Journal in 1961. It is the most widely used system for classifying musical instruments by ethnomusicologists and
organologists (people who study musical instruments).
The system was updated in 2011 as part of the work of the
Musical Instrument Museums Online (MIMO) Project.[2]

Struck idiophones (11)

These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck, for

example cymbals or xylophones.
1.1.1 Directly struck idiophones (111)

The player herself executes the movement of striking;

whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters,
keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc. It is denitive that
Hornbostel and Sachs based their ideas on a system de- the player can apply clear, exact, individual strokes, and
vised in the late 19th century by Victor-Charles Mahillon, that the instrument itself is equipped for this kind of perthe curator of musical instruments at Brussels Conserva- cussion.
tory. Mahillon divided instruments into four broad categories according to the nature of the sound-producing
111.1 Concussion idiophones or clappers Two
material: an air column; string; membrane; and body
or more complementary sonorous parts are struck
of the instrument. Mahillon limited his system, for the
against each other.
most part, to instruments used in European classical music. From this basis, Hornbostel and Sachs expanded
111.11 Concussion sticks or stick clappers.
Mahillons system to make it possible to classify any in 111.12 Concussion plaques or plaque clappers.
strument from any culture.
111.13 Concussion troughs or trough clappers.
Formally, the HornbostelSachs is modeled on the Dewey
111.14 Concussion vessels or vessel clappers.
Decimal Classication for libraries. It has ve top-level
classications, with several levels below those, adding up
111.141 Castanets Natural and
to over 300 basic categories in all. The top ve levels of
hollowed-out vessel clappers.
the scheme are as follows:
111.142 Cymbals Vessel clappers with
manufactured rim.

111.2 Percussion idiophones The instrument is

struck either with a non-sonorous object (hand,
stick, striker) or against a non-sonorous object (human body, the ground).

Idiophones (1)

111.21 Percussion sticks.

111.211 Individual percussion sticks.
111.212 Sets of percussion sticks in a
range of dierent pitches combined into
one instrument. All xylophones, as long
as their sounding components are not in
two dierent planes.

Idiophones sound is primarily produced by the actual

body of the instrument vibrating, rather than a string,
membrane, or column of air. In essence, this group
includes all percussion instruments apart from drums,
as well as some other instruments. In the Hornbostel
Sachs classication, idiophones are rst categorized according to the method used to play the instrument. The
result is four main categories: struck idiophones (11),
plucked idiophones (12), friction idiophones (13), and
blown idiophones (14). These groups are subsequently
divided through various criteria. In many cases these subcategories are split in singular specimens and sets of instruments. The latter category includes the xylophone,
the marimba, the glockenspiel, and the glass harmonica.
List of idiophones by HornbostelSachs number.

111.22 Percussion plaques.

111.221 Individual percussion plaques.
111.222 Sets of percussion plaques Examples are the lithophone and also most
metallophones.
111.23 Percussion tubes.
111.231 Individual percussion tubes.
111.232 Sets of percussion tubes.
1

1 IDIOPHONES (1)
111.24 Percussion vessels.
111.241 Gongs The vibration is
strongest near the vertex.
111.241.1 Individual gongs.
111.241.2 Sets of gongs.
111.242 Bells The vibration is weakest
near the vertex.
111.242.1 Individual bells.
111.242.11 Resting bells whose
opening faces upward.
111.242.12 Hanging bells suspended from the apex.
111.242.121 Hanging bells without internal strikers.
111.242.122 Hanging bells with
internal strikers.
111.242.2 Sets of bells or chimes.
111.242.21 Sets of resting bells
whose opening faces upward.
111.242.22 Sets of hanging bells
suspended from the apex.
111.242.221 Sets of hanging bells
without internal strikers.
111.242.222 Sets of hanging bells
with internal strikers.

1.1.2

Indirectly struck idiophones (112)

of a sonorous object, to be alternately lifted o the

teeth and icked against them; or an elastic sonorous
object moves along the surface of a notched nonsonorous object to cause a series of impacts. This
group must not be confused with that of friction idiophones.
112.21 Scraped sticks.
112.211 Scraped sticks without resonator.
112.212 Scraped sticks with resonator.
112.22 Scraped tubes.
112.23 Scraped vessels.
112.24 Scraped wheels cog rattles or Ratchet
112.3 Split idiophones Instruments in the shape of
two springy arms connected at one end and touching
at the other: the arms are forced apart by a little
stick, to jangle or vibrate on recoil.

1.2

Plucked idiophones (12)

Plucked idiophones (lamellaphones) idiophones set in

vibration by being plucked, for example the jaw harp or
mbira. This group is sub-divided in the following two
categories:
1.2.1 In the form of a frame (121)

The player himself does not go through the movement of The lamellae vibrate within a frame or hoop.
striking; percussion results indirectly through some other
121.1 Clack idiophones or Cricri The lamella is
movement by the player.
carved in the surface of a fruit shell, which serves as
resonator.
112.1 Shaken Idiophones or rattles The player
makes a shaking motion
112.11 Suspension rattles Perforated idiophones are mounted together, and shaken to
strike against each other.
112.111 Strung rattles Rattling objects
are strung in rows on a cord.
112.112 Stick rattles Rattling objects
are strung on a bar or ring.
112.12 Frame rattles Rattling objects are attached to a carrier against which they strike.
112.121 Pendant rattles.
112.122 Sliding rattles.

121.2 Guimbardes and Jaw harps The lamella is

mounted in a rod- or plaque-shaped frame and depends on the players mouth cavity for resonance.
121.21 Idioglot guimbardes The lamella is
of one substance with the frame of the instrument.
121.22 Heteroglot guimbardes The lamella
is attached to the frame.
121.221 Individual heteroglot guimbardes.
121.222 Sets of heteroglot guimbardes.

112.13 Vessel rattles Rattling objects en- 1.2.2 In the form of a comb (122)
closed in a vessel strike against each other
or against the walls of the vessel, or usually The lamellae are tied to a board or cut out from a board
like the teeth of a comb.
against both.
112.2 Scraped Idiophones The player causes a
scraping movement directly or indirectly; a nonsonorous object moves along the notched surface

122.1 With laced on lamellae.

122.11 Without resonator.

1.5

Unclassied idiophones (15)

122.12 With resonator.

122.2 With cut-out lamellae Musical box

1.5 Unclassied idiophones (15)

2 Membranophones (2)

Membranophones sound is primarily produced by the

vibration of a tightly stretched membrane. This group
includes all drums and kazoos. List of membranophones
Idiophones which are rubbed, for example the nail violin,
by HornbostelSachs number
a bowed instrument with solid pieces of metal or wood
rather than strings.

1.3

Friction idiophones (13)

2.1 Struck membranophones (21)

1.3.1

Friction sticks (131)

131.1 Individual friction sticks.

131.2 Sets of friction sticks.
131.21 Without direct friction.
131.22 With direct friction.
1.3.2

Friction plaques (132)

132.1 Individual friction plaques.

132.2 Sets of friction plaques.
1.3.3

Friction vessels (133)

133.1 Individual friction vessels.

133.2 Sets of friction vessels.

1.4

Blown idiophones (14)

Blown idiophones idiophones set in vibration by the

movement of air, for example the Aeolsklavier, an instrument consisting of several pieces of wood which vibrate
when air is blown onto them by a set of bellows. The
piano chanteur features plaques.

1.4.1

Blown sticks (141)

141.1 Individual blown sticks.

141.2 Sets of blown sticks.
1.4.2

Blown plaques (142)

142.1 Individual blown plaques.

142.2 Sets of blown plaques.

Struck drums instruments which have a struck membrane. This includes most types of drum, such as the
timpani and snare drum.
2.1.1

Directly struck membranophones (211)

Instruments in which the membrane is struck directly,

such as through bare hands, beaters or keyboards
211.1 Instruments in which the body of the drum is
dish- or bowl-shaped (kettle drums)
211.11 Single instruments
211.12 Sets of instruments
211.2 Instruments in which the body is tubular
(tubular drums)
211.21 Instruments in which the body has
the same diameter at the middle and end
(cylindrical drums)
211.211 Instruments which have only one
usable membrane
211.211.1 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is open
211.211.2 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is closed
211.212 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.212.1 Single instruments
211.212.2 Sets of instruments
211.22 Instruments in which the body is
barrel-shaped (barrel drums)
211.221 Instruments which have only one
usable membrane
211.221.1 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is open
211.221.2 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is closed
211.222 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.222.1 Single instruments
211.222.2 Sets of instruments

2 MEMBRANOPHONES (2)
211.23 Instruments in which the body is
double-conical

211.311 Instruments which have only one

usable membrane
211.312 Instruments which have two usable membranes

211.231 Instruments which have only one

usable membrane
211.231.1 Instruments in which the
211.32 Instruments which have a handle
end without a membrane is open
211.321 Instruments which have only one
211.231.2 Instruments in which the
usable membrane
end without a membrane is closed
211.322 Instruments which have two us 211.232 Instruments which have two usable membranes
able membranes
211.232.1 Single instruments
2.1.2 Shaken membranophones (212)
211.232.2 Sets of instruments
211.24 Instruments in which the body is
Instruments which are shaken, the membrane being vihourglass-shaped
brated by objects inside the drum (rattle drums)
211.241 Instruments which have only one
usable membrane
211.241.1 Instruments in which the 2.2 Plucked membranophones (22)
end without a membrane is open
211.241.2 Instruments in which the Instruments with a string attached to the membrane, so
end without a membrane is closed
that when the string is plucked, the membrane vibrates
211.242 Instruments which have two us- (plucked drums) Some commentators believe that instruments in this class ought instead to be regarded as chorable membranes
dophones (see below).
211.242.1 Single instruments
211.242.2 Sets of instruments
211.25 Instruments in which the body is 2.3
conical-shaped (conical drums)
211.251 Instruments which have only one
usable membrane
211.251.1 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is open
211.251.2 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is closed
211.252 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.252.1 Single instruments
211.252.2 Sets of instruments
211.26 Instruments in which the body is
goblet-shaped (goblet drums)
211.261 Instruments which have only one
usable membrane
211.261.1 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is open
211.261.2 Instruments in which the
end without a membrane is closed
211.262 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.262.1 Single instruments
211.262.2 Sets of instruments

Friction membranophones (23)

Instruments in which the membrane vibrates as a result of

friction. These are drums which are rubbed, rather than
being struck.
2.3.1 Friction drums with stick (231)
Instruments in which the membrane is vibrated from a
stick that is rubbed or used to rub the membrane
231.1 Instruments in which the stick is inserted in a
hole in the membrane
231.11 Instruments in which the stick can not
be moved and is subject to rubbing, causing
friction on the membrane
231.12 Instruments in which the stick is semimovable, and can be used to rub the membrane
231.13 Instruments in which the stick is freely
movable, and is used to rub the membrane
231.2 Instruments in which the stick is tied upright
to the membrane

211.3 Instruments in which the body depth is not

greater than the radius of the membrane (frame 2.3.2 Friction drum with cord (232)
drums)
Instruments in which a cord, attached to the membrane,
211.31 Instruments which do not have a handle is rubbed

3.1

Simple chordophones or zithers (31)

232.1 Instruments in which the drum is held station- 3.1.1 Bar or stick zithers (311)
ary while playing
The string bearer is bar shaped.
232.11 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
311.1 Musical bows The string bearer is exible
232.12 Instruments which have two usable
(and curved).
membranes
311.11 Idiochord musical bows The string is
232.2 Instruments in which the drum is twirled by a
cut from the bark of the cane, remaining atcord, which rubs in a notch on the stick held by the
tached at each end.
player
311.111 Mono-idiochord musical bows
Containing one string only
2.3.3 Hand friction drums (233)
311.112 Poly-idiochord musical bows or
harp-bows Containing several strings
Instruments in which the membrane is rubbed by hand
that pass over some type of bridge.

2.4

Singing membranes (kazoos) (24)

This group includes kazoos, instruments which do not

produce sound of their own, but modify other sounds by
way of a vibrating membrane.
2.4.1

Free kazoos (241)

Instruments in which the membrane is vibrated by an unbroken column of wind, without a chamber
2.4.2

Tube or vessel-kazoos (242)

Instruments in which the membrane is placed in a box,

tube or other container

2.5

Unclassied membranophones (25)

Chordophones (3)

Chordophones sound is primarily produced by the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between
xed points. This group includes all instruments generally called string instruments in the west, as well as many
(but not all) keyboard instruments, such as pianos and
harpsichords. List of chordophones by HornbostelSachs
number

3.1

Simple chordophones or zithers (31)

311.12 Heterochord musical bows The string

is of separate material from the bearer.
311.121 Mono-heterochord musical
bows The bow has one heterochord
string only.
311.121.1 Without resonator.
311.121.11 Without tuning noose.
311.121.12 With tuning noose.
311.121.2 With resonator.
311.121.21 With independent resonator.
311.121.22 With resonator attached.
311.121.221 Without tuning
noose.
311.121.222 With tuning noose.
311.122 Poly-heterochord musical bows
The bow has several heterochord
strings.
311.122.1 Without tuning noose.
311.122.2 With tuning noose.
311.2 Stick zithers With rigid string carrier
311.21 Musical bow/stick The string carrier
has one rigid and one exible end.
311.22 True stick zithers NB Round sticks
which happen to be hollow by chance do not
belong on this account to the tube zithers, but
are round-bar zithers; however, instruments in
which a tubular cavity is employed as a true
resonator, like the modern Mexican harpa, are
tube zithers.

Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings

311.221 With one resonator gourd.
and a string bearer. These instruments may have a res 311.222 With several resonator gourds.
onator box, but removing it should not render the instrument unplayable (although it may result in quite a dierent sound being produced). They include the piano there- 3.1.2 Tube zithers (312)
fore, as well as other kinds of zithers such as the koto, and
musical bows.
The string bearer is a vaulted surface.

3 CHORDOPHONES (3)
312.1 Whole tube zithers The string carrier is a
complete tube
312.11 Idiochord tube zithers.
312.12 Heterochord tube zithers.
312.121 Without extra resonator.
312.122 With extra resonator.

3.2 Composite chordophones (32)

Acoustic and electro-acoustic instruments which have a
resonator as an integral part of the instrument, and solidbody electric chordophones. This includes most western string instruments, including lutes such as violins and
guitars, and harps.

312.2 Half-tube zithers The strings are stretched 3.2.1 Lutes (321)
along the convex surface of a gutter.
312.21 Idiochord half-tube zithers.
312.22 Heterochord half-tube zithers.
3.1.3

Raft zithers (313)

The string bearer is composed of canes tied together in

the manner of a raft
313.1 Idiochord raft zithers.
313.2 Heterochord raft zithers.
3.1.4

Board zithers (314)

The string bearer is a board

314.1 True board zithers.
314.11 Without resonator.
314.12 With resonator.
314.121 With resonator bowl.
314.122 With resonator box the piano
is part of this subdivision.
314.2 Board zither variations.
314.21 Ground zithers.
314.22 Harp zithers.
3.1.5

Trough zithers (315)

The strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough

315.1 Without resonator.
315.2 With resonator.
3.1.6

Frame zithers (316)

The strings are stretched across an open frame

316.1 Without resonator.
316.2 With resonator.

The plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonators

surface.
321.1 Bow lutes Each string has its own exible
carrier.
321.2 Yoke lutes or lyres The strings are attached
to a yoke which lies in the same plane as the soundtable and consists of two arms and a cross-bar.
321.21 Bowl lyres.
321.22 Box lyres.
321.3 Handle lutes The string bearer is a plain handle.
321.31 Spike lutes.
321.311 Spike bow lutes.
321.312 Spike box lutes.
321.313 Spike tube lutes.
321.32 Necked lutes
321.321 Necked bowl lute Mandolin,
Balalaika, etc.
321.322 Necked box lutes Guitar,
Violin, etc.
3.2.2 Harps (322)
The plane of the strings lies perpendicular to the resonators surface.
322.1 Open harps The harp has no pillar.
322.11 Arched harps.
322.12 Angular harps.
322.2 Frame harps The harp has a pillar
322.21 Without tuning mechanism.
322.211 Diatonic frame harps.
322.212 Chromatic frame harps.
322.212.1 With all strings in one
plane. Inline chromatic harp
322.212.2 With strings in two planes
crossing each other. Cross-strung
harp

4.2

Non-free aerophones (wind instruments proper) (42)

322.22 With tuning action.

412.121 Independent percussion reeds.

412.122 Sets of percussion reeds. Earlier organs

322.221 With manual tuning action.

Lever harp
322.222 With pedal action. Pedal harp
3.2.3

412.13 Free-reed instruments feature a reed

which vibrates within a closely tting slot
(there may be an attached pipe, but it should
only vibrate in sympathy with the reed, and
not have an eect on the pitch instruments
of this class can be distinguished from 422.3
by the lack of nger-holes).

Harp lutes (323)

The plane of the strings lies at right angles to the soundtable; a line joining the lower ends of the strings would
be perpendicular to the neck. Notched bridge

3.3

412.131 Individual free reeds.

412.132 Sets of free reeds Accordion,
harmonica, and reed pipes of the pipe organ.

Unclassied chordophones (33)

412.14 Band reed instruments The air hits

the sharp edge of a band under tension. The
acoustics of this instrument have so far not
been investigated. (British Columbia.)

Aerophones (4)

Aerophones sound is primarily produced by vibrating

air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are
no vibrating strings or membranes. List of aerophones by
HornbostelSachs number

4.1

412.2 Non-idiophonic interruptive instruments.

412.21 Rotating aerophones.
412.22 Whirling aerophones.

Free aerophones (41)

Instruments in which the vibrating air is not con- 4.1.3 Plosive aerophones (413)
tained within the instrument, for example sirens, or the
The sound is caused by a single compression and release
bullroarer.
of air. For example the botija, gharha, ghatam, or udu.
4.1.1

Displacement free aerophones (411)

4.2 Non-free aerophones (wind instru-

The air-stream meets a sharp edge, or a sharp edge is

ments proper) (42)
moved through the air. In either case, according to more
recent views, a periodic displacement of air occurs to the The vibrating air is contained within the instrument. This
alternate anks of the edge. Examples are the swordblade group includes most of the instruments called wind instruments in the west, such as the ute or French horn,
or the whip.
as well as many other kinds of instruments such as conch
shells.
4.1.2 Interruptive free aerophones (412)
The air-stream is interrupted periodically

4.2.1

Edge-blown aerophones or utes (421)

412.1 Idiophonic interruptive aerophones or reeds The player makes a ribbon-shaped ow of air with his lips
The air-stream is directed against a lamella, set- (421.1), or his breath is directed through a duct against an
ting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream edge (421.2).
intermittently. In this group also belong reeds with
421.1 Flutes without duct The player himself crea 'cover,' i.e. a tube in which the air vibrates only in
ates a ribbon-shaped stream of air with his lips.
a secondary sense, not producing the sound but simply adding roundness and timbre to the sound made
421.11 End-blown utes The player blows
by the reeds vibration; generally recognizable by the
against the sharp rim at the upper open end of
absence of ngerholes.
a tube.
412.11 Concussion reeds Two lamellae
make a gap which closes periodically during
their vibration.
412.12 Percussion reeds A single lamella
strikes against a frame.

421.111 Individual end-blown utes.

421.111.1 Open single end-blown
utes The lower end of the ute is
open.
421.111.11 Without ngerholes.

4 AEROPHONES (4)
421.111.12 With ngerholes.
421.111.2 Stopped single end-blown
utes The lower end of the ute is
closed.
421.111.21 Without ngerholes.
421.111.22 With ngerholes.
421.112 Sets of end-blown utes or panpipes Several end-blown utes of different pitch are combined to form a single
instrument.
421.112.1 Open panpipes.
421.112.11 Open (raft) panpipes
The pipes are tied together in the
form of a board, or they are made
by drilling tubes *in a board.
421.112.12 Open bundle (pan-)
pipes The pipes are tied together
in a round bundle.
421.112.2 Stopped panpipes.
421.112.3 Mixed open and stopped
panpipes.

421.21 Flutes with external duct The duct

is outside the wall of the ute; this group includes utes with the duct chamfered in the
wall under a ring-like sleeve and other similar
arrangements.

421.12 Side-blown utes The player blows

against the sharp rim of a hole in the side of
the tube.

421.221 (Single) utes with internal duct.

421.121 (Single) side-blown utes.

421.121.1 Open side-blown utes.
421.121.11 Without ngerholes.
421.121.12 With ngerholes
Western concert ute.
421.121.2 Partly stopped side-blown
utes The lower end of the tube is
a natural node of the pipe pierced by
a small hole.
421.121.3 Stopped side-blown utes.
421.121.31 Without ngerholes.
421.121.311 With xed stopped
lower end (apparently nonexistent).
421.121.312 With adjustable
stopped lower end piston utes.
421.121.32 With ngerholes.
421.122 Sets of side-blown utes.
421.122.1 Sets of open slide-blown
utes.
421.122.2 Sets of stopped sideblown utes.

421.221.11 Without ngerholes

Whistle

421.13 Vessel utes (without distinct beak)

The body of the pipe is not tubular but vesselshaped Xun.
421.2 Flutes with duct or duct utes A narrow duct
directs the air-stream against the sharp edge of a lateral orice

421.211 (Single) utes with external duct.

421.211.1 Open utes with external
duct.
421.211.11 Without ngerholes.
421.211.12 With ngerholes.
421.211.2 Partly stopped utes with
external duct.
421.211.3 Stopped utes with external duct.
421.212 Sets of ute with external duct.
421.22 Flutes with internal duct The duct is
inside the tube. This group includes utes with
the duct formed by an internal bae (natural
node, bock of resin) and an exterior tied-on
cover (cane, wood, hide).
421.221.1 Open utes with internal
duct.

421.221.12 With ngerholes

Recorder
421.221.2 Partly stopped ute with
internal duct.
421.221.3 Stopped utes with internal duct.
421.221.31 Without ngerholes.
421.221.311 With xed stopped
lower end.
421.221.312 With
stopped lower end.

adjustable

421.221.4 Vessel utes with duct.

421.221.41 Without ngerholes.
421.221.42 With ngerholes
Ocarina.
421.222 Sets of utes with internal duct.
421.222.1 Sets of open utes with internal duct.
421.222.11 Without ngerholes
Open ue pipes of the pipe organ.
421.222.12 With ngerholes
Double ageolet.
421.222.2 Sets of partly stopped
utes with internal duct.
421.222.3 Sets of stopped utes with
internal duct.

4.3
4.2.2

Unclassied aerophones (43)

Reed aerophones (422)

The players breath is directed against a lamella or pair

of lamellae which periodically interrupt the airow and
cause the air to be set in motion.
422.1 Double reed instruments There are two
lamellae which beat against one another.
422.11 (Single) oboes.
422.111 With cylindrical bore.
422.111.1 Without ngerholes.
422.111.2 With ngerholes.
422.112 With conical bore Oboe,
bassoon.
422.12 Sets of oboes.
422.121 With cylindrical bore.
422.122 With conical bore.
422.2 Single reed instruments The pipe has a single 'reed' consisting of a percussion lamella.

9
423.121.1 End-blown straight trumpets The tube is neither curved nor
folded.
423.121.11 Without mouthpiece.
423.121.12 With mouthpiece.
423.121.2 End-blown horns The
tube is curved or folded.
423.121.21 Without mouthpiece.
423.121.22 With mouthpiece.
423.122 Side blown trumpets.
423.2 Chromatic trumpets The pitch of the instrument can be altered mechanically
423.21 Keyed trumpets - Ophicleide.
423.22 Slide trumpets Trombone.
423.23 Valved trumpets French horn,
euphonium, baritone horn, trumpet, and tuba.
423.231 Conical bore
423.232 Semi-conical bore
423.233 Cylindrical bore

422.21 (Single) clarinets.

422.211 With cylindrical bore.
4.3 Unclassied aerophones (43)
422.211.1 Without ngerholes.
422.211.2 With ngerholes West- 5 Electrophones (5)
ern clarinet.
422.212 With conical bore Saxophone.
51. Instruments having electric action (e.g. pipe or 422.22 Sets of clarinets.
gan with electrically controlled solenoid air valves);
422.3 Reedpipes with free reeds The reed vibrates
through [at] a closely tted frame. There must be
ngerholes, otherwise the instrument belongs to the
free reeds 412.13.
422.31 Single pipes with free reed.

52. Instruments having electrical amplication, such

as the Neo-Bechstein piano of 1931, which had 18
microphones built into it;
53. Radioelectric instruments: instruments in which
sound is produced by electrical means.

422.32 Double pipes with free reeds.

The fth top-level group, electrophones category was
added by Sachs in 1940, to describe instruments involv4.2.3 Trumpets (423)
ing electricity. Sachs broke down his 5th category into
3 subcategories: 51=electrically actuated acoustic instruThe players vibrating lips set the air in motion.
ments; 52=electrically amplied acoustic instruments;
53= instruments which make sound primarily by way
423.1 Natural trumpets There are no means of of electrically driven oscillators, such as theremins or
changing the pitch apart from the players lips. Ex- synthesizers, which he called radioelectric instruments.
amples are: Bugle, didgeridoo and shofar.
Francis William Galpin provided such a group in his
own classication system, which is closer to Mahillon
423.11 Conches A conch shell serves as
than SachsHornbostel. For example, in Galpins 1937
trumpet.
book A Textbook of European Musical Instruments, he
423.111 End-blown.
lists electrophones with three second-level divisions for
sound generation (by oscillation, electro-magnetic,
423.111.1 Without mouthpiece.
and electro-static), as well as third-level and fourth 423.111.2 With mouthpiece.
level categories based on the control method. Sachs him 423.112 Side-blown.
self proposed subcategories 51, 52, and 53, on pages
423.12 Tubular trumpets.
447467 of his 1940 book The History of Musical Instru 423.121 End-blown trumpets The ments. However, the original 1914 version of the system
mouth-hole faces the axis of the trumpet. did not acknowledge the existence of his 5th category.

10

Present-day ethnomusicologists, such as Margaret Kartomi (page 173), and Ellingson (PhD dissertation, 1979,
p. 544) suggest that, in keeping with the spirit of the
original Hornbostel Sachs classication scheme, of categorization by what rst produces the initial sound in the
instrument, that only subcategory 53 should remain in the
electrophones category. Thus it has been more recently
proposed that, for example, the pipe organ (even if it uses
electric key action to control solenoid valves) remain in
the aerophones category, and that the electric guitar remain in the chordophones category, etc..

Application of the system

Beyond the top three groups are several further levels of

classication, so that the xylophone, for example, is in
the group labeled 111.212 (periods are usually added after every third digit to make long numbers easier to read).
A long classication number does not necessarily indicate
the instrument is a complicated one. The valveless bugle
for instance, has the classication number 423.121.22,
even though it is generally regarded as a relatively simple
instrument (it is basically a bent conical tube which you
blow down like a trumpet, but it does not have valves or
nger-holes). The numbers in the bugles classication
indicate the following:
4 an aerophone
42 the vibrating air is enclosed within the instrument
423 the players lips cause the air to vibrate directly (as opposed to an instrument with a reed like
a clarinet, or an edge-blown instrument, like a ute)
423.1 the players lips are the only means of changing the instruments pitch (that is, there are no valves
as on a trumpet)
423.12 the instrument is tubular, rather than being
a conch-type instrument
423.121 the player blows into the end of the tube,
as opposed to the side of the tube
423.121.2 the tube is bent or folded, as opposed
to straight
423.121.22 the instrument has a mouthpiece
423.121.22 does not uniquely identify the bugle, but
rather identies the bugle as a certain kind of instrument
which has much in common with other instruments in the
same class. Another instrument classied as 423.121.22
is the bronze lur, an instrument dating back to the Bronze
Age.

REFERENCES

7 Suxes and composite instruments

After the number described above, a number of suxes
may be appended. An 8 indicates that the instrument
has a keyboard attached, while a 9 indicates the instrument is mechanically driven. In addition to these, there
are a number of suxes unique to each of the top-level
groups indicating details not considered crucial to the
fundamental nature of the instrument. In the membranophone class, for instance, suxes can indicate whether
the skin of a drum is glued, nailed or tied to its body; in
the chordophone class, suxes can indicate whether the
strings are plucked with ngers or plectrum, or played
with a bow.
There are ways to classify instruments with this system
even if they have elements from more than one group.
Such instruments may have particularly long classication numbers with colons and hyphens used as well as
numbers. Hornbostel and Sachs themselves cite the case
of various bagpipes where some of the pipes are single
reed (like a clarinet) and others are double reed (like the
oboe). A number of similar composite instruments exist.

8 See also
List of musical instruments by Hornbostel-Sachs
number

9 References
[1] Volume 46 (1914) of the Zeitschrift is available online in
a variety of formats, as part of the digital collection of
the University of Toronto. The article by Hornbostel and
Sachs is to be found on pages 55390.
[2] MIMO Project - Musical Instrument Museums Online

HornbostelSachs on www.music.vt.edu
SVH Classication, Wesleyan University
International Committee of Musical Instrument
Museums and Collections, publishes updates to the
HornbostelSachs system
http://www.mimo-international.com/documents/
Hornbostel%20Sachs.pdf
Revision
of
the
HornbostelSachs Classication of Musical
Instruments by the MIMO Consortium, 8 July 2011

11

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