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Musical instrument classification system
Hornbostel–Sachs or Sachs–Hornbostel is a system of musical instrument classification devised by Erich Moritz von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs, and first published in the Zeitschrift für Ethnologie in 1914. 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. Hornbostel and Sachs based their ideas on a system devised in the late 19th century by Victor Charles Mahillon, the curator of musical instruments at Brussels Conservatory. Mahillon divided instruments into four broad categories according to the nature of the sound producing material: an air column; string; membrane; and body of the instrument. From this basis, Hornbostel and Sachs expanded Mahillon's system to make it possible to classify any instrument from any culture. Formally, the Hornbostel–Sachs is modeled on the Dewey Decimal Classification for libraries. It has five top level classifications, with several levels below those, adding up to over 300 basic categories in all.

Idiophones primarily produce their sounds by means of 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, and some other instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification, idiophones are first 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 sub categories are split in singular specimens and sets of instruments. The class of idiophones includes the xylophone, the marimba, the glockenspiel, and the glass harmonica.

These idiophones are set in vibration by being struck, for example cymbals or xylophones.

The player executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc. It is definitive that the player can apply clear, exact, individual strokes, and that the instrument itself is equipped for this kind of percussion. 111.1 Concussion idiophones or clappers – Two or more complementary sonorous parts are struck against each other. 111.11 Concussion sticks or stick clappers (clapstick). 111.12 Concussion plaques or plaque clappers (paiban). 111.13 Concussion troughs or trough clappers (devil chase). 111.14 Concussion vessels or vessel clappers (spoons). 111.141 Castanets – Natural and hollowed out vessel clappers. 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). 111.21 Percussion sticks. 111.211 Individual percussion sticks. 111.212 Sets of percussion sticks in a range of different pitches combined into one instrument. – All xylophones, as long as their sounding components are not in two different planes. 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. 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 (for example the standing bell)
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. 111.3 Mixed sets of directly struck idiophones

The player themself does not go through the movement of striking; percussion results indirectly through some other movement by the player. 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 (flexatone). 112.121 Pendant rattles. 112.122 Sliding rattles. 112.13 Vessel rattles – Rattling objects enclosed in a vessel strike against each other or against the walls of the vessel, or usually against both. 112.2 Scraped Idiophones – The player causes a scraping movement directly or indirectly; a non sonorous object moves along the notched surface of a sonorous object, to be alternately lifted off the teeth and flicked against them; or an elastic sonorous object moves along the surface of a notched non sonorous 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. 112.221 Scraped tubes without resonator. 112.222 Scraped tubes with resonator. 112.23 Scraped vessels. 112.231 Scraped vessels without resonator. 112.232 Scraped vessels with resonator. 112.24 Scraped wheels – cog rattles or Ratchet
112.241 Scraped wheels without resonator. 112.242 Scraped wheels with resonator. 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.

The lamellae vibrate within a frame or hoop. 121.1 Clack idiophones or Cricri – The lamella is carved in the surface of a fruit shell, which serves as resonator. 121.2 Guimbardes and Jaw harps (i. e. "kissed" idiophones) – The lamella is mounted in a rod or plaque shaped frame and depends on the player's mouth cavity for resonance. 121.21 Idioglot guimbardes – The lamella is cut through the frame of the instrument (kubing). 121.211 Individual idioglot guimbardes. 121.212 Sets of idioglot guimbardes
121.22 Heteroglot guimbardes – The lamella is attached to the frame (Western Jew's harp, kouxian). Present day ethnomusicologists, such as Margaret Kartomi (page 173) and Ellingson (PhD dissertation, 1979, p. 544), might support the suggestion that, in keeping with the spirit of the original Hornbostel–Sachs classification scheme, of categorization by what first produces the initial sound in the instrument, that the supposed class 412.13 should count as these instead. 121.221 Individual heteroglot guimbardes. 121.222 Sets of heteroglot guimbardes
121.23 Mixed sets of guimbardes

The lamellae are tied to a board or cut out from a board like the teeth of a comb. 122.1 With laced on lamellae. 122.11 Without resonator. 122.12 With resonator. 122.2 With cut out lamellae – Musical box
122.21 Without resonator. 122.22 With resonator. 122.3 Mixed sets of combs

Idiophones which are rubbed, for example the nail violin, a bowed instrument with solid pieces of metal or wood rather than strings.

131.1 Individual friction sticks. 131.11 Without direct friction. 131.12 With direct friction. 131.2 Sets of friction sticks. 131.21 Without direct friction. 131.22 With direct friction. 131.23 Mixed

132.1 Individual friction plaques. 132.11 Without direct friction. 132.12 With direct friction. 132.2 Sets of friction plaques. 132.21 Without direct friction. 132.22 With direct friction. 132.23 Mixed

Blown idiophones are 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.

Membranophones primarily produce their sounds by means of the vibration of a tightly stretched membrane. This group includes all drums and kazoos.

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

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
211.213 Mixed sets of cylindrical drums
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
211.223 Mixed sets of barrel drums
211.23 Instruments in which the body is hourglass shaped
211.231 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
211.231.1 Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
211.231.2 Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
211.232 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.232.1 Single instruments
211.232.2 Sets of instruments
211.233 Mixed sets of hourglass drums
211.24 Instruments in which the body is conical shaped (conical drums)
211.241 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
211.241.1 Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
211.241.2 Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
211.242 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.242.1 Single instruments
211.242.2 Sets of instruments
211.243 Mixed sets of single conical drums
211.244 Instruments in which the body is double conical
211.244.1 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
211.244.11 Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
211.244.12 Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
211.244.2 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.244.21 Single instruments
211.244.22 Sets of instruments
211.245 Mixed sets of double conical drums
211.246 Mixed sets of conical drums
211.25 Instruments in which the body is goblet shaped (goblet 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
211.253 Mixed sets of goblet drums
211.26 Mixed sets of tubular drums
211.3 Instruments in which the body depth is not greater than the radius of the membrane (frame drums). 211.31 Instruments which do not have a handle
211.311 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
211.312 Instruments which have two usable membranes
211.32 Instruments which have a handle
211.321 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
211.322 Instruments which have two usable membranes

Instruments which are shaken, the membrane being vibrated by objects inside the drum (rattle drums).

Instruments with a string attached to the membrane, so that when the string is plucked, the membrane vibrates (plucked drums). Some commentators believe that instruments in this class ought instead to be regarded as chordophones (see below).

Instruments in which the membrane vibrates as a result of friction. These are drums which are rubbed, rather than being struck.

Instruments in which a cord, attached to the membrane, is rubbed. 232.1 Instruments in which the drum is held stationary while playing
232.11 Instruments which have only one usable membrane
232.12 Instruments which have two usable membranes
232.2 Instruments in which the drum is twirled by a cord, which rubs in a notch on the stick held by the player

This group includes kazoos, instruments which do not produce sound of their own, but modify other sounds by way of a vibrating membrane.

Chordophones primarily produce their sounds by means of the vibration of a string or strings that are stretched between fixed 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.

Instruments which are in essence simply a string or strings and a string bearer. These instruments may have a resonator box, but removing it should not render the instrument unplayable, though it may result in quite a different sound being produced. They include the piano therefore, as well as other kinds of zithers such as the koto, and musical bows.

The string bearer is bar shaped. 311.1 Musical bows – The string bearer is flexible (and curved)
311.11 Idiochord musical bows – The string is cut from the bark of the cane, remaining attached at each end
311.111 Mono idiochord musical bows – Containing one string only
311.112 Poly idiochord musical bows or harp bows – Containing several strings that pass over some type of bridge
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
311.121.211 Without tuning noose
311.121.212 With tuning noose
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 flexible end
311.211 Instrument has one resonator gourd
311.212 Instrument has several resonator gourds
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
311.221 With one resonator gourd
311.222 With several resonator gourds

The string bearer is a vaulted surface. 312.1 Whole tube zithers – The string carrier is a complete tube
312.11 Idiochord tube zithers
312.111 Without extra resonator
312.112 With extra resonator
312.12 Heterochord tube zithers
312.121 Without extra resonator
312.122 With extra resonator
312.2 Half tube zithers – The strings are stretched along the convex surface of a gutter
312.21 Idiochord half tube zithers
312.211 Without extra resonator
312.212 With extra resonator
312.22 Heterochord half tube zithers
312.221 Without extra resonator
312.222 With extra resonator

The string bearer is composed of canes tied together in the manner of a raft. 313.1 Idiochord raft zithers
313.11 Without extra resonator
313.12 With extra resonator
313.2 Heterochord raft zithers
313.21 Without extra resonator
313.22 With extra resonator

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
314.123 With resonator tube
314.2 Board zither variations
314.21 Ground zithers
314.211 Without resonator
314.212 With resonator
314.212.1 With resonator bowl
314.212.2 With resonator box
314.212.3 With resonator tube
314.22 Harp zithers
314.221 Without resonator
314.222 With resonator
314.222.1 With resonator bowl
314.222.2 With resonator box
314.222.3 With resonator tube

The strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough. 315.1 Without resonator
315.2 With resonator

The strings are stretched across an open frame. 316.1 Without resonator
316.2 With resonator

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

The plane of the strings runs parallel with the resonator's surface. 321.1 Bow lutes – Each string has its own flexible carrier
321.2 Yoke lutes or lyres – The strings are attached to a yoke which lies in the same plane as the sound table and consists of two arms and a cross bar
321.21 Bowl lyres
321.22 Box lyres
321.23 Tube lyres
321.3 Handle lutes – The string bearer is a plain handle
321.31 Spike lutes
321.311 Spike bowl 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. 321.323 Necked tube lutes

The plane of the strings lies perpendicular to the resonator's 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
322.211.1 With all strings in one plane
322.211.2 With strings in two planes crossing each other
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
322.22 With tuning action. 322.221 With manual tuning action – Lever harp
322.221.1 With all strings in one plane
322.221.2 With strings in two planes crossing each other
322.222 With pedal action – Pedal harp
322.222.1 With all strings in one plane
322.222.2 With strings in two planes crossing each other

The plane of the strings lies at right angles to the sound table; a line joining the lower ends of the strings would be perpendicular to the neck. These have notched bridges.

Aerophones primarily produce their sounds by means of vibrating air. The instrument itself does not vibrate, and there are no vibrating strings or membranes.

Instruments in which the vibrating air is not contained within the instrument, for example, acme sirens or the bullroarer.

The air stream meets a sharp edge, or a sharp edge is moved through the air. In either case, according to more recent views, a periodic displacement of air occurs to the alternate flanks of the edge. Examples are the swordblade or the whip.

The air stream is interrupted periodically. 412.1 Idiophonic interruptive aerophones or reeds – The air stream is directed against a lamella, setting it in periodic vibration to interrupt the stream intermittently. In this group also belong reeds with a 'cover,' i. e. a tube in which the air vibrates only in a secondary sense, not producing the sound but simply adding roundness and timbre to the sound made by the reed's vibration; generally recognizable by the absence of fingerholes though present day ethnomusicologists, such as Margaret Kartomi (page 173) and Ellingson (PhD dissertation, 1979, p. 544), might support the suggestion that, in keeping with the spirit of the original Hornbostel–Sachs classification scheme, of categorization by what first produces the initial sound in the instrument, that such reeds should not really remain as aerophones, exiting for the lamellophones. 412.11 Concussion reeds – Two lamellae make a gap which closes periodically during their vibration. 412.111 Independent pairs of concussion reeds. 412.112 Paired sets of concussion reeds
412.12 Percussion reeds – A single lamella strikes against a frame. 412.121 Independent percussion reeds. 412.122 Sets of percussion reeds. – Earlier organs
412.13 Free reed instruments feature a reed which vibrates within a closely fitting slot (there may be an attached pipe, but it should only vibrate in sympathy with the reed, and not have an effect on the pitch – instruments of this class can be distinguished from 422.3 by the lack of finger holes). 412.131 Individual free reeds. 412.132 Sets of free reeds – Accordion, harmonica, and reed pipes of the pipe organ. 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. 412.141 Individual band reeds. 412.142 Sets of band reeds
412.15 Mixed sets of reeds
412.2 Non idiophonic interruptive instruments. The interruptive agent is not a reed. 412.21 Rotating aerophones (interruptive agent rotates in its own plane and does not turn on its axis) Siren disk. 412.211 Independent disks. 412.212 Sets of disks
412.22 Whirling aerophones (interruptive agent turns on its axis) – Bullroarer, whirly tube. 412.221 Independent tubes. 412.222 Sets of tubes
412.23 Sets of disks and tubes
412.3 Mixed sets of interruptive aerophones

The vibrating air is contained within the instrument. This group includes most of the instruments called wind instruments in the west, such as the flute or French horn, as well as many other kinds of instruments such as conch shells.

The player makes a ribbon shaped flow of air with their lips (421.1), or their breath is directed through a duct against an edge (421.2). 421.1 Flutes without duct – The player themself creates a ribbon shaped stream of air with their lips. 421.11 End blown flutes – The player blows against the sharp rim at the upper open end of a tube. 421.111 Individual end blown flutes. 421.111.1 Open single end blown flutes – The lower end of the flute is open. 421.111.11 Without fingerholes. 421.111.12 With fingerholes. 421.111.2 Stopped single end blown flutes – The lower end of the flute is closed. 421.111.21 Without fingerholes. 421.111.22 With fingerholes. 421.112 Sets of end blown flutes or panpipes – Several end blown flutes 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. 421.112.21 Stopped (raft) panpipes – The pipes are tied together in the form of a board, or they are made by drilling tubes *in a board. 421.112.22 Stopped bundle (pan ) pipes – The pipes are tied together in a round bundle. 421.112.3 Mixed open and stopped panpipes. 421.112.21 Mixed (raft) panpipes – The pipes are tied together in the form of a board, or they are made by drilling tubes *in a board. 421.112.22 Mixed bundle (pan ) pipes – The pipes are tied together in a round bundle. 421.12 Side blown flutes – The player blows against the sharp rim of a hole in the side of the tube. 421.121 (Single) side blown flutes. 421.121.1 Open side blown flutes. 421.121.11 Without fingerholes. 421.121.12 With fingerholes – Western concert flute. 421.121.2 Partly stopped side blown flutes – The lower end of the tube is a natural node of the pipe pierced by a small hole. 421.121.21 Without fingerholes. 421.121.22 With fingerholes
421.121.3 Stopped side blown flutes. 421.121.31 Without fingerholes. 421.121.311 With fixed stopped lower end – (apparently non existent). 421.121.312 With adjustable stopped lower end – piston flutes. 421.121.32 With fingerholes. 421.121.321 With fixed stopped lower end
421.121.322 With adjustable stopped lower end
421.122 Sets of side blown flutes. 421.122.1 Sets of open side blown flutes. 421.122.2 Sets of partly stopped side blown flutes. 421.122.3 Sets of stopped side blown flutes. 421.122.31 With fixed stopped lower end
421.122.32 With adjustable stopped lower end
421.122.33 Mixed
421.122.4 Mixed sets of stopped side blown flutes. 421.13 Vessel flutes (without distinct beak) The body of the pipe is not tubular but vessel shaped – Xun. 421.2 Flutes with duct or duct flutes – A narrow duct directs the air stream against the sharp edge of a lateral orifice. 421.21 Flutes with external duct – The duct is outside the wall of the flute; this group includes flutes with the duct chamfered in the wall under a ring like sleeve and other similar arrangements. 421.211 (Single) flutes with external duct. 421.211.1 Open flutes with external duct. 421.211.11 Without fingerholes. 421.211.12 With fingerholes. 421.211.2 Partly stopped flutes with external duct. 421.211.21 Without fingerholes. 421.211.22 With fingerholes. 421.211.3 Stopped flutes with external duct. 421.211.31 Without fingerholes. 421.211.32 With fingerholes. 421.212 Sets of flutes with external duct. 421.22 Flutes with internal duct – The duct is inside the tube. This group includes flutes with the duct formed by an internal baffle (natural node, block of resin) and an exterior tied on cover (cane, wood, hide). 421.221 (Single) flutes with internal duct. 421.221.1 Open flutes with internal duct. 421.221.11 Without fingerholes – Whistle
421.221.12 With fingerholes – Recorder
421.221.2 Partly stopped flute with internal duct. 421.221.3 Stopped flutes with internal duct. 421.221.31 Without fingerholes. 421.221.311 With fixed stopped lower end. 421.221.312 With adjustable stopped lower end. 421.221.4 Vessel flutes with duct. 421.221.41 Without fingerholes. 421.221.42 With fingerholes – Ocarina. 421.222 Sets of flutes with internal duct. 421.222.1 Sets of open flutes with internal duct. 421.222.11 Without fingerholes – Open flue pipes of the pipe organ. 421.222.12 With fingerholes – Double flageolet. 421.222.2 Sets of partly stopped flutes with internal duct. 421.222.3 Sets of stopped flutes with internal duct. 421.3 Mixed sets of flutes

The player's breath is directed against a lamella or pair of lamellae which periodically interrupt the airflow 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 regular bore. 422.111.1 Without fingerholes. 422.111.2 With fingerholes. – Oboe, bassoon. (422.112 With irregular bore.) 422.12 Sets of oboes. 422.121 With regular bore. 422.121.1 Without fingerholes. 422.121.2 With fingerholes. (422.122 With irregular bore.) (422.123 With mixed bores.) 422.2 Single reed instruments – The pipe has a single 'reed' consisting of a percussion lamella. 422.21 (Single) clarinets. 422.211 With regular bore. 422.211.1 Without fingerholes. 422.211.2 With fingerholes – Western clarinet. 422.212 With irregular bore – Saxophone. 422.22 Sets of clarinets. 422.221 With regular bore. 422.221.1 Without fingerholes. 422.221.2 With fingerholes. (422.222 With irregular bore.) (422.223 With mixed bores.) 422.3 Reedpipes with free reeds – The reed vibrates through [at] a closely fitted frame. There must be fingerholes, otherwise the instrument belongs to the free reeds 412.13. 422.31 Single pipes with free reeds. – (Bawu). 422.32 Double pipes with free reeds. – (Hulusi). (422.4 Reedpipes with band reeds – Though the precise acoustics of 412.14 are as yet unknown, wherefore it is as yet unknown whether the instrument must be fingerholed in order to belong to this class rather than 412.14, nevertheless it should be physically possible to put a band reed in a pipe.) 422.5 Mixed sets of reedpipes
422.6 Non idiophonic interruptor pipes. The interruptive agent is not a reed. 422.61 Rotating aerophones (interruptive agent rotates in its own plane and does not turn on its axis) Siren diskpipes. 422.611 (Single) diskpipes
422.611.1 With regular bore
422.611.11 Without fingerholes. 422.611.111 With independent disks. 422.611.112 With sets of disks
422.611.12 With fingerholes
422.611.121 With independent disks. 422.611.122 With sets of disks
422.611.2 With irregular bore
422.611.21 Without fingerholes. 422.611.211 With independent disks. 422.611.212 With sets of disks
422.611.22 With fingerholes
422.611.221 With independent disks. 422.611.222 With sets of disks
422.612 Sets of diskpipes
422.612.1 With regular bore
422.612.11 Without fingerholes. 422.612.111 With independent disks. 422.612.112 With sets of disks
422.612.12 With fingerholes
422.612.121 With independent disks. 422.612.122 With sets of disks
422.612.2 With irregular bore
422.612.21 Without fingerholes. 422.612.211 With independent disks. 422.612.212 With sets of disks
422.612.22 With fingerholes
422.612.221 With independent disks. 422.612.222 With sets of disks
422.612.3 With mixed bores
422.612.31 Without fingerholes. 422.612.311 With independent disks. 422.612.312 With sets of disks
422.612.32 With fingerholes
422.612.321 With independent disks. 422.612.322 With sets of disks
422.62 Whirling aerophones (interruptive agent turns on its axis) – Bullroarerpipes, Matryoshka tubes. 422.621 Bullroarerpipes
422.621.1 Independent singly nested tubes. 422.621.11 With same bore
422.621.111 Without fingerholes. 422.621.112 With fingerholes
422.621.12 With opposite bores
422.621.121 Without fingerholes. 422.621.122 With fingerholes
422.621.2 Sets of singly nested tubes
422.621.21 With same bore
422.621.211 Without fingerholes. 422.621.212 With fingerholes
422.621.22 With opposite bores
422.621.221 Without fingerholes. 422.621.222 With fingerholes
422.622 Multiply nested (Matryoshka) tubes
422.622.1 With same bores
422.622.11 Without fingerholes. 422.622.12 With fingerholes
422.622.2 With opposite bores
422.622.21 Without fingerholes. 422.622.22 With fingerholes
422.63 Sets of diskpipes and Matryoshka tubes
422.7 Mixed sets of interruptor pipes

The player's vibrating lips set the air in motion. 423.1 Natural trumpets – There are no means of changing the pitch apart from the player's lips. Examples include the bugle, didgeridoo, natural horn, and the shofar. 423.11 Conches – A conch shell serves as trumpet. 423.111 End blown. 423.111.1 Without mouthpiece. 423.111.2 With mouthpiece. 423.112 Side blown. 423.112.1 Without mouthpiece. 423.112.2 With mouthpiece. 423.113 Sets of conches
423.113.1 End blown. 423.113.2 Side blown. 423.113.3 Mixed. 423.12 Tubular trumpets. 423.121 End blown trumpets – The mouth hole faces the axis of the trumpet. 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. 423.121.3 Sets of End blown trumpets
423.121.31 Straight trumpets
423.121.32 End blown horns
423.121.33 Mixed
423.122 Side blown trumpets. 423.122.1 Without mouthpiece. 423.122.2 With mouthpiece
423.122.3 Sets of side blown trumpets
423.2 Chromatic trumpets – The pitch of the instrument can be altered mechanically
423.21 Keyed trumpets – Ophicleide. 423.211 Regular bore
(423.212 Irregular bore)
423.213 Sets of keyed trumpets
423.213.1 Regular bore
(423.213.2 Irregular bore)
(423.213.3 Mixed bores)
423.22 Slide trumpets – Trombone, bazooka
423.221 Regular bore
(423.222 Irregular bore)
423.223 Sets of slide trumpets
423.223.1 Regular bore
(423.223.2 Irregular bore)
(423.223.3 Mixed bores)
423.23 Valved trumpets – French horn, euphonium, baritone horn, trumpet, tuba, and other members of the saxhorn family. 423.231 Regular bore
(423.232 Irregular bore)
423.233 Sets of slide trumpets
423.233.1 Regular bore
(423.233.2 Irregular bore)
(423.233.3 Mixed bores)
423.24 Mixed sets of chromatic trumpets
423.3 Mixed sets of trumpets

51. Instruments having electric action (e. g. pipe organ with electrically controlled solenoid air valves);
52. Instruments having electrical amplification, 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. The fifth top level group, the electrophones category, was added by Sachs in 1940, to describe instruments involving electricity. Sachs broke down his 5th category into 3 subcategories: 51=electrically actuated acoustic instruments; 52=electrically amplified acoustic instruments; 53= instruments which make sound primarily by way of electrically driven oscillators, such as theremins or synthesizers, which he called radioelectric instruments. Francis William Galpin provided such a group in his own classification system, which is closer to Mahillon than Sachs–Hornbostel. For example, in Galpin's 1937 book A Textbook of European Musical Instruments, he lists electrophones with three second level divisions for sound generation ("by oscillation", "electro magnetic", and "electro static"), as well as third level and fourth level categories based on the control method. Sachs himself proposed subcategories 51, 52, and 53, on pages 447–467 of his 1940 book The History of Musical Instruments. Present day ethnomusicologists, such as Margaret Kartomi and Ellingson (PhD dissertation, 1979, p. 544), suggest that, in keeping with the spirit of the original Hornbostel–Sachs classification scheme, of categorization by what first 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.

After the number described above, a number of suffixes 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 suffixes 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, suffixes can indicate whether the skin of a drum is glued, nailed or tied to its body; in the chordophone class, suffixes can indicate whether the strings are plucked with fingers 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 classification 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.