You probably know at least the name of a 100 instruments, right? But in fact there are 1000s and 1000s of different musical instruments and variations in the world.
This may feel very overwhelming or even daunting, if you are a music composer, producer or musician that wants to get a better understanding for the various ranges, roles, tones, characteristics and expressive potential all the various instruments can produce.
Well, I have good news for you! All instruments can be categorised into “families” based on their common characteristics of how sound is produced. There are scientific classification systems for all instruments such as: aerophones, membranophones, chordophones etc.
However, the problem with these old school classifications is that they are too broad and does not really give you (the composer, producer, musician) a good understanding of how the instrument will be performed, and how it sounds. So let’s solve this, by dividing all instruments into families based on sound production and main performance style:
Bowed String Instruments
- Double Bass
- Cello
- Viola
- Violin
- Rebec
- Pochette
- Gudok
- Lyra
- Erhu
- Talharpa
Plucked Neck String Instruments
- Guitar
- Bouzouki
- Lute
- Oud
- Banjo
- Mandolin
- Ukulele
- Saz
- Sitar
- Pipa
- Guqin
- Fretted Dulcimer
Plucked Open String Instruments
- Harp Family (Concert Harp, Celtic Harp, Lyre)
- Zither Family (Hammered Dulcimer, Psaltery, Cantele, Koto, Gusli, Guzheng)
Brass Instruments
- Contra Bass Tuba
- Contra Bass Trombone
- Bass Trombone
- Tuba
- Euphonium
- Cimbasso
- French Horn
- Alto Trombone
- Flugelhorn
- Trombone
- Bass Trumpet
- Trumpet
- Cornet
- Piccolo Trumpet
Single Reed Instruments
- Clarinet Family
- Saxophone Family
- Chalumeau Family
Double Reed Instruments
- Bassoon Family
- Oboe Family
- Duduk
- Shawm
- Zurna
- Rauschpfeife
Free Reed Instruments
- Reed Organ
- Accordion
- Concertina
- Bag Pipes
- Melodica
- Harmonica
Wind Instruments
- Pipe Organ
- Side Blown Flute Family (Concert Flute, Bansuri, Dizi, Pan Flute)
- End Blown Flute Family (Shakuhachi, Ney, Quena)
- Fipple Flute Family (Recorder, Whistle, Native American Flute)
- Vessel Flute Family (Ocarina, Gemshorn, Xun)
Wheeled String Instruments
- Hurdy Gurdy
- Bowed Clavier
- Wheelharp