Erich M. von Horbostel and Curt Sachs. 1914. Systematik der Musikinstrumente: Ein Versuch. Translated as "Classification of Musical Instruments," by Anthony Baines and Klaus Wachsmann, Galpin Society Journal (1961), 14: 3-29.

SVH Number

SVH Name

Description

Comments

1 IDIOPHONES The substance of the instrument itself, owing to its solidity and elasticity, yields the sounds, without requiring stretched membranes or strings
11 Struck idiophones The instrument is made to vibrate by being struck upon
111 Idiophones struck directly The player himself executes the movement of striking; whether by mechanical intermediate devices, beaters, keyboards, or by pulling ropes, etc., is immaterial; it is definitive that the player can apply clearly defined 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 [Annam, India, Marshal Is.]
111.12 Concussion plaques or plaque clappers [China, India]
111.13 Concussion troughs or trough clappers [Burma]
111.14 Concussion vessels or vessel clappers Even a slight hollow in the surface of a board counts as a vessel
111.141 Castanets Vessel clappers, either natural, or artificially hollowed out
111.142 Cymbals Vessel clappers with everted 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 [Japan, Annam, Balkans; also the triangle]
111.212 Sets of percussion sticks Several percussion sticks of different pitch are combined to form a single instrument [All xylophones, as long as their sounding components are not in two different planes [nicht biplan]]
111.22 Percussion plaques
111.221 (Individual) percussion plaques [In the oriental Christian Church]
111.222 Sets of percussion plaques [Lithophone (China), and most metallophones]
111.23 Percussion tubes
111.231 Individual percussion tubes [Slit drum, tubular bell]
111.232 Sets of percussion tubes [Tubaphon, tubular xylophone]
111.24 Percussion vessels
111.241 Gongs The vibration is strongest near the vertex
111.241.1 (Individual) gongs [S. and E. Asia; including the so-called metal drums, or rather kettle-gongs]
111.241.2 Sets of gongs [gong chimes] [S.E. Asia]
111.242 Bells The vibration is weakest near the vertex
111.242.1 (Individual) bells
111.242.11 Resting bells The cup is placed on the palm of the hand on or a cushion; its mouth faces upwards [China, Indo-China, Japan]
111.242.12 Suspended bells The bell is suspended from the apex
111.242.121 Suspended bells struck from the outside No striker is attached inside the bell, there being a separate beater
111.242.122 Clapper bells A striker (clapper) is attached inside the bell
111.242.2 Sets of bells [chimes] (subdivided as 111.242.1)
112 Indirectly struck idiophones The player himself does not go through the movement of striking; percussion results indirectly through some other movement by the player. The intention of the instrument is to yield clusters of sounds or noises, and not to let individual strokes be perceived
112.1 Shaken idiophones or rattles The player executes 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 [Necklaces with rows of shells]
112.112 Stick rattles Rattling objects are strung on a bar (or ring) [Sistrum with rings]
112.12 Frame rattles Rattling objects are attached to a carrier against which they strike
112.121 Pendant rattles Rattling objects are hung from a frame [Dancing shield with rattling rings]
112.122 Sliding rattles Non-sonorous objects slide to and fro in the slots of the sonorous object so that the latter is made to vibrate; or sonorous objects slide to and fro in the slots of a non-sonorous object, to be set in the vibration by the impacts [Anklung, sistrum with rods (recent)]
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. NB The Benue gourd rattles with handle, in which the rattling objects, instead of being enclosed, are knotted into a net slipped over the outer surface, count as a variety of vessel rattle [Fruit shells with seeds, 'pellet bells' enclosing loose percussion pellets]
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 A notched stick is scraped with a little stick
112.211 Scraped sticks without resonator [S. America. India (notched musical now), Congo]
112.212 Scraped sticks with resonator [Usumbara, E. Asia (tiger)]
112.22 Scraped tubes [S. India]
112.23 Scraped vessels The corrugated surface of a vessel is scraped [S. America, Congo region]
112.24 Scraped wheels or cog rattles A cog wheel, whose axle serves as the handle, and a tongue fixed in a frame which is free to turn on the handle; when whirled, the tongue strikes the teeth of the wheel one after another [Europe, India]
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 jungle or vibrate on recoil [China (huan t'u), Malacca, Persia (qasik), Balkans]
12 Plucked idiophones Lamellae, i.e. elastic plaques, fixed at one end, are flexed and then released to return to their position of rest
121 In the form of a frame The lamella vibrates with a frame or hoop
121.1 Clack idiophones (cricri) The lamella is carved in the surface of a fruit shell, which serves as resonator [Melanesia]
121.2 Guimbardes (Jews' harps) 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 carved in the frame itself, its base remaining joined to the frame [India, Indonesia, Melanesia]
121.22 Heteroglot guimbardes A lamella attached to a frame
121.221 (Single) heteroglot guimbardes [Europe, India, China]
121.222 Sets of heteroglot guimbardes Several heteroglot guimbardes of different pitches are combined to form a single instrument [Aura]
122 In board- or comb-form 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 [All sansas on a plain board]
122.12 With resonator [All sansas with a box or bowl below the board]
122.2 With cut-out lamellae (musical boxes) Pins on a cylinder pluck the lamellae [Europe]
13 Friction idiophones The instrument is made to vibrate by friction
131 Friction sticks
131.2 Sets of friction sticks
131.21 Without direct friction The sticks themselves are rubbed [Nail fiddle, nail piano, Stockspiele]
131.22 With indirect friction The sticks are connected with others which are rubbed and, by transmitting their longitudinal vibrations, stimulate transverse vibration in the former [Chladni's euphon]
132 Friction plaques
132.1 (Individual) frinction plaques [Unknown]
132.2 Sets of friction plaques [livika] [New Ireland]
133 Friction vessels
133.1 (Individual) friction vessels [Brazil (tortoise shell)]
133.2 Sets of friction vessels [Verillon (glass harmonica)]
14 Blown idiophones The instrument is made to vibrate by being blown upon
141 Blown sticks
141.1 (Individual) blown sticks [Unknown]
141.2 Sets of blown sticks [Aeolsklavier]
142.1 (Individual) blown plaques [Unknown]
142.2 Sets of blown plaques [Piano chanteur]

SVH Number

SVH Name

Description

Comments

2 MEMBRANOPHONES The sound is excited by tightly stretched membranes
21 Struck drums The membranes are stuck
211 Drums struck directly The player himself executes the movement of striking; this includes striking by any intermediate devices, such as beaters, keyboards, etc.; drums that are shaken are excluded
211.1 Kettle drums (timpani) The body is bowl- or dish-shaped
211.11 (Separate) kettle drums [European timpani]
211.12 Sets of kettle drums [W. Asian permanently joined pairs of kettle drums]
211.2 Tubular drums The body is tubular
211.21 Cylindrical drums The diameter is the same at the middle and the ends; whether or not the ends taper or have projecting disks, is immaterial
211.211 Single-skin cylindrical drums The drum has only one usable membrane. In some African drums a second skin forms part of the lacing device and is not used for beating, and hence does not count as a membrane in the present sense
211.211.1 Open cylindrical drums The end opposite from the membrane is open [Malacca]
211.211.2 Closed cylindrical drums The end opposite from the membrane is closed [West Indies]
211.212 Double-skin cylindrical drums The drum has two usable membranes
211.212.1 (Individual) cylindrical drums [Europe (side drum)]
211.212.2 Sets of cylindrical drums
211.22 Barrel-shaped drums (to be subdivided like 211.21) The diameter is larger at the middle than at the ends; the body is curvilinear [Asia, Africa, Ancient Mexico]
211.23 Double-conical drums The diameter is larger at the middle than at the ends; the body is rectilinear with angular profile [India (mrdanga, banya, pakhavaja)]
211.24 Hourglass-shaped drum (to be subdivided like 211.21) The diameter is smaller at the middle than at the ends [Asia, Melanesia, E. Africa]
211.25 Conical drums (to be subdivided like 211.21) The diameters at the ends differ considerably; minor departures from conicity, inevitably met, are disregarded here [India]
211.26 Goblet-shaped drums (to be subdivided like 211.21) The body consists of a main section which is either cup-shaped or cylindrical, and a slender stem; borderline cases of this basic design like those occurring notably in Indonesia, do not affect the identification, so long as a cylindrical form is not in fact reached [Darabuka]
211.3 Frame drums The depth of the body does not exceed the radius of the membrane. NB The European side-drum, even in its most shallow form, is a development from the long cylindrical drum and hence is not included among frame drums
211.31 Frame drums (without handle)
211.311 Single-skin frame drums [Tambourine]
211.312 Double-skin frame drums [N. Africa]
211.32 Frame drum with handle A stick is attached to the frame in line with its diameter
211.321 Single-skin frame drums with handle [Eskimo]
211.322 Double-skin frame drums with handle [Tibet]
212 Rattle drums (sub-divisions as for drums struck directly, 211) The drum is shaken; percussion is by impact of pendant or enclosed pellets, or similar objects [India, Tibet]
22 Plucked drums A strong is knotted below the center of the membrane; when the string is plucked, its vibrations are transmitted to the membrane [India (gopi yantra, anandalahari)]
23 Friction drums The membrane is made to vibrate by friction
231 Friction drums with stick A stick in contact with the membrane is either itself rubbed, or is employed to run the membrane
231.1 With inserted stick The stick passes through a hole in the membrane
231.11 Friction drums with fixed stick The stick cannot be moved; the stick alone is subjected to friction by rubbing [Africa]
231.12 Friction drums with semi-fixed stick The stick is movable to a sufficient extent to rub the membrane when it is itself rubbed by the hand [Africa]
231.13 Friction drums with free stick The stick can be moved freely; it is not itself rubbed, but is employed to run the membrane [Venezuela]
231.2 With tied stick The stick is tied to the membrane in an upright position [Europe]
232 Friction drum with cord A cord, attached to the membrane, is rubbed
232.1 Stationary friction drum with cord The drum is held stationary [Europe, Africa]
232.11 Single-skin stationary drums with friction-cord
232.12 Double-skin stationary drums with friction-cord
232.2 Friction drum with whirling stick The drum is whirled on a cord which rubs on a [resined] notch in the holding stick [Waldteufel [cardboard buzzer] (Europe, India, E. Africa)]
233 Hand friction drums The membrane is rubbed by the hand
24 Singing membranes (Kazoos) The membrane is made to vibrate by speaking or singing into it; the membrane does not yield a note of its own but merely modifies the voice [Europe, W. Africa]
241 Free kazoos The membrane is incited directly, without the wind first passing through a chamber [Comb-and-paper]
242 Tube- or vessel-kazoos The membrane is placed inside a tube or box [Africa; while also, E. Asian flutes with a lateral hole sealed by a membrane, exhibit an adulteration with the principle of the tube kazoo]

SVH Number

SVH Name

Description

Comments

3 CHORDOPHONES One or more strings are stretched between fixed points
31 Simple chordophones or zithers The instrument consists solely of a string bearer, or of a string bearer with a resonator which is not integral and can be detached without destroying the sound-producing apparatus
311 Bar zithers The string bearer is bar-shaped; it may be a board placed edgewise
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 The bow has one idiochord string only [New Guinea (Sepik R.), Togo]
311.112 Poly-idiochord musical bows or harp-bows The bow has several idiochord strings which pass over a toothed stick or bridge [W. Africa (Fan)]
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 NB If a separate, unattached resonator is used, the specimen belongs to 311.121.21. The human mouth is not to be taken into account as a resonator
311.121.11 Without tuning noose [Africa (ganza, samuius, to)]
311.121.12 With tuning noose A fibre noose is passed round the string, dividing it into two sections [South-equatorial Africa (n'kungo, uta)]
311.121.2 With resonator
311.121.21 With independent resonator [Borneo (busoi)]
311.121.22 With resonator attached
311.121.221 Without tuning noose [S. Africa (hade, thomo)]
311.121.222 With tuning noose [S. Africa, Madagascar (gubo, hungo, bobre)]
311.122 Poly-heterochord musical bows The bow has several heterochord strings
311.122.1 Without tuning noose [Oceania (kalove)]
311.122.2 With tuning noose [Oceania (pagolo)]
311.2 Stick zithers The string carrier is rigid
311.21 Musical bow cum stick The string bearer has one flexible, curved end. NB Stick zithers with both ends flexible and curved, like the Basuto bow, are counted as musical bows [India]
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 [India (tuila), Celebes (suleppe)]
311.222 With several resonator gourds [India (vina)]
312 Tube zithers The string bearer is a vaulted surface
312.1 Whole-tube zithers The string carrier is a complete tube
312.11 Idiochord (true) tube zithers [Africa and Indonesia (gonra, togo, valiha)]
312.12 Heterochord (true) tube zithers
312.121 Without extra resonator [S.E. Asia (alligator)]
312.122 With extra resonator An internode length of bamboo is placed inside a palm leaf tied in the shape of a bowl [Timor]
312.2 Half-tube zithers The strings are stretched along the convex surface of a gutter
312.21 Idiochord half-tube zithers [Flores]
312.22 Heterochord half-tube zithers [E. Asia (k'in, koto)]
313 Raft zithers The string bearer is composed of canes tied together in the manner of a raft
313.1 Idiochord raft zithers [India, Upper Guinea, Central Congo]
313.2 Heterochord raft zithers [N. Nyasa region]
314 Board zithers The string bearer is aboard; the ground too is to be counted as such
314.1 True board zithers The plane of the strings is parallel with that of the string bearer
314.11 Without resonator [Borneo]
314.12 With resonator
314.121 With resonator bowl The resonator is a fruit shell or similar object, or an artificially carved equivalent [Nyasa region]
314.122 With resonator box (box zither) The resonator is made from slats [Zither, Hackbrett, pianoforte]
314.2 Board zither variations The plane of the strings is at right angles to the string bearer
314.21 Ground zithers The ground is the string bearer; there is only one string [Malacca, Madagascar]
314.22 Harp zithers A board serves as string bearer; there are several strings and a notched bridge [Borneo]
315 Trough zithers The strings are stretched across the mouth of a trough [Tanganyika]
315.1 Without resonator
315.2 With resonator The trough has a gourd or a similar object attached to it
316 Frame zithers The strings are stretched across an open frame
316.1 Without resonator [Perhaps amongst medieval psalteries]
316.2 With resonator [W. Africa, amongst the Kru (kani)]
32 Composite chordophones A string bearer and a resonator are organically united and cannot be separated without destroying the instrument
321 Lutes The plane of the strings runs parallel with the sound-table
321.1 Bow lutes [pluriarc] Each string has its own flexible carrier [Africa (akam, kalanga, wambi)]
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 A natural or carved-out bowl serves as the resonator [Lyra, E. African lyre]
321.22 Box lyres A built-up wooden box serves as the resonator [Cithara, crwth]
321.3 Handle lutes The string bearer is a plain handle. Subsidiary necks, as e.g. in the Indian prasarini vina are disregarded, as are also lutes with strings distributed over several necks, like the harpolyre, and those like the Lyre-guitars, in which the yoke is merely ornamental
321.31 Spike lutes The handle passes diametrically through the resonator
321.311 Spike bowl lutes The resonator consists of a natural or carved-out bowl [Persia, India, Indonesia]
321.312 Spike box lutes or spike guitars The resonator is built up from wood [Egypt (rebab)]
321.313 Spike tube lutes The handle passes diametrically through the walls of a tube [China, Indochina]
321.32 Necked lutes The handle is attached to or carved from the resonator, like a neck
321.321 Necked bowl lutes [Mandoline, theorbo, balalaika]
321.322 Necked box lutes or necked guitars NB Lutes whose body is built up in the shape of a bowl are classified as bowl lutes [Violin, viol, guitar]
322 Harps The plane of the strings lies at right angles to the sound-table; a line joining the lower ends of the strings would point towards the neck
322.1 Open harps The harp has no pillar
322.11 Arched harps The neck curves away from the resonator [Burma and Africa]
322.12 Angular harps The neck makes a sharp angle with the resonator [Assyria, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Korea]
322.2 Frame harps The harp has a pillar
322.21 Without tuning action [All medieval harps]
322.211 Diatonic frame harps
322.212 Chromatic frame harps
322.212.1 With the strings in one plane [Most of the older chromatic harps]
322.212.2 With the strings in two planes crossing one another [The Lyon chromatic harp]
322.22 With tuning action The strings can be shortened by mechanical action
322.221 With manual action The tuning can be altered by hand-levers [Hook harp, dital harp, harpinella]
322.222 With pedal action The tuning can be altered by pedals
323 Harp lutes 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. Notched bridge [W. Africa (kasso, etc.)]

SVH Number

SVH Name

Description

Comments

4 AEROPHONES The air itself is the vibrator in the primary sense
41 Free aerophones The vibrating air is not confined by the instrument
411 Displacement free aerophones 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 [Whip, sword-blade]
412 Interruptive free aerophones 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 [Organ reed stops]
412.11 Concussion reeds Two lamellae make a gap which closes periodically during their vibration [A split grass-blade]
412.12 Percussion reeds A single lamella strikes against a frame
412.121 Individual percussion reeds [Brit. Columbia]
412.122 Sets of percussion reeds [The earlier reed stops of organs]
412.13 Free reeds The lamella vibrates through a closely-fitting slot
412.131 (Individual) free reeds [Single-note motor horn]
412.132 Sets of free reeds NB In instruments like the Chinese sheng the fingerholes do not serve to modify the pitch and are therefore not equivalent to the fingerholes of other pipes [Reed organ, mouthorgan, accordion]
412.14 Ribbon reeds The air-stream is directed against the edge of a stretched band or ribbon. The acoustics of this process has not yet been studied [Brit. Columbia]
412.2 Non-idiophonic interruptive instruments The interruptive agent is not a reed
412.21 Rotating aerophones The interruptive agent rotates in its own plane [Sirens]
412.22 Whirling aerophones The interruptive agent turns on its axis [Bull-roarer, whirring disc, ventilating fan]
413 Plosive aerophones The air is made to vibrate by a single density stimulus condensation shock [Pop guns]
42 Wind instruments proper The vibrating air is confined within the instrument itself
421 Edge instruments or flutes A narrow stream of air is directed against an edge
421.1 Flutes without duct The player himself creates a ribbon-shaped stream of air with his lips
421.11 End-blown flutes The player blows against the sharp rim at the upper open end of a tube
421.111 (Single) end-blown flutes
421.111.1 Open single end-blown flutes The lower end of the flute is open
421.111.11 Without fingerholes [Bengal]
421.111.12 With fingerholes [Almost world-wide]
421.111.2 Stopped single end-blown flutes The lower end of the flute is closed
421.111.21 Without fingerholes [The bore of a key]
421.111.22 With fingerholes [Especially New Guinea]
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 [China]
421.112.12 Open bundle (pan-) pipes The pipes are tied together in a round bundle [Solomon Is., New Britain, New Ireland, Admirality Is.]
421.112.2 Stopped panpipes [Europe, S. America]
421.112.3 Mixed open and stopped panpipes [Solomon Is., S. America]
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 [S.W. Timor]
421.121.12 With fingerholes [European 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 [N.W. Borneo]
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) [Malacca, New Guinea]
421.121.32 With fingerholes [E. Bengal, Malacca]
421.122 Sets of side-blown flutes
421.122.1 Sets of open slide-blown flutes [Chamber flute orum]
421.122.2 Sets of stopped side-blown flutes [N.W. Brazil (among the Siusi)]
421.13 Vessel flutes (without distinct beak) The body of the pipe is not tubular but vessel-shaped [Brazil (Karaja), Lower Congo (Bafiote)]
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 [China, Borneo]
421.211.12 With fingerholes [Indonesia]
421.211.2 Partly-stopped flutes with external duct [Malacca]
421.211.3 Stopped flutes with external duct
421.212 Sets of flute with external duct [Tibet]
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, bock 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 [European signaling whistle]
421.221.12 With fingerholes [Recorder]
421.221.2 Partly-stopped flute with internal duct [India and Indonesia]
421.221.3 Stopped flutes with internal duct
421.221.31 Without fingerholes
421.221.311 With fixed stopped lower end [European signaling whistle]
421.221.312 With adjustable stopped lower end [Piston pipes [swannee whistle]]
421.221.4 Vessel flutes with duct
421.221.41 Without fingerholes [Zoomorphic pottery whistles (Europe, Asia)]
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 stops of the organ]
421.222.12 With fingerholes [Double flageolet]
421.222.2 Sets of partly-stopped flutes with internal duct [Rohrflöte stops of the organ]
421.222.3 Sets of stopped flutes with internal duct [Stopped flue stops of the organ]
422 Reedpipes The air-stream has, through means of two lammelae placed at the head of the instrument, intermittent access to the column of air which is to be made to vibrate
422.1 Oboes The pipe has a [double] reed of concussion lamellae (usually a flattened stem)
422.11 (Single) oboes
422.111 With cylindrical bore
422.111.1 Without fingerholes [Brit. Columbia]
422.111.2 With fingerholes [Aulos, crumhorn]
422.112 With conical bore [European oboe]
422.12 Sets of oboes
422.121 With cylindrical bore [Double aulos]
422.122 With conical bore [India]
422.2 Clarinets The pipe has a [single] 'reed' consisting of a percussion lamella
422.21 (Single) clarinets
422.211 With cylindrical bore
422.211.1 Without fingerholes [Brit. Columbia]
422.211.2 With fingerholes [European clarinet]
422.212 With conical bore [Saxophone]
422.22 Sets of clarinets [Egypt (zummara)]
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 [S.E. Asia]
422.31 Single pipes with free reed
422.32 Double pipes with free reeds
423 Trumpets The air-stream passes through the player's vibrating lips, so gaining intermittent access to the air column which is to be made to vibrate
423.1 Natural trumpets Without extra devices to alter pitch
423.11 Conches A conch shell serves as trumpet
423.111 End-blown
423.111.1 Without mouthpiece [India]
423.111.2 With mouthpiece [Japan (rappakai)]
423.112 Side-blown [Oceania]
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 [Some alphorns]
423.121.12 With mouthpiece [Almost world-wide]
423.121.2 End-blown horns The tube is curved or folded
423.121.21 Without mouthpiece [Asia]
423.121.22 With mouthpiece [Lurs]

Erich M. von Horbostel and Curt Sachs. 1914. Systematik der Musikinstrumente: Ein Versuch. Translated as "Classification of Musical Instruments," by Anthony Baines and Klaus Wachsmann, Galpin Society Journal (1961), 14: 3-29.