Sachs Hornbostel System
Paul Marshall (c) 2002

Introduction

The Sachs-Hornbostel System was created in 1914 to categorise musical instruments into logical family groupings based on the nature of the initial vibrating body.This is different from the orchestral system of brass, woodwind etc etc

4 major groupings were arrived at initially,

Idiophones: instruments that are constructed of solid material that vibrates by virtue of their own inherent rigidity such as claves or marimba bars.

Membranophones: instruments that rely on a stretched membrane to trigger the sound, includes all drums.

Chordophones; instruments that rely on a stretched string, such as a guitar or piano; and

Aerophones: instruments that rely on air such as saxophones or didjeridus

Since that time, other useful grouping can be used

Electrophones where the initial vibration is the pulses of electricity in a wire.

Hydrophones where the vibrator is water based is also under consideration.

Many of the instruments rely on more than one of these categories for their overall sound, however the system at this highest level refers only to the initial vibrating mechanism. The S/H system provides for nine levels of classification, eg with drums, sub divisions include frame drums, goblet drums, barrel drums, cylindrical drums etc etc

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The following list is intended to include all percussion items plus some that are strictly non-percussive but do find their way increasingly into a percussionists arsenal such as didjeridus and berimbaus. This, of course, is only a sample of the instruments available, there are hundreds more which are either completely different or variations on a theme, if you would care to write a few lines on any of these instruments or any other or if you have good quality photographs or short audio samples to share, I will be happy to publish them on the dojo for everyone’s benefit. Read the contributors’ guidelines for more information
Instruments are sorted alphabetically

Idiophones: instruments that are constructed of solid material that vibrates by virtue of its own inherent rigidity.

Anklung (see also Aerophones)
Balafon / Amadinda
Bells
Bilmia (Clapsticks)
Cajon
Cymbals
Gamelan (see also membranophones)
Gongs
Guiro
Mbira / Kalimba
Rain Sticks
Rattles
Reco reco
Rhythm sticks (Claves / Pu-ili / bilmia)
Sistrum
Slit drum
Temple Bowl
Triangle
Washboard (frottoir)
Membranophones: instruments that rely on a stretched membrane to trigger the sound, including

Arabian Tabla/ Darabuka / Req / Def
Ashiko
Bodhran
Bongo
Conga
Darabuka / Doumbek See goblet drums
Dhol
Djembé
Drum set
Frame drum main page
Gamelan (see also idiophones)
Kanjira
Lambeg
Maghreb - North African Drumming
Native American Village drum
Ocean Drum
Pandeiro
Repinique
Steel Drum / Steel Pan
Surdo
Tabla
Taiko
Talking drum / Tama
Tambourine (see frame drums)
Tar / Daf
Timbale
Tonbak
Chordophones; instruments that rely on a stretched string,

Berimbau
Aerophones: Instruments that rely on vibrating an enclosed body of air or the surrounding air

Anklung (see also idiophones)
Bullroarer
Conch shell
Ghatam – (see also idiophones)
Udu - Clay Pot Drum - Nigeria - (see also idiophones)
Electrophones: Instruments where the sounds are electronically triggered
Electronic drumsets
Handsonic
Wavedrum

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