Instrument Name | Common Abbreviation(s) |
Recorder |
Rec. |
Piccolo |
Pic., Picc. |
Flute |
Fl. |
Alto Flute (in G) |
A.Fl. |
Bass Flute |
B.Fl. |
Oboe |
Ob., Hb. |
English Horn |
Eng.Hn., E.H. |
Oboe d'amore (in A) |
Ob.d'A. |
Bb Clarinet |
Bb.Cl |
Eb Clarinet |
Eb.Cl., Eb.Kl. |
Clarinet |
Cl., Kl. |
Alto Clarinet |
A.Cl., A.Kl. |
Bass Clarinet |
B.Cl., Bkl. |
Contrabass Clarinet |
Cb.Cl, Cb.Kl. |
Bassoon |
Bn., Fg. |
Contra Bassoon |
C.Bn., C.Fag., C.Bssn., Con.Bn., C.Bon. |
Double Bassoon |
D.Bn |
Sarrousophone |
Sarr. |
Saxophone |
Sax. |
Eb Alto Saxophone |
A.Sax. |
Bb Tenor Saxophone |
T.Sax. |
Eb Baritone Saxophone |
Bar.Sax. |
Horn |
Hn., Cor. |
Trumpet |
Tr., Tpt., Tbe (Italian plural) |
Cornet |
Cor., Crt., Crnt., Cnt., Kor. |
Bass Trumpet |
B.Tpt. |
Trombone |
Trb., Tbni (Italian plural), Tbn, Pos. |
Bass Trombone |
B.Tbn. |
Flugelhorn |
Flg. |
Baritone/Euphonium |
Bar., Euph. |
Tuba |
Tb.,Tuba |
Bass Tuba |
B.Tuba, Btb. |
Percussion |
Perc. |
Timpani |
Timp., Pk. |
Kettle Drums |
K.Dr. |
Snare Drum |
Sn.Dr., C.C., Tr. |
Side Drum |
S.D. |
Tenor Drum |
Ten.Dr. |
Bass Drum |
B.Dr., Gr.Cassa., Cr.Tr., G.C. |
Cymbals |
Cym., Cymb., Ptti (Italian plural), Bck. |
Crotales |
Crot. |
Antique Cymbals |
Ant.Cym. |
Finger Cymbals |
Fing.Cym. |
Gong |
Gng, Tamtam |
Tambourine |
Tmbn., Tamb. |
Triangle |
Tri., Trgl. |
Castanets |
Cas., Casts, Kas. |
Chimes/Bells |
Bells (tubular) |
Glockenspiel/Chime-Bells |
Glock., Glck., Glsp. |
Bongos |
Bong. |
Claves |
- |
Guiro/Rasper |
- |
Maracas |
- |
Rattle/Ratchet |
- |
Sandpaper Blocks |
Sand.Bl. |
Siren |
- |
Slapstick/Whip |
- |
Sleighbells |
- |
Temple Blocks |
Temp.Bl. |
Wind Machine |
Windmachine |
Wood Block |
Wd.Bl. |
Xylophone |
Xyl. |
Vibraphone |
Vib. |
Marimba |
Mar. |
Harp |
Harp, Arp., Hpe. |
Celesta |
Cel. |
Cimbalom |
Cimb. |
Harpsichord |
Hpd. |
Clavichord |
Clvd. |
Keyboard |
Kbd. |
Organ |
Org. |
Synthesizer |
Synth. |
Piano |
Pf., Pno., Pfte. |
Prepared Piano |
Prep.Pf. |
Accordion |
Accdn |
Violin |
V., Vn. (occasionally Vln.) |
Viola |
Va., Vla., Br. |
Violoncello/Cello |
Vlc., Vc. |
Bass (voice) |
B. |
Bass (instrument) |
B. |
Double Bass |
Cb., Kb. |
Contrabass |
Cb. |
Violone |
Vle |
String Bass |
St.B |
Voice (non-specific) |
Voc. |
Solo voices (specific) |
S,A,T,B |
Chorus |
SATB |
Treble (voice) |
Tr. |
Treble (instrument) |
Tr. |
Countertenor (voice) |
CT., Ct. |
Soprano (voice) |
S. |
Soprano (instrument) |
S. |
Mezzo-soprano (voice) |
Mez., Mezz. |
Alto (voice) |
A. |
Alto (instrument) |
A. |
Contralto (voice) |
C. |
Tenor (voice) |
T. |
Tenor (instrument) |
T. |
Baritone (voice) |
Bar. |
Baritone (instrument) |
Bar. |
Bass-Baritone (voice) |
B-Bar. |
Baritone (instrument) |
Bar. |
Chitarrone |
Chit. |
Guitar |
Gtr. |
Electric Guitar |
E.Gtr. |
Mandolin |
Mand. |
Narrator |
Nar. |