Instrument NameCommon 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.