Editing Musical instrument classification (section)

{{Short description|Musical Instruments Around the World}}[[File:Agricola.jpeg|thumb|Variety of recorders from [[Martin Agricola]]'s 1529 ''Musica instrumentalis deudsch'' (English: ''German Instrumental Music'')]]
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In [[organology]], the study of [[musical instrument]]s, many methods of classifying instruments exist. Most methods are specific to a particular [[Culture|cultural group]] and were developed to serve the musical needs of that culture. Culture-based classification methods sometimes break down when applied outside that culture. For example, a classification based on instrument use may fail when applied to another culture that uses the same instrument differently.

In the study of [[Western culture#Music|Western music]], the most common classification method divides instruments into the following groups: 
* [[String instrument]]s (often subdivided between plucked and bowed instruments);
* [[Wind instrument]]s (often subdivided between [[Woodwind instrument|woodwind]]s and [[Brass instrument|brass]]);
* [[Percussion instrument]]s; and 
* [[Electronic musical instrument|Electronic instrument]]s