Editing Musical instrument classification (section)

===Other Western classifications===

====Classification by tonal range====
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}
Instruments can be classified by their musical range in comparison with other instruments in the same family. These terms are named after [[Vocal range|singing voice classifications]]:
* [[Sopranissimo|Higher-than-sopranino]] instruments: the [[garklein]] recorder in C (also known as the [[sopranissimo recorder]], or piccolo recorder), [[Sopranissimo saxophone|soprillo saxophone]], [[piccolo]]
* [[Sopranino (disambiguation)|Sopranino]] instruments: [[ sopranino recorder]], [[sopranino saxophone]], [[treble flute]]
* [[Soprano]] instruments: [[Western concert flute|concert flute]], [[soprano clarinet]], [[basset clarinet]], [[soprano recorder]], [[violin]], [[trumpet]], [[oboe]], [[soprano saxophone]], [[soprano sarrusophone]]
* [[Alto]] instruments: [[alto flute]], [[alto recorder]], [[viola]], [[French horn]], [[natural horn]], [[alto horn]], [[alto clarinet]], [[alto saxophone]], [[alto sarrusophone]], [[Cor anglais|English horn]]
* [[Tenor]] instruments: [[trombone]], [[euphonium]], [[tenor violin]], [[flute d'amour|tenor flute]], [[basset horn]], [[tenor saxophone]], [[tenor sarrusophone]], [[tenoroon]], [[tenor recorder]], [[bass flute]], [[tenor drum]], [[harpsichord]] (at 8' pitch), [[guitar]]
* [[Baritone]] instruments: [[cello]], [[baritone horn]], [[bass clarinet]], [[bassoon]], [[baritone saxophone]], [[baritone sarrusophone]]
* [[Bass (instrument)|Bass]] instruments: [[bass recorder]], [[bass oboe]], [[bass tuba]], [[bass saxophone]], [[bass sarrusophone]], [[Bass Trombone|bass trombone]], [[bass guitar]], [[bass drum]]
* [[Contrabass|Lower-than-bass]] instruments: [[contrabass tuba]], [[double bass]], [[contrabassoon]], [[contrabass clarinet]], [[contrabass saxophone]], [[contrabass sarrusophone]], [[subcontrabass saxophone]], [[tubax]], [[octobass]]
Some instruments fall into more than one category: for example, the cello may be considered either tenor or bass, depending on how its music fits into the ensemble, and the trombone may be [[alto]], tenor, or bass and the French horn, bass, [[baritone]], tenor, or alto, depending on which range it is played. In a typical concert band setting, the first alto saxophone covers soprano parts, while the second alto saxophone covers alto parts.

Many instruments include their range as part of their name: [[soprano saxophone]], [[alto saxophone]], [[tenor saxophone]], [[baritone saxophone]], [[baritone horn]], [[alto flute]], [[bass flute]], [[bass guitar]], etc. Additional adjectives describe instruments above the soprano range or [[contrabass|below the bass]], for example: [[sopranino recorder]], [[sopranino saxophone]], [[contrabass recorder]], [[contrabass clarinet]].

When used in the name of an instrument, these terms are relative, describing the instrument's range in comparison to other instruments of its family and not in comparison to the human voice range or instruments of other families. For example, a bass flute's range is from C<sub>3</sub> to F{{music|sharp}}<sub>6</sub>, while a bass clarinet plays about one octave lower.

====Classification by function====
Instruments can be categorized according to typical use, such as [[signal instrument]]s, a category that may include instruments in different Hornbostel–Sachs categories such as [[trumpet]]s, [[drum]]s, and [[gong]]s. An example based on this criterion is Bonanni (e.g., festive, military, and religious).<ref name="Kartomi1990" /> He separately classified them according to geography and era.

Instruments can be classified according to the role they play in the ensemble. For example, the [[horn section]] in popular music typically includes both [[brass instrument]]s and [[woodwind instrument]]s. The symphony orchestra typically has the strings in the front, the woodwinds in the middle, and the basses, brass, and percussion in the back.

====Classification by geographical or ethnic origin====
{{see also|List of national instruments (music)}}
[[Jean-Benjamin de la Borde]] (1780) classified instruments according to ethnicity, his categories being Black, Abyssinian, Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, and Greek.<ref name="Kartomi1990" />