History:Instrument Tree/Requests

Status: Work in progress, ignore for the time being
NOTE: this is a work in progress, any additions or fixes in spelling or simmilar will be the *final* touch on this, after all the instruments and stuff have been added and re-ordered.
please add requests at the bottom of the list. do not add them randomly in the table as I will then lose my concentration and direction.
later a special wikipage for instruments wishes will be created. this is a self project. please let me tinker with it just a little while before others have a go. thanks.

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ok, ignore this part. just look at the part that begins with 'instruments'

• ROOT
• additional (This attribute describes if a particular performance role was considered normal or additional.)
• dissolving (This attribute describes if a particular artist was in the group/collaboration when it was dissolved)
• founding (This attribute describes if a particular artist was a founding member of this group/collaboration)
• guest (This attribute indicates a 'guest' performance where the performer is not usually part of the band.)
• minor (This attribute describes if a particular cooperation was considered equal or minor.)
• vocal (This attribute describes a type of vocal performance.)
  • Lead (Lead or solo vocal)
    • Alto (Alto)
    • Bass-Baritone (Bass-Baritone)
    • Contralto (Contralto)
    • Baritone (Baritone)
    • Bass (Bass)
    • Contra-tenor (Contra-tenor)
    • Mezzo-soprano (Mezzo-soprano)
    • Soprano (Soprano)
    • Tenor (Tenor)

• • Background (Background vocal)
    • Choir/Chourus (Choir/Chourus)

• • Narrator (Narrator)
    • Reader (Reader)

• instrument (This attribute describes the possible instruments that can be captured as part of a performance.)
  • Wind instruments (Wind instruments)
    • Woodwind (Woodwind)
      • Reeds (Reeds)
        • Double reed (Double reed)
          • Bagpipe (Bagpipe)
            • Uilleann pipes (blown using small bellows strapped around the waist)

• • • • • • Bassoon (Bassoon)
          • Contrabassoon (Contrabassoon)
          • Oboe (Oboe)
            • English Horn (English Horn (Cor Anglais))
            • Heckelphone (Heckelphone)

• • • • • Singular reed (Singular Reed)
          • Clarinet (Clarinet )
            • Alto clarinet (Alto clarinet)
            • Bass clarinet (Bass clarinet)
            • Contrabass clarinet (Contrabass clarinet)

• • • • • • Saxophone (Saxophone )
            • Soprano saxophone (Soprano saxophone)
            • Alto saxophone (Alto saxophone)
            • Tenor saxophone (Tenor saxophone)
            • Baritone saxophone (Baritone saxophone)

• • • • • Free reed (Free reed)
          • Jew's harp (Jew's harp)
          • Accordion (Accordion)
          • Concertina (Concertina)
          • Harmonica (Harmonica)
          • Bandoneón (Bandoneón)
          • Melodica (Melodica)
          • Sheng (Sheng)
            • Sho (Sho)

• • • • Flute (Flute)
        • Fipple flutes (Fipple flutes)
          • Piccolo (Piccolo flute)
          • Vertical flute (Vertical flute)
          • Recorder flute (Recorder flute (Blockflöte))
          • Willow flute (Willow flute (seljefløyte))
          • Shakuhachi (Japanese end-blown flute)
          • Tin whistle (Tin whistle)
          • Slide whistle (Slide whistle)

• • • • • Other flutes (Other flutes)
          • Pan pipes (Pan pipes)
          • Ocarina (Ocarina)
          • Nose flute (Nose flute)

• • • Brass (Brass)
      • Valved brass instruments (Valved brass instruments)
        • Trumpet (Trumpet)
        • Cornet (Cornet)
        • Flugelhorn (Flugelhorn)
        • Mellophone (Mellophone)
        • Horn (Horn)
          • French horn (French horn)
          • Baritone horn (Baritone horn)
          • Tenor horn (Alto horn) (Tenor horn (Alto horn))

• • • • • Tuba (Tuba)
          • Euphonium (Euphonium)
          • Sousaphone (Sousaphone)
          • Wagner tuba (Wagner tuba)

• • • • Slide brass instruments (Slide brass instruments)
        • Trombone (Trombone)
          • Bass Trombone (bass trombone)
          • Sackbut (Sackbut)

• • • • Keyed brass instruments (Keyed brass instruments)
        • Serpent (Serpent)
        • Cornett (Cornett)

• • • • Natural brass instruments (Natural brass instruments)
        • Bugle (Bugle)
        • Alphorn (Alphorn)
        • Shofar (Shofar)
        • Conch (Conch shell)
        • Didgeridoo (Didgeridoo)

• • • Organ (Organ)
      • Hammond organ (Hammond organ)
      • Pipe organ (Pipe organ)
      • Reed organ (Reed organ)
        • Harmonium (Harmonium)

• • • • Calliope (Calliope)

• • String instruments (String instruments)
    • Bowed string instruments (Bowed string instruments)
      • Viola da gamba (Viola da gamba)
        • Rebec (Rebec)
        • Bass (Bass)
          • Double Bass / Contrabass (Double Bass / Contrabass)
          • Acoustic upright bass (Acoustic upright bass)
            • Electric upright bass (Electric upright bass)

• • • • • Viola d'amore (Viola d'amore)

• • • • Violins (Violins)
        • Cello (Cello)
          • Electric cello (Electric cello)

• • • • • Viola (Viola)
        • Violin (Violin)
          • Treble Violin (Treble violin)
          • Soprano Violin (Soprano violin)
          • Alto Violin (Alto violin)
          • Violotta (Violotta (Tenor Violin))
          • Fiddle (Fiddle)
            • Hardingfele (Hardingfele (Hardanger))
            • Kemenche (Kemenche)

• • • • • • Electric violin (Electric violin)
          • Vielle (Vielle / Vieille)

• • • • Huqin (Huqin Chinese family of string-instruments)
        • Jing Hú (Jing Hú (Jinghu))
        • Èrhú (Èrhú (Chinese violin))
          • Gaohu (Gaohu)

• • • • • Zhonghu (Zhonghu (Chinese viola))
        • Cizhonghu (Cizhonghu (tenor))
        • Gehu (Chinese western cello fusion)
          • Diyingehu (Chinese double bass)

• • • • • Banhu /Banghu (Banhu / Banghu)
        • Yehu (Yehu)
        • Kokyu (Japanese string instrument)
        • Morin khuur / Matouqin (Mongolian string instrument)

• • • • Aracaic and Other bowed string-instruments (Aracaic and Other bowed string-instruments)
        • Viola organista (Viola organista)
        • Crwth (Crwth)
        • Nyckelharpa (Nyckelharpa)
        • Bowed psaltery (Bowed psaltery)
        • Gudok (Gudok)
          • Gadulka (Gadulka)

• • • • • Musical Saw (Musical Saw)

• • • Plucked string instruments (Plucked string instruments)
      • Guitars (Guitars)
        • Guitar
          • Classical guitar (Classical guitar)
            • Acoustic guitar (Acoustic guitar)
              • Spanish acoustic guitar (Spanish acoustic guitar)

• • • • • • Slide guitar (Slide guitar)
          • Electric Guitar (Electric Guitar)
          • Steel guitar (Steel guitar)

• • • • • Bass Guitar (Bass)
          • Acoustic bass guitar (Acoustic bass guitar)
          • Electric bass guitar (Electric bass guitar)

• • • • • Ukulele (Ukulele)
        • Spanish Vihuela (Spanish Vihuela)
        • Tres (Tres)
        • Mexican Vihuela (Mexican Vihuela)
        • Balalaika (Balalaika)

• • • • Lute (Lute)
        • Oud (a small, pear-shaped, stringed musical instrument, still in use in many Arab musical traditions)
        • Turkish baglama (Turkish baglama)
          • Greek baglama Greek baglama

• • • • • Cittern (Cittern)
        • Bouzouki (Bouzouki)
        • Mandolin (Mandolin)
          • Mandola (Mandola)

• • • • • Biwa (Biwa)
        • Rebab (Rebab)
          • Sarod (Sarod)

• • • • • Xalam (khalam) (Xalam (Khalam))
          • Banjo (Banjo)

• • • • • Moon guitar (Moon guitar (Yueh-ch'in))
          • Zhongruan (alto Moon guitar)

• • • • • Sanxián (Sanxian)
          • Sanshin (Sanshin)
            • Shamisen (Shamisen (Samisen))

• • • • • Sitar (Sitar)

• • • • Lyre (Lyre)
        • Kinnor (Kinnor)
        • Kithara (Kithara)
        • Harp (Harp)
          • Psaltery (Psaltery)
            • Harpsichord (Harpsichord)

• • • • • • Kora (Kora harp-lute)

• • • • Zither (Zither)
        • Appalachian Dulcimer (Appalachian Dulcimer)
        • Koto (Koto)
        • Gayageum (Gayageum)
        • Komungo (Komungo)
        • Geomungo (Geomungo)
        • Langeleik (Langeleik)

• • • • Musical bow (Musical bow)
        • Berimbau (Berimbau)

• • • Struck string instruments (Struck string instruments)
      • Hammered dulcimer (Hammered dulcimer)
        • Cymbalum (Cymbalum)
        • Yángqín (Yángqín)
        • Santur (Santur)

• • • • Chapman Stick (Chapman Stick)
      • Warr Guitar (Warr Guitar)
      • Clavichord (Clavichord)
        • Clavinet (Clavinet)

• • • • Piano (Piano)
        • Grand Piano (Grand Piano)
        • Upright Piano (Upright Piano)
        • Toy piano (Toy piano)
        • Electric Piano (Electric Piano)
          • Rhodes Piano (Rhodes Piano)
          • Chamberlin (Chamberlin)
          • Mellotron (Mellotron)
          • Keyboard (Keyboard)

• • • Other (Other String instruments)
      • Aeolian harp (Aeolian harp)
      • Hurdy gurdy (Hurdy gurdy)
      • Mbira (Mbira)
      • Washtub bass (Washtub bass)

• • Percussion instruments (Percussion instruments)
    • Drums (Drums)
      • Drumset (Drumset)
      • Snare Drum (Snare Drum)
      • Timpani (Timpani)
      • Tambourine (Tambourine)
      • Doyra (Doyra)
      • Congas (Congas)
      • Bongos (Bongos)
      • Goblet drum (has many many names. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblet_drum)

• • • Gongs (Gongs)
      • Gong (Gong)
      • Cymbals (Cymbals)

• • • Other percussion (Other instruments)
      • Afuche / Cabasa (Afuche / Cabasa)
      • Maracas (Maracas)
      • Castanets (Castanets)
        • Spoons (Spoons)

• • • • Claves (Claves)
      • Güiro (Güiro)
      • Mendoza (Mendoza (Monkey stick))
      • Ratchet (Ratchet)
      • Vibraslap (Vibraslap)
      • Washboard (Washboard)
      • Whip (Whip)
      • Wood Block (Wood Block)
        • Temple Blocks (Temple Blocks)

• • • Tuned Percussion (Tuned Percussion)
      • Bells (Bells)
        • Handbells (Handbells)
        • Tubular Bells (Tubular Bells)
        • Cowbell (Cowbell)
        • Carillon (Carillon)

• • • • Xylophone (Xylophone)
        • Marimba (Marimba)
        • Glockenspiel (Glockenspiel)
          • Crotales (Crotales)

• • • • • Celesta (Celesta)
        • Vibraphone (Vibraphone)

• • • • Timbales (Timbales)
      • Steelpan (Steelpan)
      • Triangle (Triangle)
      • Whistle (Whistle)

• • Electronic instruments (Electronic instruments)
    • Denis d'or (Denis d'or)
    • Dubreq Stylophone (Dubreq Stylophone)
    • Drum machine (Drum machine)
    • Ondes Martenot (Ondes Martenot)
    • Sampler (Sampler)
    • Synclavier (Synclavier)
    • Synthesizer (Synthesizer)
    • Teleharmonium (Teleharmonium)
    • Theremin (Theremin)

• • Other instruments (Other instruments)
    • Thai instruments (asked for by mo.)
      • Dàn nguyêt (a two-stringed lute with a circular, flat body, related to the corresponding chinese instrument "moon lute")
      • Dàn tỳ bà (Four-stringed lute with a pear-shaped body. Like the "moon lute", it has greatly elevated frets at the neck.)

• • • Bull-roarer (Bull-roarer)
    • Hardart (Hardart)
    • Kazoo (Kazoo)
    • Lasso d'amore (Lasso d'amore)
    • Singing bowl (Singing bowl)
    • Suikinkutsu (Suikinkutsu (Japanese water zither))
    • Tibetan Water Drum (Tibetan Water Drum)
      • Waterphone (Waterphone)

• • • Glass (H)armonica (Glass (H)armonica)
    • Programming (Programming)

Still missing instruments

See mails at http://lists.musicbrainz.org/pipermail/musicbrainz-users/2005-April/020476.html (requested in april!!!)

• Indian Strings NOTE: will not be added as it is to generic - what should we use when it's listed on a CD as an instrument then? -- Then try to find out exactly what kind of Indian stringed instrument it is. See: http://chandrakantha.com/articles/indian_music/instruments.html
• Electric Sitar / Sitar Guitar (http://www.jerryjonesguitars.com)
• Tabla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabla)
• Omnichord (much like the QChord, manufactured by Suzuki, electronic, now obsolete, used by David Bowiw and Jarvis Cocker amongst others)
• Minimoog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimoog) This is just a brand and model of synth. It should not be added.
• Guitar Synthesizer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_synthesizer) This shouldn't be added either. Just because you added a MIDI pickup to your guitar it doesn't change the fact that you're still playing a guitar.
• E-mu Synthesizer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mu) This is just a brand of synth. It should not be added.
• Acoustic/Electric Baritone Guitar
• Djembe
• Turntables
• Yamaha DX7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DX7) This is just a brand and model of synth. It should not be added.

Why shouldn't particular types of synth be added? They're frequently listed on CDs and some people care what type of synth was played. Why not make them subtypes of 'Synthesizer'. PaulSharpe

• Because it's impossible to keep up with them all, especially considering the protracted process by which new instruments need to go through before they are added. I've said time and time again that this is all NUTS - what we need are a few (50 tops) instrument/role macro-categories, and then a free text field by which users can input qualifiers. Eg: "Synthesizer [[[Mini Moog|MiniMoog]]]". --Gecks
  • Free text fields are not possible in the current AdvancedRelationships implementation. (And also I think a mixture of a list and free text is counter productive, but well..) You guys are just too impatient. :) Let mo finish his job of restructuring the tree and after that he will create a wiki page to make the process of adding instruments much faster. Noone will die inbetween. And it will prevent total chaos to do it structured and in this order. --Shepard

The number of different synths produced numbers in the several hundreds. Roland alone has made well over 100 different synths and tone generators. Do you want to start listing all of those? That's a slipperly slope to be on. Besides, they are just models and brands. In the end the artist is still playing a synthesizer. If we start listing those then to be consistent we'd have to list the brand and model of all of the other instruments. Does it matter that Jaco Pastorius played a Fender Precision Bass on most of his albums or can we be content to know that he played electric bass guitar? Likewise, does it really matter that Lyle Mays played a Korg Triton and a Steinway Grand on the last Pat Metheny album or is knowing that he played synthesizer and piano enough? MattPerry

misc links:

• http://www.asza.com/isho.shtml
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musical_instruments

Recently added:

• Programming (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programming_%28music%29)
• Chapman Stick (http://www.stick.com)