List of membranophones by Hornbostel-Sachs number

The Hornbostel-Sachs system of musical instrument classification groups all instruments in which sound is produced primarily through a vibrating membrane. This includes all drums.

*2: Instruments in which sound is produced through a vibrating membrane
**21: Instruments in which the membrane is struck
***211: Instruments in which the membrane is struck directly, such as through bare hands, beaters or keyboards
****211.1: Instruments in which the body of the drum is dish- or bowl-shaped (kettle drums)
*****211.11: Single instruments
*****211.12: Sets of instruments
****211.2: Instruments in which the body is tubular (tubular drums)
*****211.21: Instruments in which the body has the same diameter at the middle and end (cylindrical drums)
******211.211: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*******211.211.1: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
*******211.211.2: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
******211.212: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*******211.212.1: Single instruments
*******211.212.2: Sets of instruments
*****211.22: Instruments in which the body is barrel-shaped (barrel drums)
******211.221: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*******211.221.1: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
*******211.221.2: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
******211.222: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*******211.222.1: Single instruments
*******211.222.2: Sets of instruments
*****211.23: Instruments in which the body is double-conical
******211.231: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*******211.231.1: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
*******211.231.2: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
******211.232: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*******211.232.1: Single instruments
*******211.232.2: Sets of instruments
*****211.24: Instruments in which the body is hourglass-shaped
******211.241: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*******211.241.1: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
*******211.241.2: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
******211.242: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*******211.242.1: Single instruments
*******211.242.2: Sets of instruments
*****211.25: Instruments in which the body is conical-shaped (conical drums)
******211.251: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*******211.251.1: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
*******211.251.2: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
******211.252: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*******211.252.1: Single instruments
*******211.252.2: Sets of instruments
*****211.26: Instruments in which the body is goblet-shaped (goblet drums)
******211.261: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*******211.261.1: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is open
*******211.261.2: Instruments in which the end without a membrane is closed
******211.262: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*******211.262.1: Single instruments
*******211.262.2: Sets of instruments
****211.3: Instruments in which the body depth is not greater than the radius of the membrane (frame drums)
*****211.31: Instruments which do not have a handle
******211.311: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
******211.312: Instruments which have two usable membranes
*****211.32: Instruments which have a handle
******211.321: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
******211.322: Instruments which have two usable membranes
***212: Instruments which are shaken, the membrane being vibrated by objects inside the drum (rattle drums)
**22: Instruments with a string attached to the membrane, so that when the string is plucked, the membrane vibrates (plucked drums)
**23: Instruments in which the membrane vibrates as a result of friction
***231: Instruments in which the membrane is vibrated from a stick that is rubbed or used to rub the membrane
****231.1: Instruments in which the stick is inserted in a hole in the membrane
*****231.11: Instruments in which the stick can not be moved and is subject to rubbing, causing friction on the membrane
*****231.12: Instruments in which the stick is semi-movable, and can be used to rub the membrane
*****231.13: Instruments in which the stick is freely movable, and is used used to rub the membrane
****231.2: Instruments in which the stick is tied upright to the membrane
***232: Instruments in which a cord, attached to the membrane, is rubbed
****232.1: Instruments in which the drum is held stationary whileplaying
*****232.11: Instruments which have only one usable membrane
*****232.12: Instruments which have two usable membranes
****232.2: Instruments in which the drum is twirled by a cord, which rubs in a notch on the stick held by the player
***233: Instruments in which the membrane is rubbed by hand
**24: Instruments in which the membrane vibrates by singing or speaking into it (kazoos)
***241: Instruments in which the membrane is vibrated by an unbroken column of wind, without a chamber
***242: Instruments in which the membrane is placed in a box, tube or other container

These instruments may be classified with a suffix, depending on how the membrane is attached to the body:

*6: Membrane glued to the body
*7: Membrane nailed to the body
*8: Membrane laced to the body
**81: Lacing is cord- or ribbon-bracing, in which the cords stretch between membranes or in the form of a net
***811: Lacing does not use a special device to stretch the cords
***812: The middle of the lacing has ribbons or cords tied crossways to increase the tension of the lacing (tension ligature)
***813: The lacing is zigzag, with every pair of strings attached to a ring or hoop (tension loop)
***814: Wedges, placed between the body and the lacing, can be used to alter the tension by adjusting the positioning of the wedges
**82: The lacing at the lower end is attached to a non-sonorous hide
***821: Lacing does not use a special device to stretch the cords
***822: The middle of the lacing has ribbons or cords tied crossways to increase the tension of the lacing (tension ligature)
***823: The lacing is zigzag, with every pair of strings attached to a ring or hoop (tension loop)
***824: Wedges, placed between the body and the lacing, can be used to alter the tension by adjusting the positioning of the wedges
**83: The lacing at the lower end is attached to an auxiliary board
***831: Lacing does not use a special device to stretch the cords
***832: The middle of the lacing has ribbons or cords tied crossways to increase the tension of the lacing (tension ligature)
***833: The lacing is zigzag, with every pair of strings attached to a ring or hoop (tension loop)
***834: Wedges, placed between the body and the lacing, can be used to alter the tension by adjusting the positioning of the wedges
**84: The lacing at the lower end is attached to flange, carved from a solid block
***841: Lacing does not use a special device to stretch the cords
***842: The middle of the lacing has ribbons or cords tied crossways to increase the tension of the lacing (tension ligature)
***843: The lacing is zigzag, with every pair of strings attached to a ring or hoop (tension loop)
***844: Wedges, placed between the body and the lacing, can be used to alter the tension by adjusting the positioning of the wedges
**85: The lacing at the lower end is attached to a belt
***851: Lacing does not use a special device to stretch the cords
***852: The middle of the lacing has ribbons or cords tied crossways to increase the tension of the lacing (tension ligature)
***853: The lacing is zigzag, with every pair of strings attached to a ring or hoop (tension loop)
***854: Wedges, placed between the body and the lacing, can be used to alter the tension by adjusting the positioning of the wedges
**86: The lacing at the lower end is attached to pegs inserted in the body of the drum
***861: Lacing does not use a special device to stretch the cords
***862: The middle of the lacing has ribbons or cords tied crossways to increase the tension of the lacing (tension ligature)
***863: The lacing is zigzag, with every pair of strings attached to a ring or hoop (tension loop)
***864: Wedges, placed between the body and the lacing, can be used to alter the tension by adjusting the positioning of the wedges
*9: Membrane is bound to the body with a ring slipped on top of it
**91: Membrane is attached by a ring made of cord
**92: Membrane is attached by a ring made of a hoop
***921: Drum has no mechanism
***922: Drum has mechanism
****9221: Drum has no pedals
****9222: Drum has pedals

21. Struck drums

*Bass drum
*Bodhrán
*Bongo drum
*Conga
*Dabakan
*Kettle drum
*O-daiko
*Octoban
*Snare drum
*Tabla
*Taiko
*Tamak'
*Tambourine (the jingles also make this an idiophone)
*Timpani
*Tom-Tom
*Tumdak'

22. Plucked drums

Some commentators believe that instruments in this class ought instead to be regarded as chordophones (see below).

23. Friction drums

*Cuíca
*Rommelpot

24. Singing membranes

Instruments in which a membrane modifies some other sound (typically the human voice) in some way (mirlitons).
*Kazoos