Abbreviations / musical instruments
The following is a list of the abbreviations for musical instruments , such as those used in musical scores and in notations for jazz pieces .
In practical use, the abbreviations are not always clear (see above all with regard to “tb”), in case of doubt the context must be interpreted.
| acc | Accordion (ger .: accordion) |
| acl | Alto clarinet |
| afl, oldfl | Alto flute |
| arr | arrangement |
| as | Alto saxophone |
| b, bg | Bass (instrument) (English: bass guitar) |
| bar | Baritone saxophone |
| bck | pool |
| bcl, bkl | Bass clarinet |
| bj, bjo | banjo |
| bars | Baritone saxophone (ger .: baritone saxophone) |
| bl | Band leader |
| bo | Bongos |
| bpos, btb | Bass trombone |
| br | Viola (viola) |
| bs, bss | Bass saxophone (English: bass saxophone) |
| btba | Bass tuba |
| btp | Bass trumpet (ger .: bass trumpet) |
| bwtba | Bass Wagner tuba |
| c, cor | Cornet (ger .: cornet) |
| cor | Horn (ital .: corno) |
| cl | Clarinet (ger .: clarinet) |
| clo | cello |
| comp | Composition (ger .: composition) |
| cond | Conducting / conductor |
| dr | Drums (ger .: drums) |
| eb | E-Bass (English: electric bass) |
| eh | English horn |
| ep | Electronic piano (English: electric piano) |
| fg | bassoon |
| fl | Flute (ger .: flute) |
| flh | Flugelhorn (ger .: flugel horn) |
| early | Waldhorn (ger .: french horn) |
| gisy | Guitar synthesizer |
| g, git | Guitar (ger .: guitar) |
| gl, glsp | Carillon |
| gl | Bells |
| g1 | 1st violin ( violin ) |
| g2 | 2nd violin (violin) |
| grtr | Big drum |
| har, harm | Harmonica (English: harmonica) |
| harp, hrf | Harp (ger .: harp) |
| hrn | horn |
| hrp, hrps | Harpsichord (English: harpsichord) |
| kb | double bass |
| kb, keyb | Keyboard |
| kbpos | Double bass trombone |
| kbtba | Double bass tuba |
| kfg | Contrabassoon |
| kl | clarinet |
| kltr | Small drum |
| ld | Band leader |
| lyra | Lyre |
| mand, mando | Mandolin (ger .: mandolin) |
| mar | Marimba |
| whether, obo | oboe |
| op | Ophicleide |
| org | Organ (engl .: organ) |
| p | Piano (Engl .: piano) |
| perc | Percussion instruments (ger .: percussion) |
| picb | Piccolo bass |
| picc | Piccolo |
| pictp | Piccolo trumpet |
| pkn | Timpani |
| pos | trombone |
| reeds | Woodwind instruments (reeds) |
| stirred | Agitator drum |
| sax | saxophone |
| ss | Soprano saxophone |
| st | Strings |
| syn, synth | synthesizer |
| tamb | Tambourine |
| tb, trb | Trombone (ger .: trombone) |
| tb, tba, tub | tuba |
| th | Tenor horn |
| timp | Kettledrum |
| tp, trp | Trumpet (ger .: trumpet) |
| trgl | triangle |
| ts | Tenor saxophone (tenor saxophone Engl .:) |
| dd | Turntables |
| dd | Hoopla |
| twtba | Tenor Wagner tuba |
| v, vl | violin |
| va, viola | Viola (ger .: viola) |
| vb, vib | Vibraphone |
| vc | violoncello |
| voc | Singing (ger .: vocals) |
| vtb | Valve trombone |