The following abbreviations for instruments and voice ranges may be used in work lists, and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of musical instruments.
The abbreviations should be used in the following order:
Within each group instruments are generally given in score order (see IMSLP:Tagging#Abbreviations for instruments for specific details).
The symbols ( ) + and / are used to indicate optional or alternative instrumentation, in the following manner:
Square brackets can be used to include more details:
| Abbreviation | English | French | German | Italian | Spanish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acc | Accordion | Accordéon | Akkordeon (Ziehharmonika) | Fisarmonica | Acordeón |
| afl | Alto flute | Flûte alto (Flûte en sol) | Altflöte (Altquerflöte in G) | Flauto contralto | Flauta alto (Flauta en sol) |
| alt | Alto (voice) (contralto) | Alto (Contralto) | Alt | Contralto | Contralto |
| arp | Arpeggione | Arpeggione | Arpeggione | Arpeggione | Arpeggione |
| bag | Bagpipe | Cornemuse (Biniou) | Dudelsack (Sackpfeife) | Cornamusa (Zampogna) | Gaita |
| bar | Baritone (voice) | Baryton (Bariton) | Bariton | Baritono | Barítono |
| bass | Bass (voice) | Basse | Bass | Basso | Bajo |
| bbar | Bass baritone (voice) | Basse-bayiton (Basse-bariton) | Bassbariton | Basso-baritono | Bajo-barítono |
| bc | Continuo (Basso continuo) | Basse continue | Generalbass | Basso continuo | Bajo continuo |
| bcl | Bass clarinet | Clarinette basse | Bassklarinette | Clarinetto basso | Clarinete bajo |
| bell | Bell (Chimes) | Cloches | Glocken | Campane | Campanas |
| bfl | Bass flute | Flûte basse | Bassflöte (Bassquerflöte in C) | Flauto basso | Flauta baja |
| bgtr | Bass guitar | Guitare basse | E-Bass | Basso eletrrico | Bajo elétrico |
| bjo | Banjo | Banjo | Banjo | Banjo | Banjo |
| bn | Bassoon | Basson | Fagott | Fagoto | Fagot |
| bob | Bass oboe (Baritone oboe) | Hautbois baryton | Baritonoboe | Oboe baritono | Oboe bajo |
| br | Brass instruments | instruments à vent de cuivres | Blechblasinstrumente | Strumento a fiato di ottone | Instrumentos de viento-metal |
| bryt | Baryton | Baryton (Bariton) | Bariton | Baritono | Barítono |
| bstcl | Basset clarinet | Clarinette de basset | Bassettklarinette | Clarinetto di bassetto | Clarinete basset |
| bsthn | Basset horn | Cor de basset | Bassetthorn | Corno di bassetto | Cuerno basset (Trompa de basset) |
| bug | Bugle | Clairon | Signalhorn | Corna de segnale | Corneta |
| cbcl | Contrabass clarinet | Clarinette contrabasse | Kontrabassklarinette | Clarinetto contrabbasso | Clarinete contrabajo |
| cbn | Contrabassoon | Contrebasson | Kontrafagott | Contrafagotto | Contrafagot |
| cch | Children's chorus | Choeur d'enfants | Kinderchor | Coro di fanciulli | Coro infantil (Coro de niños) |
| cel | Celesta | Célesta | Celesta | Celesta | Celesta |
| ch | Mixed chorus | Choeur mixtes | gemischter Chor | Coro miste | Coro mixto |
| cimb | Cimbalom | Cymbalum | Zimbal | Cimbalom | Címbalo |
| cit | Cittern | Cistre | Cister (Cyther) | Cetra (Cetara) | Kithara (Cítara) |
| cl | Clarinet | Clarinette | Klarinette | Clarinetto | Clarinete |
| clvd | Clavichord | Clavicorde | Klavichord | Clavicordo | Clavicordio |
| cm | Chalumeau | Chalumeau | Chalumeau | Salmoè | Salmoé |
| conc | Concertina | Concertina | Konzertina | Concertina | Concertina |
| crh | Crumhorn | Cromorne | Krummhorn | Cromorno | Cromorno |
| crt | Cornet | Cornet (à pistons) | Kornett (Ventilkornett) | Cornetta (a pistoni) | Cornetín (de pistones) |
| crtt | Cornett (Zink) | Cornet-à-bouquin | Zink | Cornetto | Corneta |
| ct | Counter-Tenor | Contre-Tenor | Countertenor | Controtenore | Contratenor |
| cv | Child's voice | Voix d'enfants | Kinderstimme(n) | Voce di fanciullo | Voz de niño (Voz de infanto) |
| db | Double Bass | Contrebasse | Kontrabass | Contrabasso | Contrabajo |
| dlcn | Dulcian | Douçaine | Dulzian | Dulciana | Bajón (Dulcián) |
| dom | Domra | Domra | Domra | Domra | Domra |
| dulc | Dulcimer | Psaltérion (Tympanon) | Hackbrett | Salterio | Salterio (Tímpano) |
| egtr | Electric guitar | Guitarre électrique | Elektrische Gitarre | Chitarra elettrica | Guitarra eléctrica |
| eh | English horn (Cor anglais) | Cor anglais | Englischhorn | Corno inglese | Corno inglés |
| elec | Electronic Instruments | Instrument électronique | Elektronische(s) Instrument(e) | Strumento elettrica | Instrumentos eléctricos |
| epf | Electric piano | Piano électronique | Elektronisches Piano | Pianoforte elettrico | Piano eléctrico |
| eq | Equal voices | Voix égales | gleiche Stimmen | Voci pari | Voces iguales |
| erhu | Erhu | Erhu | Erhu | Erhu | Erhu |
| euph | Euphonium | Euphonium | Euphonium | Eufonio | Bombardino |
| fch | Female chorus | Choeur de femmes | Frauenchor | Coro femminile | Coro femenino (Coro de mujeres) |
| fda | Flute d'amore (Tenor flute) | Flûte ténor | Tenorflöte | Flauto tenor | Flauta tenor |
| fgh | Flugelhorn | Bugle (Grand bugle) | Flügelhorn | Flicorno soprano | Fliscorno |
| fife | Fife | Fifre | Querpfeife (Militärflöte) | Fiffaro | Pífano |
| fl | Flute | Flûte | Flöte | Flauto | Flauta |
| flag | Flageolet | Flageolet | Flageolett | Flagioletto | Flageolet (Flajeolet) |
| ghca | Glass harmonica (Bowl organ) | Harmonica de verre (Coupes de verre) | Glasharmonika (Gläserspiel) | Glassarmonica (Bicchieri de vetro) | Armónica de cristal |
| gl | Glockenspiel | Jeu de timbres | Glockenspiel | Campanelli (Metallofono) | Juego de campanas (Lira) |
| gtr | Guitar | Guitare | Gitarre | Chitarra | Guitarra |
| harm | Harmonium | Harmonium | Harmonium | Armonium | Armonium |
| hca | Harmonica (Mouth Organ) | Harmonica | Mundharmonika | Armonica a bocco | Armónica de boca |
| heck | Heckelphone | Heckelphone | Heckelphon | Heckelfono | Heckelfón |
| hn | Horn (French horn) | Cor | Horn | Corno | Trompa (Corno francés) |
| hp | Harp | Harpe | Harfe | Arpa | Arpa |
| hpd | Harpsichord | Clavecin | Cembalo (Clavicembalo) | Cembalo (Clavicembalo) | Clavicémbalo |
| kbd | Keyboard instrument | Instrument à clavier | Tasteninstrument | Strumento a tastiera | Instrumento de tecla |
| lute | Lute | Luth | Laute | Liuto | Laúd |
| lyre | Lyre | Lyre | Lyra | Lira | Lira |
| mand | Mandolin | Mandoline | Mandoline | Mandolino | Mandolina (Mandolín) |
| mar | Marimba | Marimba | Marimbaphon | Marimba | Marimba |
| mch | Male chorus | Choeur d'homme | Männerchor | Coro maschile | Coro masculino (Coro de hombres) |
| mez | Mezzo-soprano | Messo-soprano | Mezzosopran | Mezzosoprano | Mesosoprano (Mezzosoprano) |
| mus | Musette | Musette | Musette de Cour | Musette de cour | Musette |
| nar | Narrator (Reciter) | Narrateur | Erzähler | Narratore | Narrador |
| ob | Oboe | Hautbois | Oboe (Hoboe) | Oboe | Oboe |
| oca | Ocarina | Ocarina | Okarina | Ocarina | Ocarina |
| oda | Oboe d'amore | Hautbois d'amour | Oboe d'amore | Oboe d'amore | Oboe de amor |
| om | Ondes Martenot | Ondes Martenot | Ondes Martenot | Onde Martenot | Ondas Martenot |
| oph | Ophicleide | Ophicléide | Ophikleide | Ophicleide | Oficleido |
| orch | Orchestra | Orchestre | Orchester | Orchestra | Orquesta |
| org | Organ | Orgue | Orgel | Organo | Órgano |
| oud | Oud | Oud | Oud | Oud | Laúd árabe |
| pan | Pan flute (Pan-pipes) | Flûte de Pan (Syrinx) | Panflöte (Hirtenflöte) | Flauto di Pan (Siringa) | Flauta de Pan (Zampoñas) |
| perc | Percussion | instruments à percussion | Schlaginstrument (Schlagzeug) | Strumento a percussione | Percusión |
| pf | Piano | Piano | Klavier | Pianoforte | Piano |
| pf3h | Piano 3 hands | Piano à 3 mains | Klavier zu 3 Händen | Pianoforte 3 mani | Piano a 3 manos |
| pf4h | Piano 4 hands | Piano à 4 mains | Klavier zu 4 Händen | Pianoforte 4 mani | Piano a 4 manos |
| pf5h | Piano 5 hands | Piano à 5 mains | Klavier zu 5 Händen | Pianoforte 5 mani | Piano a 5 manos |
| pf6h | Piano 6 hands | Piano à 6 mains | Klavier zu 6 Händen | Pianoforte 6 mani | Piano a 6 manos |
| pflh | Piano left hand | Piano à main gauche | Klavier linkshändig | Piano di sinistra | Piano mano izquierda |
| pfped | Pedal piano | Piano à pédalier (Clavier de pédales) | Pedalflügel (Pedalklavier) | Pianoforte organistico | Piano con pedales |
| pfrh | Piano right hand | Piano à main droite | Klavier rechtshändig | Piano di destra | Piano mano derecha |
| picc | Piccolo | Petite flûte | Kleine Flöte (Piccoloflöte) | Flauto piccolo (Ottavino) | Flautín (Píccolo) |
| pipa | Pipa | Pipa | Pipa | Pipa | Pipa |
| pk | Timpani | Timbales | Pauken | Timpani | Timbales |
| ptpt | Piccolo trumpet | Petite trompette | Piccolotrompete | Trombino | Trompeta píccolo |
| reb | Rebec | Rebecq (Rebecquet) | Rebec | Rebeca (Ribeca) | Rabé (Rebequín) |
| rec | Recorder | Flûte à bec (Flûte douce) | Blockflöte | Flauto dolce (Flauto a becco) | Flauta de pico (Flauta dulce) |
| sar | Sarrusophone | Sarrusophone | Sarrusophon | Sarrusofono | Sarrusofón |
| sax | Saxophone | Saxophone | Saxophon | Sassofono (Saxofono) | Saxofón |
| sheng | Sheng | Sheng | Sheng | Sheng | Sheng |
| shw | Shawm | Chalemie | Schalmei | Ciaramella (Piffaro) | Chirimía (Xirimía) |
| sit | Sitar | Sitar | Sitar | Sitar | Sitar |
| skbt | Sackbut | Sacqueboute | Sackbutt | Sackbut | Sacabuche |
| sop | Soprano (voice) | Soprano | Sopran | Soprano | Soprano |
| srp | Serpent | Serpent | Serpent | Serpentone | Serpentón |
| stpt | Slide trumpet | Trompette à couluisse | Zugtrompete | Tromba a tirarsi | Trompeta de varas |
| str | String instruments | Cordes | Streicher | Archi | Instrumentos de cuerda |
| sxh | Saxhorn | Saxhorn | Bügelhorn | Flicorni | Saxhorno |
| syn | Synthesizer | Synthétiseur | Synthesizer | Sintetizzatore | Sintetizador |
| tba | Tuba | Tuba | Tuba | Tuba | Tuba |
| tbn | Trombone | Trombone | Posaune | Trombone | Trombón |
| ten | Tenor | Ténor | Tenor | Tenore | Tenor |
| thrm | Theremin | Thérémine | Theremin | Theremin | Theremín |
| timp | Timpani | Timbales | Pauken | Timpani | Timbales |
| tpt | Trumpet | Trompette | Trompete | Tromba (Clarino) | Trompeta |
| uch | Unison chorus | Choeur unisson | Unisonochor | Coro unisono | Coro unísono |
| uke | Ukelele (Ukulele) | Ukulélé | Ukelele | Ukelele | Ukelele |
| v | Voice (solo) | Voix | Stimme | Voce | Voz |
| va | Viola | Alto | Bratsche | Viola | Viola |
| vap | Viola pomposa | Viola pomposa | Viola pomposa | Viola pomposa | Viola pomposa |
| vc | Cello | Violoncelle | Violoncello | Violoncello | Violonchelo (Violoncello) |
| vda | Viola d'amore | Viole d'amour | Viola d'amore (Liebesgeige) | Viola d'amore | Viola de amor |
| vib | Vibraphone | Vibraphone | Vibraphon | Vibrafono | Vibráfono |
| vie | Vielle (Hurdy-Gurdy) | Vielle à roue (Chifonie) | Leier (Drehleier) | Lyra tedesca (Ghironda) | Viola de rueda (Zanfona) |
| viol | Viol (Viola da gamba) | Gambe (Viola da gamba) | Gambe | Gamba (Viola da gamba) | Viola de gamba |
| vlne | Violone | Violone | Violone | Violone | Violone |
| vn | Violin | Violon | Violine (Geige) | Violino | Violín |
| vuv | Vuvuzela | Vuvuzela | Vuvuzela | Vuvuzela | Vuvuzela |
| vv | Voices (multiple soloists) | Voix | Stimmen | Voci | Voces |
| wag | Wagner tuba | Tuba wagnérien | Wagnertuba | Tuba di Wagner | Tuba Wagneriana |
| ww | Woodwind instruments | Instrument à vent en bois | Holzblasinstrument | Strumento a fiato di legno | Instrumentos de viento-madera |
| xiao | Xiao | Xiao | Xiao | Xiao | Xiao |
| xyl | Xylophone | Xylophone (Harmonica de bois) | Xylophon | Xilofono (Silofono) | Xilófono |
| zith | Zither | Cithare | Zither | Cetra da tavola | Cítara |
