Hornbostel-Sachs Classification

A comprehensive system for classifying musical instruments based on how they produce sound, originally developed by Erich von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs in 1914. The system divides instruments into four main categories: idiophones (sound from the vibration of the entire instrument, e.g., castanets, cymbals), membranophones (sound from a stretched membrane, e.g., drums), chordophones (sound from vibrating strings, e.g., guitar), and aerophones (sound from vibrating air, e.g., recorder, flute). This classification is relevant to accessibility research because it provides a structured framework for designing digital musical instruments and gesture-based interfaces that can represent the full range of musical experiences for deaf and hard of hearing users.