Rock Report's history
Rock Report was set up in 1989 to promote AOR (adult orientated rock), melodic (hard) rock/metal and progressive rock/metal. Immediate cause was the lack of coverage in the better known music magazines that made us decide to create a new mag, totally dedicated to the styles just mentioned.
The very first issue of the Rock Report mag had the English band Dare on the cover and hit the streets way back in May 1989. During its existence the mag underwent many changes. Up to issue 14 Rock Report was nothing more than a copied fanzine with an edition limited to a couple of 100 copies. Nevertheless slowly but surely the circulation kept growing to the extent that in 1991 it was decided to go in print. A cheap printer was quickly found and although the delivered quality was rather poor, with every issue of the mag released the circulation kept on growing.
Another big step forward came in 1997 when the Rock Report staff decided to go on board with a professional printing-office. A better decision couldn't have been made, because the sales figures started to grow considerably. Artists, bands, labels, record and management companies started to see Rock Report as the reference in the Benelux and so more and more people began asking (some of them even begged) us: "When will you publish Rock Report in English?" Realising that English is not our mother tongue, we felt reluctant to the idea at first and so, we didn't dare to take that risky step. However, early 2000 pressure from website visitors from all over the world as well as from many acts and labels became so high that we plucked up courage and finally decided to switch from Dutch to English.
June 2000 was another milestone in the history of Rock Report: our very first issue written in English (issue 45) finally hit the streets! Both the magazine and the website, which was set up in 1996, are put together by a small group of extremely enthusiastic lovers of AOR, melodic rock/metal and progressive rock/metal who are doing all work for free. Rock Report is indeed a non-profit organisation, only formed to promote our favourite (but underground) styles of music.
With the internet becoming more and more important, at the beginning of 2002 it was decided to stop publishing the magazine (issue 50 was our final one) in order to concentrate on the Rock Report website alone. At the end of June a domain name - http://www.rockreport.be - was registered and a couple of weeks later the first version of the totally revamped website was online.
Time flies when you're having fun and meanwhile we've reached the end of 2014, a year in which Rock Report celebrated its 25th anniversary. To celebrate it properly, I've created this brand-new website, called "Rock Report's Melodic & Progressive Rock Bible", but more about that can be read in the next chapter.
The very first issue of the Rock Report mag had the English band Dare on the cover and hit the streets way back in May 1989. During its existence the mag underwent many changes. Up to issue 14 Rock Report was nothing more than a copied fanzine with an edition limited to a couple of 100 copies. Nevertheless slowly but surely the circulation kept growing to the extent that in 1991 it was decided to go in print. A cheap printer was quickly found and although the delivered quality was rather poor, with every issue of the mag released the circulation kept on growing.
Another big step forward came in 1997 when the Rock Report staff decided to go on board with a professional printing-office. A better decision couldn't have been made, because the sales figures started to grow considerably. Artists, bands, labels, record and management companies started to see Rock Report as the reference in the Benelux and so more and more people began asking (some of them even begged) us: "When will you publish Rock Report in English?" Realising that English is not our mother tongue, we felt reluctant to the idea at first and so, we didn't dare to take that risky step. However, early 2000 pressure from website visitors from all over the world as well as from many acts and labels became so high that we plucked up courage and finally decided to switch from Dutch to English.
June 2000 was another milestone in the history of Rock Report: our very first issue written in English (issue 45) finally hit the streets! Both the magazine and the website, which was set up in 1996, are put together by a small group of extremely enthusiastic lovers of AOR, melodic rock/metal and progressive rock/metal who are doing all work for free. Rock Report is indeed a non-profit organisation, only formed to promote our favourite (but underground) styles of music.
With the internet becoming more and more important, at the beginning of 2002 it was decided to stop publishing the magazine (issue 50 was our final one) in order to concentrate on the Rock Report website alone. At the end of June a domain name - http://www.rockreport.be - was registered and a couple of weeks later the first version of the totally revamped website was online.
Time flies when you're having fun and meanwhile we've reached the end of 2014, a year in which Rock Report celebrated its 25th anniversary. To celebrate it properly, I've created this brand-new website, called "Rock Report's Melodic & Progressive Rock Bible", but more about that can be read in the next chapter.
Rock Report's Melodic & Progressive Rock Bible
Lots of
rock and metal acts (artists and bands) have popped up during the last five
decades and to separate the wheat from the corn, it was my aim to select
exactly 1,000 of those acts and feature them here by means of a kind of tribute
page. The selecting process was a long one, but what played a part were the
Rock Report poll results, online databases like Heavy Harmonies, Prog Archives
and Rate Your Music and of course my personal preference. Hence the fact that
some less known acts are included next to the ones you probably expected. Note that the selection of 1,000 acts was rounded off at the end of 2013. New acts since then are thus not included, but it's possible that an album released after 2013 pops up as "Rock Report's Choice", because that specific one can be considered ast the act's best (so far).
To find out which acts (and accompanying albums) are included, you can consult the menu. For example: under #AB, you can find an alphabetical list of all the acts of which the name begins with a figure, the letter A and the letter B. Also included in that list is a picture of one carefully selected album (Rock Report's choice) as well as the year in which that album was initially released and a description of the rock or metal style.
Links: #AB - CDE - FGH - IJK - LMN - OPQ - RST - UVW - XYZ
How to read an entry?
Each entry starts with the name of the act, followed by the nationality between square brackets and a description of the rock or metal style. Only for selected acts then follows a short introduction (written by Chris Lambert), accompanied by either a promo picture or a photo/photos from Franky Bruyneel and/or Serge De Rous, Rock Report's very own photographers.
Only for selected acts comes a list with all the musicians that were part of the various line-ups.
For acts that have released ten or more albums, the covers of their five best are passing in review next. For acts that released less than ten but more than five albums, the covers of only their best three are pictured.
The discography of the act in question follows next. Only studio albums are listed, but – when appropriate – (selected) EPs and live albums have been included as well. The albums are chronologically classified and numbered, mentioning successively the year of the original release and the album title. If an album reached the charts in the act’s home country and/or the US, then its peak position follows plus an eventual certification (silver, gold, platinum, multi-platinum, diamond). A rating (out of 1,000), based on ratings found on Heavy Harmonies, Prog Archives and/or Rate Your Music follows next and last comes a number between round brackets, which refers to the album's ranking.
From each of the included acts, one particular album has been carefully picked as Rock Report's choice. That album could be their bestseller, but that’s certainly not always the case. What you get first is a picture of the album cover, followed by a lot of detailed information: album title, record label, year of original release, name(s) of the producer(s), name of the cover artist (only for selected albums), peak positions on the domestic and/or US charts, certifications, ratings (+ number of voters) taken from HH = Heavy Harmonies, PA = Prog Archives and/or RYM = Rate Your Music, total rating (out of 1,000) and the day the page was last updated.
Next comes a list of the musicians (including guests) involved plus the instruments they played, a track listing (including chart positions and eventual certifications for singles) and – last but not least – a list of the songwriters involved. If video clips of certain album tracks are available on official YouTube channels, the songs are underlined (just click to go to the video).
For selected albums, a Rock Report review follows (originally published on www.rockreport.be)
The last part of the page is a list of interesting links.
Note: Everything that is underlined is a link!
To find out which acts (and accompanying albums) are included, you can consult the menu. For example: under #AB, you can find an alphabetical list of all the acts of which the name begins with a figure, the letter A and the letter B. Also included in that list is a picture of one carefully selected album (Rock Report's choice) as well as the year in which that album was initially released and a description of the rock or metal style.
Links: #AB - CDE - FGH - IJK - LMN - OPQ - RST - UVW - XYZ
How to read an entry?
Each entry starts with the name of the act, followed by the nationality between square brackets and a description of the rock or metal style. Only for selected acts then follows a short introduction (written by Chris Lambert), accompanied by either a promo picture or a photo/photos from Franky Bruyneel and/or Serge De Rous, Rock Report's very own photographers.
Only for selected acts comes a list with all the musicians that were part of the various line-ups.
For acts that have released ten or more albums, the covers of their five best are passing in review next. For acts that released less than ten but more than five albums, the covers of only their best three are pictured.
The discography of the act in question follows next. Only studio albums are listed, but – when appropriate – (selected) EPs and live albums have been included as well. The albums are chronologically classified and numbered, mentioning successively the year of the original release and the album title. If an album reached the charts in the act’s home country and/or the US, then its peak position follows plus an eventual certification (silver, gold, platinum, multi-platinum, diamond). A rating (out of 1,000), based on ratings found on Heavy Harmonies, Prog Archives and/or Rate Your Music follows next and last comes a number between round brackets, which refers to the album's ranking.
From each of the included acts, one particular album has been carefully picked as Rock Report's choice. That album could be their bestseller, but that’s certainly not always the case. What you get first is a picture of the album cover, followed by a lot of detailed information: album title, record label, year of original release, name(s) of the producer(s), name of the cover artist (only for selected albums), peak positions on the domestic and/or US charts, certifications, ratings (+ number of voters) taken from HH = Heavy Harmonies, PA = Prog Archives and/or RYM = Rate Your Music, total rating (out of 1,000) and the day the page was last updated.
Next comes a list of the musicians (including guests) involved plus the instruments they played, a track listing (including chart positions and eventual certifications for singles) and – last but not least – a list of the songwriters involved. If video clips of certain album tracks are available on official YouTube channels, the songs are underlined (just click to go to the video).
For selected albums, a Rock Report review follows (originally published on www.rockreport.be)
The last part of the page is a list of interesting links.
Note: Everything that is underlined is a link!
Nationality (ISO country codes)
AR = Argentina
AT = Austria
AU = Australia
BE = Belgium
BG = Bulgaria
BR = Brazil
CA = Canada
CH = Switzerland
CU = Cuba
DE = Germany
DK = Denmark
ES = Spain
FI = Finland
FR = France
GR = Greece
HU = Hungary
IE = Ireland
IL = Israel
IT = Italy
JP = Japan
NL = Netherlands
NO = Norway
PL = Poland
RS = Serbia
RU = Russia
SE = Sweden
TN = Tunisia
TR = Turkey
UA = Ukraine
UK = United Kingdom
US = United States
UZ = Uzbekistan
AT = Austria
AU = Australia
BE = Belgium
BG = Bulgaria
BR = Brazil
CA = Canada
CH = Switzerland
CU = Cuba
DE = Germany
DK = Denmark
ES = Spain
FI = Finland
FR = France
GR = Greece
HU = Hungary
IE = Ireland
IL = Israel
IT = Italy
JP = Japan
NL = Netherlands
NO = Norway
PL = Poland
RS = Serbia
RU = Russia
SE = Sweden
TN = Tunisia
TR = Turkey
UA = Ukraine
UK = United Kingdom
US = United States
UZ = Uzbekistan
Rock & Metal styles
AOR
Examples: Boston, Foreigner, Heart, Journey, Night Ranger, Survivor
Blues Rock
Examples: Cream, Free, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Yardbirds
Funk Rock
Examples: Dan Reed Network, Extreme, Mother’s Finest
Glam/Sleaze Rock
Examples: Guns N’ Roses, L.A. Guns, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Twisted Sister
Hard Rock
Examples: AC/DC, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Who
Heavy Metal
Examples: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Saxon
Melodic Metal
Examples: Axel Rudi Pell, Masterplan, Pretty Maids, Primal Fear
Melodic Rock
Examples: Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Dokken, Europe, Ratt, Whitesnake
Neo-Classical Metal
Examples: Impellitteri, Royal Hunt, Symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen
Pop/Rock
Examples: Bryan Adams, Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar, Richard Marx
Power Metal
Examples: Gamma Ray, Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius
Progressive Metal
Examples: Ayreon, Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Riverside, Savatage
Progressive Rock*
Examples: see subdivisions*
Southern Rock
Examples: 38 Special, The Allman Brothers Band, Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Symphonic Metal
Examples: Kamelot, Nightwish, Rhapsody, Within Temptation
Westcoast
Examples: Airplay, Chicago, Mr. Mister, Planet 3, Toto
*Subdivisions of Progressive Rock included here:
Crossover Prog
= Progressive rock with elements from popular music.
Examples: Mike Oldfield, The Moody Blues, Peter Gabriel, Supertramp
Eclectic Prog
= Progressive rock with elements from various other musical styles.
Examples: Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator
Heavy Prog
= Progressive rock with elements from ‘classic’ (= bluesy) hard rock.
Examples: Enchant, Everon, Haken, Porcupine Tree, Rush
Neo-Prog
= Acts strongly influenced by the classic symphonic progressive rock acts from the 70s.
Examples: Arena, Galahad, IQ, Marillion, Pendragon, Sylvan
Prog Folk
= Progressive rock with elements from folk.
Examples: Jethro Tull, Mostly Autumn
Psychedelic/Space Rock
= Progressive rock inspired by the psychedelic culture and/or influenced by experiences with ‘psychedelic’ drugs.
Examples: Amplifier, Eloy, Hawkwind, Nektar, Pink Floyd
Symphonic Prog
= Classic progressive rock.
Examples: Camel, ELP, Genesis, Kansas, Spock’s Beard, Yes
Subdivisions of Progressive Rock not included here:
Canterbury Scene
= A mix of progressive rock and jazz fusion, centred in and around Canterbury.
Examples: Caravan, Gong, Hatfield And The North, The Soft Machine
Experimental Metal/Post Metal
Two experimental progressive metal genres.
Examples: Anathema, Devin Townsend, Maudlin Of The Well, Tool
Jazz Rock/Jazz Fusion
Jazz rock is a mix of jazz and rock (jazz rock), while jazz fusion is jazz that is strongly influenced by other musical styles than rock.
Examples: Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis
Krautrock
= German avant-garde/experimental rock.
Examples: Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Düül II, Can, Neu!, Popol Vuh
Progressive Electronic
= A musical adventure around technologies and new possibilities for composition that emerged from Krautrock.
Examples: Brian Eno, Klaus Schulze, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream
Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI)
= A new wave of Italian progressive rock bands that emerged in the early 70s.
Examples: Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme, Premiata Forneria Marconi
Examples: Boston, Foreigner, Heart, Journey, Night Ranger, Survivor
Blues Rock
Examples: Cream, Free, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Yardbirds
Funk Rock
Examples: Dan Reed Network, Extreme, Mother’s Finest
Glam/Sleaze Rock
Examples: Guns N’ Roses, L.A. Guns, Mötley Crüe, Poison, Twisted Sister
Hard Rock
Examples: AC/DC, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Who
Heavy Metal
Examples: Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Saxon
Melodic Metal
Examples: Axel Rudi Pell, Masterplan, Pretty Maids, Primal Fear
Melodic Rock
Examples: Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Dokken, Europe, Ratt, Whitesnake
Neo-Classical Metal
Examples: Impellitteri, Royal Hunt, Symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen
Pop/Rock
Examples: Bryan Adams, Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar, Richard Marx
Power Metal
Examples: Gamma Ray, Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius
Progressive Metal
Examples: Ayreon, Dream Theater, Queensrÿche, Riverside, Savatage
Progressive Rock*
Examples: see subdivisions*
Southern Rock
Examples: 38 Special, The Allman Brothers Band, Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Symphonic Metal
Examples: Kamelot, Nightwish, Rhapsody, Within Temptation
Westcoast
Examples: Airplay, Chicago, Mr. Mister, Planet 3, Toto
*Subdivisions of Progressive Rock included here:
Crossover Prog
= Progressive rock with elements from popular music.
Examples: Mike Oldfield, The Moody Blues, Peter Gabriel, Supertramp
Eclectic Prog
= Progressive rock with elements from various other musical styles.
Examples: Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator
Heavy Prog
= Progressive rock with elements from ‘classic’ (= bluesy) hard rock.
Examples: Enchant, Everon, Haken, Porcupine Tree, Rush
Neo-Prog
= Acts strongly influenced by the classic symphonic progressive rock acts from the 70s.
Examples: Arena, Galahad, IQ, Marillion, Pendragon, Sylvan
Prog Folk
= Progressive rock with elements from folk.
Examples: Jethro Tull, Mostly Autumn
Psychedelic/Space Rock
= Progressive rock inspired by the psychedelic culture and/or influenced by experiences with ‘psychedelic’ drugs.
Examples: Amplifier, Eloy, Hawkwind, Nektar, Pink Floyd
Symphonic Prog
= Classic progressive rock.
Examples: Camel, ELP, Genesis, Kansas, Spock’s Beard, Yes
Subdivisions of Progressive Rock not included here:
Canterbury Scene
= A mix of progressive rock and jazz fusion, centred in and around Canterbury.
Examples: Caravan, Gong, Hatfield And The North, The Soft Machine
Experimental Metal/Post Metal
Two experimental progressive metal genres.
Examples: Anathema, Devin Townsend, Maudlin Of The Well, Tool
Jazz Rock/Jazz Fusion
Jazz rock is a mix of jazz and rock (jazz rock), while jazz fusion is jazz that is strongly influenced by other musical styles than rock.
Examples: Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis
Krautrock
= German avant-garde/experimental rock.
Examples: Ash Ra Tempel, Amon Düül II, Can, Neu!, Popol Vuh
Progressive Electronic
= A musical adventure around technologies and new possibilities for composition that emerged from Krautrock.
Examples: Brian Eno, Klaus Schulze, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream
Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI)
= A new wave of Italian progressive rock bands that emerged in the early 70s.
Examples: Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, Le Orme, Premiata Forneria Marconi
Musical instruments & more
Musical instrument classification:
Brass instruments (br)
In Dutch: koperen blaasinstrumenten
Examples: cornet, euphonium, flu(e)gelhorn, (French) horn, mellophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, ...
Percussion instruments (p)
In Dutch: slaginstrumenten
Examples: bells, bongos, congas, cymbals, drums, gong, marimba, tambourine, tubular bells, ...
String instruments (st)
In Dutch: snaarinstrumenten
Examples: banjo, (electric) bass, bouzouki, cello, contrabass (or double bass), guitar, harp, mandolin, sitar, ukulele, viola, violin, ...
Woodwind instruments or woodwinds (ww)
In Dutch: (houten) blaasinstrumenten
Examples: bagpipes (or uilleann pipes), bassoon, clarinet, English horn (= cor anglais), flute, oboe, piccolo, recorder, saxophone, ...
Classification by musical range:
Alto instruments
Examples: alto flute, alto saxophone, horn, viola
Baritone instruments
Examples: baritone horn, baritone saxophone, bassoon, cello
Bass instruments
Examples: bass saxophone, double bass, tuba
Soprano instruments
Examples: clarinet, flute, oboe, recorder, soprano saxophone, trumpet, violin
Tenor instruments
Examples: English horn, tenor saxophone, trombone
Note: Some instruments fall into more than one category. The French horn – for example – may be alto, baritone, bass or tenor, depending on which range it is played. Many instruments have their range as part of their name, e.g. alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone and tenor saxophone.
Abbreviations used [classification between square brackets]:
12stg = twelve-string guitar (mostly acoustic) [st]
ac = accordion [k]
ag = acoustic guitar [st]
ah = autoharp [st]
all = all instruments (used when an artist plays all musical instruments on the album)
ar = arrangements (adaptations of previously written compositions) Examples: bvar, char, dar, gar, hoar, kar, orcar, star
as = alto saxophone [ww]
b = bass guitar [st]
ba = balalaika (Russian) [st]
bclr = bass clarinet [ww]
bd = bass drum (large drum) [p]
be = bell(s) [p]
bet = bell tree [p]
bgp = bagpipes (Scottish) or uilleann pipes (Irish) (in Dutch: doedelzak) [ww]
bhp = blues harp (popular type of harmonica)
bj = banjo [st]
bm = bass marimba [p]
bn = bassoon [ww]
bo = bongo drums (or bongos) (Afro-Cuban) [p]
bou = bouzouki (Greek) [st]
bp = bass pedals (electronic musical instrument, e.g. Taurus pedals)
bpr = bass programming
br = brass instruments (umbrella term)
bs = baritone saxophone [ww]
bsy or kb or syb = bass synth(esizer) (or keyboard bass or synth bass)
bv = backing vocals
bvar = backing vocal arrangements
cb = contrabass (or double bass) [st]
cbe = cowbell (in Dutch: koebel) [p]
cch = children’s choir (in Dutch: kinderkoor)
cdt = conductor (person who leads a musical ensemble by way of visible gestures)
ce = cello [st]
cel = celesta or celeste [k]
cg or clg = classical guitar [st]
ch = choir (a musical ensemble of singers)
char = choir/choral arrangements
chi or tube = chimes (or tubular bells) [p]
chs = Chapman stick (electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 70s)
chv = chorus vocals/choral singing (in Dutch: koorzang)
ci = cincerro or cencerro (or cowbell) [p]
clg or cg = classical guitar [st]
clr = clarinet [ww]
clv = Clavinet (electro-mechanical keyboard instrument) [k]
con = congas (Cuban drum) [p]
cor = cornet (very similar to the trumpet) [br]
cr = crotales [p]
cy = cymbals (part of a drumkit) [p]
d = drums [p]
dar = drum arrangements
db or stb = double bass (or contrabass or string bass)
de = devices
di = didgeridoo (Australian)
dlo = drum loop (a loop is a repeating section of sound material)
do = Dobro (a particular design of a resonator guitar) [st]
dpr = drum programming
du = dulcimer (generally played on the lap) [st]
eh = English horn (or cor anglais) [ww]
em = Emulator (name given to a series of digital sampling keyboards)
eu = euphonium [br]
fa = Fairlight (Australian manufacturer of digital audio samplers, such as the Fairlight CMI)
fb = fuzz bass (style of playing the electric bass which produces a buzzy, distorted, overdriven sound)
fh or frh = French horn [br]
fi = fiddle (in Dutch: viool) [st]
fl = flute [ww]
flg = flamenco guitar (similar to classical guitar) [st]
flh = flu(e)gelhorn (looks like a trumpet) [br]
fp = Fairlight programming
fr or rh = Fender Rhodes or briefly Rhodes (electric piano) [k]
frb = fretless bass (bass guitar without frets) [st]
frh or fh = French horn [br]
g = guitar [st]
gar = guitar arrangements
gl = glockenspiel [p]
go = gong (East and South East Asian) [p]
grpi = grand piano (in Dutch: vleugelpiano) [k]
gsy = guitar synthesizer (a number of musical instrument systems that allow a guitar player to play synthesizer sounds)
ha = harmonica (or French harp or blues harp)
hc = handclaps (in Dutch: handgeklap)
hdu = hammered dulcimer [st]
hh = hihat or hi-hat (type of cymbal, part of a drumkit)
hm = harmonium (or pump organ)
ho = horns/horn section (a group of musicians playing wind instruments)
hoar = horn arrangements
hor = Hammond organ (electronic organ, e.g. Hammond B-3) [k]
hp = harp [st]
hps = harpsichord (in Dutch: klavecimbel) [k]
hv = harmony vocals (in Dutch: samenzang)
jb = jam block (a modern, hard plastic version of the more fragile wood block)
k = keyboard instruments (umbrella term)
kar - keyboard arrangements
kb or bsy or syb = keyboard bass (or synth bass or bass synthesizer, a substitute for the bass guitar)
kpr = keyboard programming
ldp = LinnDrum programming (the LinnDrum is a drum computer)
lg = lead guitar [st]
lstg = lap steel guitar (the player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings) [st]
lo = loops (a loop is a repeating section of sound material)
lu = lute (in Dutch: luit) [st]
lv = lead vocals
ma = mandoline [st]
mar = marimba (a type of xylophone) [p]
md = music director (the director of an orchestra or concert band)
me = mellotron (an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard)
mel = melodica [k]
mmo = Minimoog (a monophonic analog synthesizer)
mo = Moog (analog synthesizer)
mogp = moog guitar pedals
mph = mellophone [br]
na = narration/narrator (in Dutch: verteller)
ob = oboe [ww]
obh = Oberheim (American manufacturer of audio synthesizers such as the popular OB-X and a variety of other electronic musical instruments)
or = organ [k]
orc = orchestration (the study/practice of writing music for an orchestra or - more loosely - for any musical ensemble, or of adapting for an orchestra music composed for another medium)
orcar = orchestral arrangements
os = oscillator (an electronic circuit that produces a repetitive, oscillating electronic signal)
p = percussion instruments (umbrella term)
pi = piano [k]
pip = pipe (describes a number of musical instruments, historically referring to perforated wind instruments)
pl = plywood (musical instrument wood)
pr = programming (a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, such as sequencers, to generate music) Examples: bpr, dpr, fp, kpr, ldp, rdp, syncpr, sypr
pstg = pedal steel guitar [st]
ptr = piccolo trumpet (the smallest of the trumpet family) [br]
rap = rap (spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics)
rdp = Roland drums programming
rec = recorder (similar to a flute) [ww]
rg = rhythm guitar [st]
rh or fr = Rhodes (or Fender Rhodes)
s = saxophone [ww]
sam = sampling (an electronic music instrument that plays back sound recordings on command)
se = (music) sequencer (a device or application software that can record, edit or play back music)
sef = sound effects (audio effects)
sesy = sequential synthesizer
sh = shaker [p]
si = sitar (mainly used in Hindustani and Indian classical music) [st]
slg = slide guitar (particular method or technique for playing the guitar)
sp = spoken parts
spi = spinet (mostly a smaller type of harpsichord) [k]
ss = soprano sax [ww]
st = string instruments or strings (umbrella term)
star = string arrangements
stb or db = string bass (or contrabass or double bass)
stg = steel guitar (type of guitar or the method of playing it) [st]
sy = (sound) synthesizer or synth (electronic instrument capable of producing a wide range of sounds)
syb or bsy or kb = synth bass (or bass synthesizer or keyboard bass)
sybe = synth bells
sync = synclavier (early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system and music workstation)
syncpr = synclavier programming
synd = Pollard Syndrum (one of the first electronic drums)
sypr = synthesizer programming
ta = tambourine [p]
tab = tabla [p]
tb = trombone [br]
tbx = talkbox (an effects unit that allows musicians to modify the sound of a musical instrument)
te = tape effects
th = theremin (an early electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer)
ti = timbales (shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba) [p]
tk = (toy) koto (a traditional Japanese string instrument) [st]
tp = Taurus pedals (= bass pedals)
tr = trumpet [br]
ts = tenor sax [ww]
tu = tuba [br]
tube or chi = tubular bells (or chimes) [p]
ty = timpani (kettle drums)
uk = ukulele [st]
v = vocals (e.g. lv, bv, chv, hv)
va = viola (in Dutch: altviool) [st]
var = various instruments (used when an artist plays various instruments)
vcs3 = VCS 3 or Voltage Controlled Studio, attempt #3 (a portable analog synthesizer, produced by EMS = Electronic Music Studios, Ltd., London)
vi = violin (in Dutch: viool) [st]
vib = vibes (or vibraphone) [p]
vo = vocoder (an analysis/synthesis system, used to reproduce human speech)
voi = voice (sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc.)
w = washboard
wh = whistle (in Dutch: fluitje)
wi = wind instruments (umbrella term) (in Dutch: blaasinstrumenten)
wic = wind chimes or aeolian harp or wind harp (in Dutch: windorgel)
wp = warpipes
wu = Wurlitzer (American manufacturer of organs and pianos) Popular from 1955-1982 were their electric piano series.
ww = woodwinds or woodwind instruments (umbrella term)
x = xylophone [p]
Brass instruments (br)
In Dutch: koperen blaasinstrumenten
Examples: cornet, euphonium, flu(e)gelhorn, (French) horn, mellophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, ...
Percussion instruments (p)
In Dutch: slaginstrumenten
Examples: bells, bongos, congas, cymbals, drums, gong, marimba, tambourine, tubular bells, ...
String instruments (st)
In Dutch: snaarinstrumenten
Examples: banjo, (electric) bass, bouzouki, cello, contrabass (or double bass), guitar, harp, mandolin, sitar, ukulele, viola, violin, ...
Woodwind instruments or woodwinds (ww)
In Dutch: (houten) blaasinstrumenten
Examples: bagpipes (or uilleann pipes), bassoon, clarinet, English horn (= cor anglais), flute, oboe, piccolo, recorder, saxophone, ...
Classification by musical range:
Alto instruments
Examples: alto flute, alto saxophone, horn, viola
Baritone instruments
Examples: baritone horn, baritone saxophone, bassoon, cello
Bass instruments
Examples: bass saxophone, double bass, tuba
Soprano instruments
Examples: clarinet, flute, oboe, recorder, soprano saxophone, trumpet, violin
Tenor instruments
Examples: English horn, tenor saxophone, trombone
Note: Some instruments fall into more than one category. The French horn – for example – may be alto, baritone, bass or tenor, depending on which range it is played. Many instruments have their range as part of their name, e.g. alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone and tenor saxophone.
Abbreviations used [classification between square brackets]:
12stg = twelve-string guitar (mostly acoustic) [st]
ac = accordion [k]
ag = acoustic guitar [st]
ah = autoharp [st]
all = all instruments (used when an artist plays all musical instruments on the album)
ar = arrangements (adaptations of previously written compositions) Examples: bvar, char, dar, gar, hoar, kar, orcar, star
as = alto saxophone [ww]
b = bass guitar [st]
ba = balalaika (Russian) [st]
bclr = bass clarinet [ww]
bd = bass drum (large drum) [p]
be = bell(s) [p]
bet = bell tree [p]
bgp = bagpipes (Scottish) or uilleann pipes (Irish) (in Dutch: doedelzak) [ww]
bhp = blues harp (popular type of harmonica)
bj = banjo [st]
bm = bass marimba [p]
bn = bassoon [ww]
bo = bongo drums (or bongos) (Afro-Cuban) [p]
bou = bouzouki (Greek) [st]
bp = bass pedals (electronic musical instrument, e.g. Taurus pedals)
bpr = bass programming
br = brass instruments (umbrella term)
bs = baritone saxophone [ww]
bsy or kb or syb = bass synth(esizer) (or keyboard bass or synth bass)
bv = backing vocals
bvar = backing vocal arrangements
cb = contrabass (or double bass) [st]
cbe = cowbell (in Dutch: koebel) [p]
cch = children’s choir (in Dutch: kinderkoor)
cdt = conductor (person who leads a musical ensemble by way of visible gestures)
ce = cello [st]
cel = celesta or celeste [k]
cg or clg = classical guitar [st]
ch = choir (a musical ensemble of singers)
char = choir/choral arrangements
chi or tube = chimes (or tubular bells) [p]
chs = Chapman stick (electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 70s)
chv = chorus vocals/choral singing (in Dutch: koorzang)
ci = cincerro or cencerro (or cowbell) [p]
clg or cg = classical guitar [st]
clr = clarinet [ww]
clv = Clavinet (electro-mechanical keyboard instrument) [k]
con = congas (Cuban drum) [p]
cor = cornet (very similar to the trumpet) [br]
cr = crotales [p]
cy = cymbals (part of a drumkit) [p]
d = drums [p]
dar = drum arrangements
db or stb = double bass (or contrabass or string bass)
de = devices
di = didgeridoo (Australian)
dlo = drum loop (a loop is a repeating section of sound material)
do = Dobro (a particular design of a resonator guitar) [st]
dpr = drum programming
du = dulcimer (generally played on the lap) [st]
eh = English horn (or cor anglais) [ww]
em = Emulator (name given to a series of digital sampling keyboards)
eu = euphonium [br]
fa = Fairlight (Australian manufacturer of digital audio samplers, such as the Fairlight CMI)
fb = fuzz bass (style of playing the electric bass which produces a buzzy, distorted, overdriven sound)
fh or frh = French horn [br]
fi = fiddle (in Dutch: viool) [st]
fl = flute [ww]
flg = flamenco guitar (similar to classical guitar) [st]
flh = flu(e)gelhorn (looks like a trumpet) [br]
fp = Fairlight programming
fr or rh = Fender Rhodes or briefly Rhodes (electric piano) [k]
frb = fretless bass (bass guitar without frets) [st]
frh or fh = French horn [br]
g = guitar [st]
gar = guitar arrangements
gl = glockenspiel [p]
go = gong (East and South East Asian) [p]
grpi = grand piano (in Dutch: vleugelpiano) [k]
gsy = guitar synthesizer (a number of musical instrument systems that allow a guitar player to play synthesizer sounds)
ha = harmonica (or French harp or blues harp)
hc = handclaps (in Dutch: handgeklap)
hdu = hammered dulcimer [st]
hh = hihat or hi-hat (type of cymbal, part of a drumkit)
hm = harmonium (or pump organ)
ho = horns/horn section (a group of musicians playing wind instruments)
hoar = horn arrangements
hor = Hammond organ (electronic organ, e.g. Hammond B-3) [k]
hp = harp [st]
hps = harpsichord (in Dutch: klavecimbel) [k]
hv = harmony vocals (in Dutch: samenzang)
jb = jam block (a modern, hard plastic version of the more fragile wood block)
k = keyboard instruments (umbrella term)
kar - keyboard arrangements
kb or bsy or syb = keyboard bass (or synth bass or bass synthesizer, a substitute for the bass guitar)
kpr = keyboard programming
ldp = LinnDrum programming (the LinnDrum is a drum computer)
lg = lead guitar [st]
lstg = lap steel guitar (the player changes pitch by pressing a metal or glass bar against the strings) [st]
lo = loops (a loop is a repeating section of sound material)
lu = lute (in Dutch: luit) [st]
lv = lead vocals
ma = mandoline [st]
mar = marimba (a type of xylophone) [p]
md = music director (the director of an orchestra or concert band)
me = mellotron (an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard)
mel = melodica [k]
mmo = Minimoog (a monophonic analog synthesizer)
mo = Moog (analog synthesizer)
mogp = moog guitar pedals
mph = mellophone [br]
na = narration/narrator (in Dutch: verteller)
ob = oboe [ww]
obh = Oberheim (American manufacturer of audio synthesizers such as the popular OB-X and a variety of other electronic musical instruments)
or = organ [k]
orc = orchestration (the study/practice of writing music for an orchestra or - more loosely - for any musical ensemble, or of adapting for an orchestra music composed for another medium)
orcar = orchestral arrangements
os = oscillator (an electronic circuit that produces a repetitive, oscillating electronic signal)
p = percussion instruments (umbrella term)
pi = piano [k]
pip = pipe (describes a number of musical instruments, historically referring to perforated wind instruments)
pl = plywood (musical instrument wood)
pr = programming (a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, such as sequencers, to generate music) Examples: bpr, dpr, fp, kpr, ldp, rdp, syncpr, sypr
pstg = pedal steel guitar [st]
ptr = piccolo trumpet (the smallest of the trumpet family) [br]
rap = rap (spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics)
rdp = Roland drums programming
rec = recorder (similar to a flute) [ww]
rg = rhythm guitar [st]
rh or fr = Rhodes (or Fender Rhodes)
s = saxophone [ww]
sam = sampling (an electronic music instrument that plays back sound recordings on command)
se = (music) sequencer (a device or application software that can record, edit or play back music)
sef = sound effects (audio effects)
sesy = sequential synthesizer
sh = shaker [p]
si = sitar (mainly used in Hindustani and Indian classical music) [st]
slg = slide guitar (particular method or technique for playing the guitar)
sp = spoken parts
spi = spinet (mostly a smaller type of harpsichord) [k]
ss = soprano sax [ww]
st = string instruments or strings (umbrella term)
star = string arrangements
stb or db = string bass (or contrabass or double bass)
stg = steel guitar (type of guitar or the method of playing it) [st]
sy = (sound) synthesizer or synth (electronic instrument capable of producing a wide range of sounds)
syb or bsy or kb = synth bass (or bass synthesizer or keyboard bass)
sybe = synth bells
sync = synclavier (early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system and music workstation)
syncpr = synclavier programming
synd = Pollard Syndrum (one of the first electronic drums)
sypr = synthesizer programming
ta = tambourine [p]
tab = tabla [p]
tb = trombone [br]
tbx = talkbox (an effects unit that allows musicians to modify the sound of a musical instrument)
te = tape effects
th = theremin (an early electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer)
ti = timbales (shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba) [p]
tk = (toy) koto (a traditional Japanese string instrument) [st]
tp = Taurus pedals (= bass pedals)
tr = trumpet [br]
ts = tenor sax [ww]
tu = tuba [br]
tube or chi = tubular bells (or chimes) [p]
ty = timpani (kettle drums)
uk = ukulele [st]
v = vocals (e.g. lv, bv, chv, hv)
va = viola (in Dutch: altviool) [st]
var = various instruments (used when an artist plays various instruments)
vcs3 = VCS 3 or Voltage Controlled Studio, attempt #3 (a portable analog synthesizer, produced by EMS = Electronic Music Studios, Ltd., London)
vi = violin (in Dutch: viool) [st]
vib = vibes (or vibraphone) [p]
vo = vocoder (an analysis/synthesis system, used to reproduce human speech)
voi = voice (sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc.)
w = washboard
wh = whistle (in Dutch: fluitje)
wi = wind instruments (umbrella term) (in Dutch: blaasinstrumenten)
wic = wind chimes or aeolian harp or wind harp (in Dutch: windorgel)
wp = warpipes
wu = Wurlitzer (American manufacturer of organs and pianos) Popular from 1955-1982 were their electric piano series.
ww = woodwinds or woodwind instruments (umbrella term)
x = xylophone [p]
