| a | alto voice |
| acap | a capella - unaccompanied |
| acc | accordion |
| acct | accompaniment |
| ad lib | ad libitum - as one likes |
| b | bass voice |
| bar | baritone voice |
| bg | bass guitar |
| bj | banjo |
| bnd | band |
| bo | bongos |
| bod | bodhran |
| br | brass |
| bs | bassoon |
| ch | chorus, choir |
| ch2,3,4 | 2, 3, 4-part chorus, choir |
| chf | female chorus |
| chm | male chorus |
| chy | chorus of young voices |
| cl | clarinet |
| co | conga |
| conc | concertina |
| ct | counter-tenor |
| db | double bass |
| desc | descant |
| dr | drum |
| eb | electric bass |
| ef | effects |
| fl | flute |
| ft | flints |
| g | guitar |
| gp | group |
| hm | harmonium |
| hn | horn |
| hp | harp |
| inst | instrument(s) |
| kb | keyboard |
| lu | lute |
| mnd | mandolin |
| ms | mezzo soprano |
| o | oboe |
| obl | obligato |
| opt | optional |
| orch | orchestra |
| org | organ |
| pd | pipe drones |
| perc | percussion |
| pf | piano |
| pfdu | piano duet |
| pic | piccolo |
| ps | part song |
| ps2,3,4 | 2, 3, 4-part song |
| psm | part song, male voices |
| qt | quartet |
| r | recorder |
| s | soprano voice |
| sax | saxophone |
| sdr | snare drum |
| sp | speaker |
| syn | synthesiser |
| str | strings |
| t | tenor voice |
| tim | timbales |
| timp | timpani |
| tmb | tambourine |
| tub | tuba |
| type | typewriter |
| uk | ukelele |
| unis | unison |
| v | voice |
| va | viola |
| var | various |
| vc | ‘cello |
| vch | children’s voices |
| vf | female voice |
| vh | high voice |
| vib | vibraphone |
| vl | low voice |
| vm | male voice |
| vmed | medium voice |
| vn | violin |
| voc | vocaliser - splits vocal into harmonies |
| wb | wood blocks |
| wh | whistles |
| ww | woodwind |
| xyl | xlyophone |