A category of musical instrument defined by ethnomusicologists Erich Hornbostel and Curt Sachs. From the Greek -phone (sound or voice) and aer- (air)

Aerophones are musical instruments that are played with breath or moving air. This includes instruments that produce sound through use of a mouthpiece, vibrating reed, or other resonating material. Some examples of aerophones are organs, harmoniums, flutes, clarinets, double-reeds, trumpets, horns, bagpipes, and mouth organs.

See Also: membranophone, chordophone, idiophone, electrophone.