Instrument IDs

Across the Flat API, every instrument is referenced by a canonical instrument ID written as group.instrument, for example keyboards.piano, brass.trumpet, or unpitched-percussion.drumset-rock.

This page lists every valid ID. You can browse the full catalog below, install the @flat/instruments npm package, or fetch the raw JSON.

Where instrument IDs are used

• Creating scores: when you create a score with POST /scores, each part references an instrument by its group.instrument ID.
• Correcting OMR imports: when importing a PDF with OMR, the task reports a detected instrumentId per part, and you can override it by submitting a corrected instrumentId.

In both cases the ID must be one of the values listed in the catalog below.

Premium instruments. Instruments flagged Premium require a paid Flat plan. Using one in a score created by a free account is rejected. The premium flag is included in the package.

The @flat/instruments package

For programmatic access, install the typed, zero-dependency package from npm (@flat/instruments on npm, FlatIO/instruments on GitHub):

npm install @flat/instruments

import { instruments, groups, getInstrument, isValidInstrumentId } from '@flat/instruments'

getInstrument('keyboards.piano')
// => { id: 'keyboards.piano', group: 'keyboards', name: 'Piano',
//      shortname: 'Pno.', type: 'pitched', premium: false }

isValidInstrumentId('brass.trumpet') // => true
isValidInstrumentId('nope.nope')     // => false

Each instrument has the shape:

interface Instrument {
  id: string          // canonical "group.instrument" ID
  group: string       // family ID, e.g. "keyboards"
  name: string        // English display name
  shortname: string   // short staff label, e.g. "Pno."
  type: 'pitched' | 'unpitched'
  premium: boolean    // true means a paid plan is required
}

Raw JSON

Not using JavaScript? The same data is available as plain JSON, bundled in the package at @flat/instruments/data/instruments.json and viewable on GitHub at data/instruments.json.

Catalog

Some instruments share a display name because a standard version and a premium high-quality (hq-) version exist for the same instrument, for example brass.trumpet and brass.hq-trumpet. They stay distinct IDs.

205 instruments.

Brass brass

ID	Name
brass.hq-trumpet	Trumpet
brass.trumpet	Trumpet
brass.hq-trombone	Trombone
brass.trombone	Trombone
brass.hq-french-horn	Horn in F
brass.horn	Horn in F
brass.hq-horn-in-c	Horn in C
brass.horn-in-c	Horn in C
brass.hq-horn-in-d	Horn in D
brass.horn-in-d	Horn in D
brass.hq-baritone-horn	Baritone Horn
brass.baritone-horn	Baritone Horn
brass.hq-baritone-horn-treble	Baritone TC
brass.baritone-horn-treble	Baritone TC
brass.euphonium	Euphonium
brass.hq-tuba	Tuba
brass.tuba	Tuba
brass.brass	Brass Section

Electronic Instruments electronic-instruments

ID	Name
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-1	Portamento Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-2	Reese Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-3	Plucked Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-1	Underwide Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-2	Solide Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-3	Light Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-4	Airbass Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-5	Evolution Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-6	Weekend Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-7	Plucky Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-8	Phase Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.synth-bass-808-9	Out Synth Bass
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-1	Epic Bell Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-2	Saw Chorus Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-3	Lightsaber Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-4	Bright Star Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-5	Deep Space Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-6	Sci-Fi Computer Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-mod-7	Singing Robots Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-vin-1	North Star Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-vin-2	Noisy Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-vin-3	Square One Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-vin-4	Drill Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-vin-5	Funky Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-vin-6	Astral Communication Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-other-1	Dreamy Choir Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-other-2	Space Orchestra Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-other-3	Melodic Asteroid Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.lead-synth-other-4	Mars Rover Lead Synth
electronic-instruments.choir-synth	Choir Synthesizer

Free Reed free-reed

ID	Name
free-reed.accordion	Accordion
free-reed.harmonica	Harmonica

Keyboards keyboards

ID	Name
keyboards.hq-grand-piano	Grand Piano
keyboards.hq-piano-tight	Tight Piano
keyboards.hq-piano-concert	Concert Piano
keyboards.grand-piano	Grand Piano
keyboards.piano	Piano
keyboards.harpsichord	Harpsichord
keyboards.celesta	Celesta
keyboards.organ	Organ
keyboards.hammond-organ	Hammond Organ
keyboards.reed-organ	Reed Organ
keyboards.rotary-organ	Rotary Organ
keyboards.percussive-organ	Percussive Organ

Pitched Percussion pitched-percussion

ID	Name
pitched-percussion.timpani	Timpani
pitched-percussion.xylophone	Xylophone
pitched-percussion.vibraphone	Vibraphone
pitched-percussion.glockenspiel	Glockenspiel
pitched-percussion.marimba	Marimba
pitched-percussion.tubular-bells	Tubular Bells (Orchestral Chimes)
pitched-percussion.music-box	Music Box
pitched-percussion.soprano-steel-drums	Soprano Steel Drums
pitched-percussion.bass-steel-drums	Bass Steel Drums

Percussion unpitched-percussion

ID	Name
unpitched-percussion.hq-drumset-rock	Drum Set
unpitched-percussion.drumset-1	Drum Set
unpitched-percussion.hq-orchestral-drumset	Orchestral Drum Set
unpitched-percussion.hip-hop-drum-set	Hip-Hop Set
unpitched-percussion.hq-marching-snare-drums	Marching Snare Drums
unpitched-percussion.marching-snare-drums	Marching Snare Drums
unpitched-percussion.hq-marching-tenor-drums	Marching Tenor Drums
unpitched-percussion.marching-tenor-drums	Marching Tenor Drums
unpitched-percussion.hq-marching-bass-drums	Marching Bass Drums
unpitched-percussion.marching-bass-drums	Marching Bass Drums
unpitched-percussion.hq-marching-cymbals	Marching Cymbals
unpitched-percussion.marching-cymbals	Marching Cymbals
unpitched-percussion.concert-bass-drum	Concert Bass Drum
unpitched-percussion.gong	Oriental Gongs
unpitched-percussion.nagado-drums	Japanese Nagado Taiko Drums
unpitched-percussion.woodblocks	Woodblocks
unpitched-percussion.bongos	Bongos
unpitched-percussion.congas	Congas
unpitched-percussion.claves	Claves
unpitched-percussion.agogo-bells	Agogo Bells
unpitched-percussion.whistles	Whistles
unpitched-percussion.wind-chimes	Wind Chimes
unpitched-percussion.finger-snap	Finger Snap
unpitched-percussion.hand-clap	Hand Clap
unpitched-percussion.suspended-cymbal	Suspended Cymbal
unpitched-percussion.triangle	Triangle
unpitched-percussion.jingle-bells	Jingle Bells
unpitched-percussion.maracas	Maracas
unpitched-percussion.drumline-acoustic-bass-drum	Acoustic Bass Drum
unpitched-percussion.drumline-side-stick	Side Stick
unpitched-percussion.drumline-acoustic-snare-drum	Acoustic Snare Drum
unpitched-percussion.drumline-floor-tom	Floor Tom
unpitched-percussion.drumline-low-tom	Low Tom
unpitched-percussion.drumline-low-mid-tom	Low Mid Tom
unpitched-percussion.drumline-mid-tom	Mid Tom
unpitched-percussion.drumline-high-mid-tom	High Mid Tom
unpitched-percussion.drumline-high-tom	High Tom
unpitched-percussion.drumline-closed-hi-hat	Closed Hi-hat
unpitched-percussion.drumline-open-hi-hat	Open Hi-hat
unpitched-percussion.drumline-pedal-hi-hat	Pedal Hi-hat
unpitched-percussion.drumline-crash-cymbal	Crash Cymbal
unpitched-percussion.drumline-ride-cymbal	Ride Cymbal
unpitched-percussion.drumline-china-cymbal	China Cymbal
unpitched-percussion.drumline-ride-bell	Ride Bell
unpitched-percussion.drumline-tambourine	Tambourine
unpitched-percussion.drumline-splash-cymbal	Splash Cymbal
unpitched-percussion.drumline-cowbell	Cowbell

Plucked Strings plucked-strings

ID	Name
plucked-strings.hq-acoustic-guitar	Acoustic Guitar
plucked-strings.guitar-nylon	Classical Guitar
plucked-strings.guitar-steel	Acoustic Guitar
plucked-strings.hq-ukulele	Ukulele
plucked-strings.ukulele	Ukulele
plucked-strings.hq-electric-guitar	Electric Guitar
plucked-strings.electric-guitar-clean	Electric Guitar (clean)
plucked-strings.electric-guitar-jazz	Electric Guitar (jazz)
plucked-strings.electric-guitar-muted	Electric Guitar (muted)
plucked-strings.premium-guitar-distortion	High-voltage Distortion Guitar
plucked-strings.premium-guitar-crunch	Electric Guitar Crunch
plucked-strings.premium-guitar-lead	Electric Guitar Lead
plucked-strings.distortion-guitar	Distortion Guitar
plucked-strings.hq-modern-electric-bass	Modern Electric Bass
plucked-strings.hq-vintage-electric-bass	Vintage Electric Bass
plucked-strings.electric-bass	Electric Bass
plucked-strings.electric-bass-pick	Electric Bass (pick)
plucked-strings.slap-bass	Slap Bass
plucked-strings.koto	Japanese Koto
plucked-strings.shamisen	Shamisen (Japanese Lute)
plucked-strings.oud	Oud (Arabic Lute)
plucked-strings.banjo	Banjo
plucked-strings.mandolin	Mandolin
plucked-strings.harp	Harp
plucked-strings.sitar	Sitar

Strings strings

ID	Name
strings.hq-violin	Violin
strings.violin	Violin
strings.violin-lead	Violin Lead
strings.hq-viola	Viola
strings.viola	Viola
strings.hq-cello	Cello
strings.violoncello	Cello
strings.hq-contrabass	Contrabass
strings.contrabass	Contrabass
strings.string-ensemble	String Ensemble
strings.erhu	Chinese Erhu

Vocals vocals

ID	Name
vocals.hq-choir-soprano-women	Choir Soprano Women
vocals.hq-choir-soprano-girls	Choir Soprano Girls
vocals.hq-choir-soprano-boys	Choir Soprano Boys
vocals.hq-choir-countertenor-men	Choir Countertenor Men
vocals.hq-choir-alto-women	Choir Alto Women
vocals.hq-choir-alto-girls	Choir Alto Girls
vocals.hq-choir-tenor-hall	Choir Tenor Hall
vocals.hq-choir-tenor-cathedral	Choir Tenor Cathedral
vocals.hq-choir-bass-hall	Choir Bass Hall
vocals.hq-choir-bass-cathedral	Choir Bass Cathedral
vocals.choir-soprano	Choir Soprano
vocals.choir-alto	Choir Alto
vocals.choir-tenor	Choir Tenor
vocals.choir-bass	Choir Bass
vocals.choir-aahs	Choir Aahs
vocals.voice-oohs	Voice Oohs
vocals.voice-lead	Voice Lead
vocals.kazoo	Kazoo

Woodwind woodwinds

ID	Name
woodwinds.piccolo	Piccolo
woodwinds.hq-orchestral-flute	Orchestral Flute
woodwinds.hq-traditional-flute	Traditional Flute
woodwinds.flute	Flute
woodwinds.alto-flute	Alto Flute
woodwinds.pan-flute	Pan Flute
woodwinds.recorder	Recorder
woodwinds.alto-recorder-in-f	Alto Recorder in F
woodwinds.tin-whistle	Tin Whistle
woodwinds.oboe	Oboe
woodwinds.english-horn	English Horn
woodwinds.hq-concert-clarinet	Concert Clarinet (Bb)
woodwinds.hq-clarinet-ensemble	Clarinet Duet
woodwinds.clarinet	Clarinet
woodwinds.alto-clarinet	Alto Clarinet
woodwinds.bass-clarinet	Bass Clarinet
woodwinds.contrabass-clarinet	Contrabass Clarinet
woodwinds.bassoon	Bassoon
woodwinds.contrabassoon	Contrabassoon
woodwinds.hq-soprano-saxophone	Soprano Saxophone
woodwinds.hq-alto-saxophone	Alto Saxophone
woodwinds.hq-tenor-saxophone	Tenor Saxophone
woodwinds.hq-baritone-saxophone	Baritone Saxophone
woodwinds.soprano-saxophone	Soprano Saxophone
woodwinds.alto-saxophone	Alto Saxophone
woodwinds.tenor-saxophone	Tenor Saxophone
woodwinds.baritone-saxophone	Baritone Saxophone
woodwinds.bagpipe	Bagpipe
woodwinds.ocarina	Ocarina
woodwinds.dizi-flute	Dizi (Chinese flute)
woodwinds.shakuhachi-flute	Shakuhachi (Japanese flute)

Special special

ID	Name
special.cat	Cat Meows
special.starwars	Star Wars set