Aerophones are instruments that create noise by pushing vibrating columns of air through them. Under the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, aerophones are broken down into free aerophones and non-free aerophones. Free aerophones are instruments where the vibrating air is not confined to the inside of the instrument itself (eg. accordions and pitch pipes). In non-free aerophones, the vibrating air is confined inside of the instrument (eg. ocarinas and bagpipes). Most instruments traditionally referred to as woodwind instruments are non-free aerophones. Free-aerophones instruments are significantly less common than non-free aerophones.
Text adapted from: Sachs, Curt (1940). The History of Musical Instruments
Title image sources (left to right): commons.wikapedia.org, mujitsu.com, scarlettentertainment.com, didgeproject.com, gigsalad.com, youtube.com (OldWorldHB)
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