# Instrumentation Guide — Music Knowledge

> Choosing the right instruments for genre, mood, and section.

## Instrument families

### Strings
- Acoustic guitar — folk, pop, intimate
- Electric guitar — rock, pop, punk
- Bass guitar — pop, rock, funk, R&B
- Violin (solo) — classical, folk, melancholic
- Cello (solo) — emotional, deep
- Strings section (ensemble) — cinematic, dramatic
- Harp — ethereal, magical
- Lokal: Tar, Kamancha, Saz (Azerbaijani classical)

### Keyboards
- Piano — versatile, emotional
- Electric piano (Rhodes, Wurlitzer) — soul, R&B, jazz
- Synth bass — electronic, pop
- Synth lead — electronic, EDM
- Synth pad — ambient, atmosphere
- Organ (Hammond) — soul, gospel, rock
- Harpsichord — baroque, period

### Percussion
- Acoustic drums — rock, jazz, folk
- Drum machine (808) — hip-hop, trap, R&B
- Conga / bongo — Latin
- Tabla — Indian, world
- Lokal: Nagara, Daf (Azerbaijani/regional)
- Cymbals (ride, crash, hi-hat) — variety
- Tambourine — folk, pop

### Wind
- Flute — folk, classical, peaceful
- Saxophone — jazz, smooth, sensual
- Trumpet — jazz, energetic
- Brass section — funk, soul, big band
- Lokal: Balaban, Zurna (Azerbaijani)
- Harmonica — blues, folk
- Bagpipes — Celtic, distinctive

### Vocal as instrument
- Lead vocal
- Background harmonies
- Choir
- Vocoder/auto-tune (modern)

### Electronic / Synthesized
- Synth bass
- Synth lead
- Synth pad
- 808
- Trap hi-hats
- Wobble bass (dubstep)
- Sample-based loops

## Genre-specific instrumentation

### Pop (modern)
Drums + bass + electric guitar + piano/keys + vocal + synth pads

### Indie folk
Acoustic guitar + bass + light percussion + vocal + occasional violin/cello

### Hip-hop / trap
808 + drum machine + sample/synth + vocal + ad-libs

### R&B
Electric piano + bass + drums + vocal + string pads

### Rock
Electric guitar + bass + drums + vocal + lead guitar

### Electronic / EDM
Synth bass + drum machine + synth lead + vocal sample + pad

### Cinematic / film score
Strings ensemble + piano + percussion + brass

### Folk (acoustic)
Acoustic guitar + vocal + occasional bass / fiddle / mandolin

### Azerbaijani classical (mugham)
Tar + Kamancha + Daf + Vocal (solo)

### Reggae
Drums (rim shots) + bass + electric guitar (skanks) + organ + vocal

## Choosing instruments by mood

### Melancholic
- Piano
- Cello
- Acoustic guitar (fingerpicked)
- Soft strings
- Whisper vocals

### Energetic
- Drums (rock)
- Electric guitar
- Synth bass
- Driving rhythm

### Romantic
- Piano
- Strings
- Soft acoustic guitar
- Flute
- Smooth vocals

### Mysterious
- Synth pads
- Distant strings
- Sparse percussion
- Whisper or low vocal

### Triumphant
- Brass section
- Full strings
- Heavy drums
- Choir

## For AI music (Suno)

List instruments in prompt:
```
[Instruments: acoustic guitar, soft piano, light strings, gentle percussion]
```

Or per section:
```
[Verse: piano + soft strings]
[Chorus: full band — drums, electric guitar, bass, harmonies]
[Bridge: solo cello]
```

## Common instrumentation mistakes

- Wrong instrument for genre
- Too many instruments (cluttered)
- Same instruments throughout (boring)
- Featured instrument disappears mid-song
- Cultural mismatches (e.g., distorted electric guitar in Azerbaijani classical)