| Abv+/- | Full+/- |
| 1 | (When followed by colon) Part one; first part; act one etc. |
| 2 | (When followed by colon) Part two; second part; act two etc. |
| 2CHOIR | Double choir; two choirs. |
| 2ORCH | Double orchestra; two orchestras. |
| 2V | Two voices; two singers. |
| 3 | (When followed by colon) Part three; third part; act three etc. |
| 3CHOIR | Three choirs. |
| 3V | Three voices; three singers. |
| 4 | (When followed by colon) Part four; fourth part; act four etc. |
| 4CHOIR | Four choirs. |
| 4V | Four voices; four singers. |
| 5V | Five voices; five singers. |
| 6V | Six voices; six singers. |
| AAM | Academy of Ancient Music. |
| ANTH | Anthem. (Includes <MOTET>; but not CORONATION_ANTHEM.) |
| BN | Bassoon |
| BST_HN | Basset horn. |
| CAM | Concert of Ancient/Antient Music. |
| CH | Chorus [genre]. |
| CL | Clarinet. |
| CN | [Solo] concerto. |
| CNGR | Concerto grosso; grand concerto. (Often editorial for concerto.) |
| CNTE | (Sinfonia) Concertante (used here for any non-solo concerto; except CNGR). |
| COND | Conductor; conducted by. (May be musical or administrative; see DIR LEAD.) |
| CT | Catch. (See also GL.) |
| CTD | Continued. |
| DB | Double-bass. |
| DBDR | Double bass drums. (See also DRS DDR.) |
| DBN | Double bassoon. |
| DDR | Double drums. (See also DRS DBDR.) |
| DIR | Director; directed by. (NB May be musical / administrative; see COND LEAD.) |
| DIV | Divertimento. (See also NOTT SER.) |
| DRS | Drums. (See also DDR DBDR.) |
| DT | Duet; duetto. |
| FAV | Favourite. |
| FL | Flute. |
| FLDA | Flute d'amour. |
| FP | Full piece. (See also SYM OV.) |
| GL | Glee. (Includes <MADRIGAL> <ROUND> <CANZONETTA> etc. See also CT.) |
| GU | Guittar. |
| HN | (French) Horn. |
| HP | (Welsh/Triple/Pedal) Harp. (From 1790 pedal harp unless given otherwise.) |
| HPD | Harpsichord. |
| I | Instrumentalists. |
| LEAD | Leader; led by; first violin. (Always violinist; see also COND DIR.) |
| LSN | Lesson. (See also SN.) |
| MADR | Madrigal. |
| MAND | Mandolin. |
| MGL | Musical/harmonic glasses (includes <ARMONICA> <HARMONICA> without water]. |
| MOVT | Movement. |