Final answer:
The four families of musical instruments are Aerophones (wind instruments like flutes and trumpets), Chordophones (stringed instruments like guitars and violins), Membranophones (drums and other membrane instruments), and Idiophones (self-sounding instruments like xylophones and cymbals).
Step-by-step explanation:
The four families of musical instruments in the common classification system used in ethnomusicology are Aerophones, Chordophones, Membranophones, and Idiophones.
Aerophones are wind instruments that produce sound by a vibrating column of air. Principal instruments in this family include the flute, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet.
Chordophones are stringed instruments where sound is made by vibrating strings. Examples include the guitar, violin, cello, and harp.
Membranophones are instruments that have a membrane, such as drums. This family includes instruments like the snare drum, bass drum, and tabla.
Idiophones are self-sounding instruments that create sound from the material of the instrument itself, without needing strings or a membrane. This category includes the xylophone, marimba, and cymbals.