General MIDI Level 2 or GM2 is a specification for synthesizers which defines several requirements beyond the more abstract MIDI standard and is based on General MIDI, GS extensions, and XG extensions. It was adopted in 1999 by the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA).
General MIDI 2 compatible synthesizers access all of the 256 instruments by setting cc#0 (Bank Select MSB) to 121 and using cc#32 (Bank Select LSB) to select the variation bank before a Program Change. Variation bank 0 contains the full GM — that is, General MIDI 1 — sound set. Variations using other bank numbers are new to General MIDI 2, and correspond to variation sounds introduced in Roland GS and Yamaha XG.
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | Acoustic Grand Piano |
| 1 | Wide Acoustic Grand Piano | |
| 2 | Dark Acoustic Grand Piano | |
| 2 | 0 | Bright Acoustic Piano |
| 1 | Wide Bright Acoustic Piano | |
| 3 | 0 | Electric Grand Piano |
| 1 | Wide Electric Grand Piano | |
| 4 | 0 | Honky-tonk Piano |
| 1 | Wide Honky-tonk Piano | |
| 5 | 0 | Rhodes Electric Piano |
| 1 | Detuned Electric Piano 1 | |
| 2 | Variation Electric Piano 1 | |
| 3 | 60's Electric Piano | |
| 6 | 0 | Chorused Electric Piano |
| 1 | Detuned Electric Piano 2 | |
| 2 | Variation Electric Piano 2 | |
| 3 | Electric Piano Legend | |
| 4 | Phaser Electric Piano | |
| 7 | 0 | Harpsichord |
| 1 | Coupled Harpsichord | |
| 2 | Wide Harpsichord | |
| 3 | Open Harpsichord | |
| 8 | 0 | Clavinet |
| 1 | Pulsed Clavinet |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0 | Celesta |
| 10 | 0 | Glockenspiel |
| 11 | 0 | Music Box |
| 12 | 0 | Vibraphone |
| 1 | Wet Vibraphone | |
| 13 | 0 | Marimba |
| 1 | Wide Marimba | |
| 14 | 0 | Xylophone |
| 15 | 0 | Tubular Bells |
| 1 | Church Bells | |
| 2 | Carillon Bells | |
| 16 | 0 | Dulcimer/Santur |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 0 | Drawbar Organ 1 |
| 1 | Detuned Drawbar Organ | |
| 2 | 60's Drawbar Organ | |
| 3 | Drawbar Organ 2 | |
| 18 | 0 | Percussive B3 Organ 1 |
| 1 | Detuned Percussive B3 Organ | |
| 2 | Percussive B3 Organ 2 | |
| 19 | 0 | Rock Organ |
| 20 | 0 | Church Organ 1 |
| 1 | Church Organ 2 | |
| 2 | Church Organ 3 | |
| 21 | 0 | Reeds Organ |
| 1 | Puffs Organ | |
| 22 | 0 | French Accordion |
| 1 | Italian Accordion | |
| 23 | 0 | Harmonica |
| 24 | 0 | Tango Accordion |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 0 | Nylon-Strings Guitar 1 |
| 1 | Ukulele | |
| 2 | Opened Nylon-Strings Guitar | |
| 3 | Nylon-Strings Guitar 2 | |
| 26 | 0 | Steel-Strings Guitar |
| 1 | 12-Strings Steel Guitar | |
| 2 | Mandolin | |
| 3 | Steel-Strings Guitar + Body Tapped Sounds | |
| 27 | 0 | Jazz Guitar |
| 1 | Hawaiian Guitar | |
| 28 | 0 | Clean Electric Guitar |
| 1 | Chorus Guitar | |
| 2 | Mid Tone Guitar | |
| 29 | 0 | Muted Electric Guitar |
| 1 | Funky Guitar 1 | |
| 2 | Funky Guitar 2 | |
| 3 | Jazz Man | |
| 30 | 0 | Overdriven Guitar |
| 1 | Guitar Pinch | |
| 31 | 0 | Distortion Guitar |
| 1 | Feedback Guitar | |
| 2 | Distortion Rhythm Guitar | |
| 32 | 0 | Guitar Harmonics |
| 1 | Guitar Feedback |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 0 | Acoustic Bass |
| 34 | 0 | Fingered Bass |
| 1 | Fingered Slap Bass | |
| 35 | 0 | Picked Bass |
| 36 | 0 | Fretless Bass |
| 37 | 0 | Slap Bass 1 |
| 38 | 0 | Slap Bass 2 |
| 39 | 0 | Synth Bass 1 |
| 1 | Synth Bass 101 | |
| 2 | Synth Bass 3 | |
| 3 | Clavi Bass | |
| 4 | Hammered Bass | |
| 40 | 0 | Synth Bass 2 |
| 1 | Synth Bass 4 | |
| 2 | Rubber Bass | |
| 3 | Attack Pulsed |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | 0 | Violin |
| 1 | Slow Violin | |
| 42 | 0 | Viola |
| 43 | 0 | Cello |
| 44 | 0 | Contrabass |
| 45 | 0 | Tremolo Strings |
| 46 | 0 | Pizzicato Strings |
| 47 | 0 | Harp |
| 1 | Yang Qin | |
| 48 | 0 | Timpani |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | 0 | Strings Ensemble |
| 1 | Orchestral Strings | |
| 2 | 60's Strings | |
| 50 | 0 | Slow Strings Ensemble |
| 51 | 0 | Synth Strings 1 |
| 1 | Synth Strings 3 | |
| 52 | 0 | Synth Strings 2 |
| 53 | 0 | Choir Aahs 1 |
| 1 | Choir Aahs 2 | |
| 54 | 0 | Voice Oohs |
| 1 | Humming | |
| 55 | 0 | Synth Voice |
| 1 | Analog Voice | |
| 56 | 0 | Orchestral Hit |
| 1 | Bass Hit | |
| 2 | 6th Hit | |
| 3 | Euro Hit |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | 0 | Trumpet |
| 1 | Dark Trumpet Soft | |
| 58 | 0 | Trombone 1 |
| 1 | Trombone 2 | |
| 2 | Bright Trombone | |
| 59 | 0 | Tuba |
| 60 | 0 | Muted Trumpet 1 |
| 1 | Muted Trumpet 2 | |
| 61 | 0 | French Horns 1 |
| 1 | French Horns 2 | |
| 62 | 0 | Brass Section 1 |
| 1 | Brass Section 2 | |
| 63 | 0 | Synth Brass 1 |
| 1 | Synth Brass 3 | |
| 2 | Analog Brass 1 | |
| 3 | Jump Brass | |
| 64 | 0 | Synth Brass 2 |
| 1 | Synth Brass 4 | |
| 2 | Analog Brass 2 |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 0 | Soprano Sax |
| 66 | 0 | Alto Sax |
| 67 | 0 | Tenor Sax |
| 68 | 0 | Baritone Sax |
| 69 | 0 | Oboe |
| 70 | 0 | English Horn |
| 71 | 0 | Bassoon |
| 72 | 0 | Clarinet |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | 0 | Piccolo |
| 74 | 0 | Flute |
| 75 | 0 | Recorder |
| 76 | 0 | Pan Flute |
| 77 | 0 | Bottle Blow |
| 78 | 0 | Shakuhachi |
| 79 | 0 | Whistle |
| 80 | 0 | Ocarina |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | 0 | Square Lead |
| 1 | Square Wave | |
| 2 | Sine Wave | |
| 82 | 0 | Saw Lead |
| 1 | Saw Wave | |
| 2 | Doctor Solo | |
| 3 | Natural Lead | |
| 4 | Sequenced Saw | |
| 83 | 0 | Synth Calliope |
| 84 | 0 | Chiffer Lead |
| 85 | 0 | Charang |
| 1 | Wire Lead | |
| 86 | 0 | Solo Synth Vox |
| 87 | 0 | 5th Saw Wave |
| 88 | 0 | Bass & Lead |
| 1 | Delayed Lead |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | 0 | Fantasia Pad |
| 90 | 0 | Warm Pad |
| 1 | Sine Pad | |
| 91 | 0 | Polysynth Pad |
| 92 | 0 | Space Voice Pad |
| 1 | Itopia | |
| 93 | 0 | Bowed Glass Pad |
| 94 | 0 | Metal Pad |
| 95 | 0 | Halo Pad |
| 96 | 0 | Sweep Pad |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | 0 | Ice Rain |
| 98 | 0 | Soundtrack |
| 99 | 0 | Crystal |
| 1 | Synth Mallet | |
| 100 | 0 | Atmosphere |
| 101 | 0 | Brightness |
| 102 | 0 | Goblin |
| 103 | 0 | Echo Drops |
| 1 | Echo Bell | |
| 2 | Echo Pan | |
| 104 | 0 | Star Theme |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 105 | 0 | Sitar 1 |
| 1 | Sitar 2 | |
| 106 | 0 | Banjo |
| 107 | 0 | Shamisen |
| 108 | 0 | Koto |
| 1 | Taisho Koto | |
| 109 | 0 | Kalimba |
| 110 | 0 | Bagpipe |
| 111 | 0 | Fiddle |
| 112 | 0 | Shanai |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | 0 | Tinkle Bells |
| 114 | 0 | Agogo |
| 115 | 0 | Steel Drums |
| 116 | 0 | Woodblock |
| 1 | Castanets | |
| 117 | 0 | Taiko Drums |
| 1 | Concert Bass Drums | |
| 118 | 0 | Melodic Tom 1 |
| 1 | Melodic Tom 2 | |
| 119 | 0 | Synth Drums |
| 1 | 808 Toms | |
| 2 | Electric Percussion | |
| 120 | 0 | Reversed Cymbals |
| Patch Number | Bank Number | Instrument Name |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | 0 | Guitar Fret Noise |
| 1 | Guitar Cut Noise | |
| 2 | String Slap | |
| 122 | 0 | Breath Noise |
| 1 | Flute Key Click | |
| 123 | 0 | Seashore |
| 1 | Rain | |
| 2 | Thunder | |
| 3 | Wind | |
| 4 | Stream | |
| 5 | Bubble | |
| 124 | 0 | Bird |
| 1 | Dog | |
| 2 | Horse-Gallop | |
| 3 | Bird 2 | |
| 125 | 0 | Telephone 1 |
| 1 | Telephone 2 | |
| 2 | Door Creaking | |
| 3 | Door Closing | |
| 4 | Scratch | |
| 5 | Wind Chimes | |
| 126 | 0 | Helicopter |
| 1 | Car-Engine | |
| 2 | Car-Stop | |
| 3 | Car-Pass | |
| 4 | Car-Crash | |
| 5 | Siren | |
| 6 | Train | |
| 7 | Jetplane | |
| 8 | Starship | |
| 9 | Burst Noise | |
| 127 | 0 | Applause |
| 1 | Laughing | |
| 2 | Screaming | |
| 3 | Punch | |
| 4 | Heart Beat | |
| 5 | Footsteps | |
| 128 | 0 | Gun Shot |
| 1 | Machine Gun | |
| 2 | Lasergun | |
| 3 | Explosion |
These are the same patch numbers as defined in the original version of GS. Drum bank is accessed by setting cc#0 (Bank Select MSB) to 120 and cc#32 (Bank Select LSB) to 0 and PC (Program Change) to select drum kit.
| 1 | Standard Kit | The only kit specified by General MIDI Level 1 |
| 9 | Room Kit | Drums recorded with room ambience |
| 17 | Power Kit | More powerful kick and snare sounds |
| 25 | Electronic Kit | Sounds of various electronic drums |
| 26 | TR-808 Kit | Analog drum kit similar to Roland TR-808 |
| 33 | Jazz Kit | Softer kick and snare sounds than the Standard Kit |
| 41 | Brush Kit | Many brush sounds added |
| 49 | Orchestra Kit | A collection of concert drums and timpani |
| 57 | Sound FX Kit | A collection of sound effects |
These are the same GS drum notes and span Drum Kits 1 to 49:
| 27 | High Q | 34 | Metronome Bell |
| 28 | Slap | 82 | Shaker |
| 29 | Scratch Push | 83 | Jingle Bell |
| 30 | Scratch Pull | 84 | Belltree |
| 31 | Sticks | 85 | Castanets |
| 32 | Square Click | 86 | Mute Surdo |
| 33 | Metronome Click | 87 | Open Surdo |
| CC | Function |
|---|---|
| 0/32 | Bank Select (MSB/LSB) |
| 1 | Modulation Wheel |
| 2 | Breath Controller |
| 4 | Foot Controller |
| 5 | Portamento Time |
| 7 | Channel Volume |
| 10 | Pan |
| 64 | Damper Pedal On/Off (Sustain) |
| 65 | Portamento On/Off |
| 66 | Sostenuto On/Off |
| 67 | Soft Pedal On/Off |
| 70 | Sound Variation |
| 71 | Timbre/Harmonic Intensity (filter resonance) |
| 72 | Release Time |
| 73 | Attack Time |
| 74 | Brightness (cutoff frequency) |
| 75 | Decay Time |
| 76 | Vibrato Rate |
| 77 | Vibrato Depth |
| 78 | Vibrato Delay |
| 91 | Effect 1 Depth (reverb send level) |
| 92 | Effect 2 Depth (formerly tremolo depth) |
| 93 | Effect 3 Depth (chorus send level) |
| 94 | Effect 4 Depth (formerly detune depth) |
| 95 | Effect 5 Depth (formerly phaser depth) |
| 6/38 | Data Entry (MSB/LSB) |
| 100/101 | Registered Parameter Number (MSB/LSB) |