What Wood Is a Piano Made Of?

Everyone knows that a piano is made of wood — but few people really know which woods, where they are used, and why. Yet each type of wood plays a crucial role in the instrument’s strength, mechanics, tone quality, and appearance.

In this article, we’ll explore the different woods used in piano making — from the heart of the soundboard to the outer cabinet, and every piece in between.

Let’s discover what wood the piano is truly made of.

Spruce

Spruce: The King of the Soundboard

For centuries, spruce has been the preferred wood for crafting the piano soundboard. This central piece, located just beneath the strings, amplifies and projects their vibrations into rich, powerful tones.

Why spruce? Because it’s a soft, light wood that’s incredibly strong along the grain. Its regular, straight fibers allow sound waves to travel with exceptional efficiency — giving each piano its unique, resonant voice.

Luthiers typically choose long spruce planks from northern regions, where the slow growth of the trees ensures high density and outstanding acoustic properties.

Softwoods and Hardwoods: Two Families, Two Functions

The Softwoods

Softwoods — such as spruce, fir, basswood, and poplar — are light and flexible. They’re mainly used in parts where lightness and sound transmission are key.

• Spruce: primarily for the soundboard

• Basswood and poplar: often used for keys and light mechanical parts (like hammer shanks), where responsiveness matters

• Fir: used in older or entry-level models for key frames or key levers

All these species are chosen for their low weight, which enhances mechanical reactivity.

The Hardwoods

Hardwoods are denser, stronger, and more stable over time. They are essential in the piano’s internal structure and mechanical components: hammer cores, flanges, bridges, and more.

• Maple: used for the rim of grand pianos, the bridges, and the pinblock — its high resistance withstands the immense string tension

• Beech: used for mechanical parts, some rims, and laminated pinblocks

• Oak, ash, hornbeam: found in molding, upright posts, and other parts requiring strength and rigidity

• Exotic woods (walnut, mahogany, cherry, rosewood, ebony): used mainly for the casework, veneers, and decorative finishes — bringing beauty and durability

Outdoor drying...

The Piano Cabinet: Between Craft, Technique, and Tradition

The piano’s cabinet — its outer frame — is a masterpiece of fine woodworking. The types of wood and techniques used to make it have evolved greatly over time.

Historically, piano cases were built from solid, noble woods such as walnut, cherry, mahogany, or rosewood. These woods were carefully selected, air-dried for years, and finished with natural shellac or varnish to reveal their beautiful grain.

Today, as many of these species are now protected — and for reasons of cost and structural stability — most modern piano cabinets are made from laminated or plywood panels, often in maple, beech, or poplar. These woods resist warping and ensure long-term stability. The surface is then covered with a thin decorative veneer, or finished in classic high-gloss black polyester lacquer.

The Grand Piano Rim: A Masterclass in Woodworking

The rim, the large curved band that shapes a grand piano, is made from laminated wood. Thin sheets of maple or beech are glued together, bent around a mold that precisely matches the piano’s contour, then dried slowly under controlled conditions.

Before bending, the wood is moistened and pressed, ensuring that the rim retains its form and strength for decades — even under the constant pull of the strings.

Antique Wonders

In antique pianos, one often finds rare woods and exquisite marquetry — names that evoke luxury and craftsmanship: flamed maple, figured walnut, lemonwood, Macassar ebony, and more. These instruments are both musical machines and works of art, where the beauty of the wood is as important as its acoustic quality.

Today, many of these species are protected, but a few high-end piano makers still use rare and precious woods — like the stunning white ebony used on certain Schimmel pianos.

Summary Table of Piano Woods

Wood species	Type	Main use	Why it’s used
Spruce	Soft	Soundboard	Light, resonant, transmits sound well
Fir	Soft	Keys, internal frame	Light, economical
Basswood	Soft	Keys, non-structural parts	Easy to shape, light
Poplar	Soft	Internal parts	Economical, lightweight
Hard maple	Hard	Rim, bridges, pinblock	Strong, stable
Beech	Hard	Mechanics, rim	Durable, rigid
Oak	Hard	Molding, posts	Strength, endurance
Ash	Hard	Hammer handles, supports	Shock-resistant
Walnut	Hard	Veneer, case	Aesthetic, sturdy
Mahogany	Hard	Veneer, case	Noble, elegant finish
Rosewood	Hard	Luxury veneer, marquetry	Fine grain, durability
Ebony	Hard	Black keys	Dense, refined appearance

🎵 In Short

A piano is a delicate balance of soft and hard woods, each chosen for its specific role in mechanics, acoustics, or aesthetics.Spruce remains the undisputed star of the soundboard, while strong woods like maple and beech ensure structural integrity.

As for the cabinet, it’s a marriage of tradition and innovation — between the timeless beauty of solid wood and the modern precision of laminated construction.

👉 Want to learn more about your piano — its wood, its tuning, or its restoration? I’d be happy to advise, adjust, or restore your instrument. Get in touch!