---
title: "What musical instruments things are made of"
description: "4 musical instruments objects broken down component by component, with the reason behind each material choice."
url: https://atoneplace.net/made-of/instrument/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Musical instruments — what they are made of

4 musical instruments objects, broken down.

| Object | Made of |
| --- | --- |
| Guitar string | A high-carbon steel core with a wrap of nickel or bronze — or, on a classical guitar, nylon. |
| Piano key | A spruce or basswood lever with an acrylic top and a plastic sharp — ivory has been out of use for decades. |
| Violin bow | A pernambuco or carbon fibre stick strung with horsehair, which grips the string only because of rosin. |
| Drum head | A polyester film tucked into an aluminium hoop with epoxy — plastic replaced calfskin in the 1950s. |

- [Guitar string](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/guitar-string/) — A high-carbon steel core with a wrap of nickel or bronze — or, on a classical guitar, nylon.
- [Piano key](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/piano-key/) — A spruce or basswood lever with an acrylic top and a plastic sharp — ivory has been out of use for decades.
- [Violin bow](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/violin-bow/) — A pernambuco or carbon fibre stick strung with horsehair, which grips the string only because of rosin.
- [Drum head](https://atoneplace.net/made-of/drum-head/) — A polyester film tucked into an aluminium hoop with epoxy — plastic replaced calfskin in the 1950s.