<P> In the early years of piano construction , keys were commonly made from sugar pine . In the 2010s , they are usually made of spruce or basswood . Spruce is typically used in high - quality pianos . Black keys were traditionally made of ebony , and the white keys were covered with strips of ivory . However , since ivory - yielding species are now endangered and protected by treaty , or are illegal in some countries , makers use plastics almost exclusively . Also , ivory tends to chip more easily than plastic . Legal ivory can still be obtained in limited quantities . The Yamaha firm invented a plastic called Ivorite that they claim mimics the look and feel of ivory . It has since been imitated by other makers . </P>
<P> In the early years of piano construction , keys were commonly made from sugar pine . In the 2010s , they are usually made of spruce or basswood . Spruce is typically used in high - quality pianos . Black keys were traditionally made of ebony , and the white keys were covered with strips of ivory . However , since ivory - yielding species are now endangered and protected by treaty , or are illegal in some countries , makers use plastics almost exclusively . Also , ivory tends to chip more easily than plastic . Legal ivory can still be obtained in limited quantities . The Yamaha firm invented a plastic called Ivorite that they claim mimics the look and feel of ivory . It has since been imitated by other makers . </P>
what are the keys on a piano made of
what are the keys on a piano made of
spruce or basswood
spruce or basswood