What Are Piano Keys Made Of?

What are piano keys made of? Originally, they were made solely of woods of different shades to indicate the "white" and "black" keys. Later, ivory was used to cover the "white" keys for a more elegant look. Following the North American Piano Industry's decision to ban the use of ivory materials in the 1950's (the first American industry to do so), pianos used mineral plastics and acrylics instead, such as Yamaha's Ivorite, featuring similar textured gripping capabilities and better durability. Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter as we explore more aspects of what various parts of pianos are made of!